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Delta also jacks up bag fees, copying 4 other US airlines

Zach Griff
Zach Griff
Senior reporter
Zach Griff is a senior reporter at TPG. He writes travel and product reviews, deep dives into loyalty programs, news about the airline industry and more.
March 05, 2024
•
4 min read
Delta Terminal 4 JFK Upgrades Sky Club Express A Gates SkyPriori
Delta also jacks up bag fees, copying 4 other US airlines
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Airlines in the U.S. are no strangers to a game of follow the leader.

In its latest rendition, Delta Air Lines is raising checked bag fees by $5, matching a similar move made by four other major U.S. airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue and United Airlines.

Beginning March 5, Delta's checked bag fees will increase from $30 to $35 for the first bag and from $40 to $45 for the second checked bag. Note that this new fee structure only applies to tickets purchased on or after March 5.

These increased fees apply to most U.S.-originating domestic and short-haul international routes, and there are no fee increases for checked bags between the U.S. and Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay.

This represents the first time that Delta has increased domestic checked bag fees since 2018, and the carrier says that this increase will allow it to better control rising costs.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Just this year alone, five of the largest domestic carriers, including the so-called "Big Three," have raised their checked bag fees.

It started in January when Alaska Airlines implemented its increase, but American and JetBlue quickly copied Alaska just a few weeks later by jacking up their fees.

It wasn't until American — one of the largest U.S. carriers — raised its fees that United decided to match a few days later.

Delta, meanwhile, becomes the last of the big network carriers to hike its fees, but it's not necessarily a surprising move.

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For years, the airlines have mimicked policy changes made by their competitors. During the coronavirus pandemic, United was the first carrier to eliminate change fees, a move that was quickly matched by American, Delta and others.

The good news is that Delta isn't eliminating any of its bag fee waivers. That means that Medallion elite members, premium-cabin travelers and those with Delta's cobranded credit cards will continue to enjoy their complimentary bag allowance as before.

As such, Delta's cobranded credit cards just become a little bit more valuable than before, making it a good time to consider applying if you don't have one already.

It's also worth noting that Delta charges just one checked bag fee no matter when you add the bags to your reservation. Most of the other U.S. carriers impose a $5 penalty for those who wait until the check-in window to add bags.

Below you'll find a table comparing the updated checked bag fees for domestic flights on the major U.S. carriers. Note that when two prices are presented, the lower one is charged for buying the bag before the check-in window opens.

AirlineFirst bagSecond bag
Alaska Airlines$35$45
American Airlines$35 or $40$45
Delta Air Lines$35$45
Frontier AirlinesVariesVaries
JetBlue$35 or $45$50 or $60
Southwest AirlinesFreeFree
Spirit AirlinesVariesVaries
United Airlines$35 or $40$45 or $50

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Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.