Airlines are raising checked bag fees — here’s how to avoid paying them

Three major U.S. airlines have raised their checked bag fees since the start of 2024, in some cases by nearly 30%.

American Airlines and JetBlue hiked their baggage fees in February, following a fee increase by Alaska Air in January. A similar situation happened in 2018, when American, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines all raised their fees in the span of a few weeks.

In a statement to CNBC Select, American Airlines said the latest increase was due to ongoing inflation and increased fuel and operating costs.

Here's what you need to know about the new checked bag fees and how you can get around them.

American Airlines raised the checked bag fee on domestic flights from a flat $30 charge to $35 if you check your bag online and $40 if you wait until you get to the airport.

The cost of a second bag has gone up from $40 to $45, regardless of where you check in.  

Checking luggage on American Airlines flights to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Guyana is also getting pricier: One bag now costs $35 (up from $30), while a second bag is $45 (up from $40).

American has, however, reduced fees for some oversized luggage: Checked bags that are up to three pounds over the 50-pound limit will only cost an additional $30, down from the previous $100-$200 charge.

The changes are being applied to all tickets purchased on or after Feb. 20, 2024.

American isn't the only airline bumping up fees: As of Feb.1, low-cost carrier JetBlue has been requiring passengers to pay $45 (up from $35) to check a bag within 24 hours of a flight within the U.S., Latin America, Caribbean and Canada. The cost to check a second bag remains unchanged at $60.

According to the JetBlue website, passengers can save $10 on their first two bags by checking in at least 24 hours before departure.

On Jan. 2, 2024, Alaska Airlines increased its baggage fees from $30 to $35 for the first bag and from $40 to $45 for a second one.

If you're frustrated by mounting fees, you could try squeezing everything into a carry-on. Of course, low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier charge for overhead carry-on bags, too, and United Basic Economy and JetBlue Basic Blue don't even allow them.

Fortunately, if you need to bring a larger suitcase on your next trip, many travel and airline credit cards have perks that eliminate or offset the cost of checking your luggage.

If you don't want to be tied to one airline, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers a yearly travel statement credit worth up to $300 that can be applied toward checked bag fees on any carrier. Sapphire Reserve cards also come with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and bonus points for Lyft rides.

The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® offers one free checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights for the cardholder and up to four companions on the same reservation. In addition, you can earn 60,000 bonus miles after your first purchase within 90 days of opening the account, plus a 25% statement credit on inflight food and beverages and up to $25 back from the cost of in-flight wifi.

If you're flying Alaska Airlines, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card includes a free checked bag benefit for the cardholder and up to six companions on the same reservation. In addition, you'll get priority boarding, 20% back on inflight purchases and $100 off an Alaska Lounge membership.

The JetBlue Plus Card offers one free checked bag on JetBlue flights for you and up to three companions on the same reservation. It also earns 6x points on every $1 spent on eligible JetBlue purchases, one of the highest rates of the cards reviewed by CNBC Select. (The Plus Card earns 2x on restaurants and grocery stores and 1x on everything else.)

With major airlines raising checked bag fees, using a credit card with travel rewards or that's co-branded with an airline can let you bring everything you want on a trip without worrying about the cost. The best travel cards have other great benefits.

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