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Southwest Hikes Checked-Bag Fees $10 as Jet Fuel Costs Soar

The move extends a week of fee hikes across major U.S. airlines.

Flight line workers push a Southwest Airlines aircraft away from a gate at Love Field Airport in Dallas, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
JFK International Airport, New York, New York,Passengers waiting to board their next Delta flight, to Atlanta, GA.
Image

Overview

  • Southwest will charge $45 for a first checked bag and $55 for a second on new tickets, with free-bag perks still in place for select loyalty members, eligible co-branded cardholders, and active-duty military.
  • Delta set the same $45 and $55 prices on most domestic and short-haul international routes, kept long-haul rates unchanged, and raised a third checked bag to $200.
  • Airlines cite jet fuel that has roughly doubled in price since before the Iran conflict, with Argus Media reporting an average of $4.81 per gallon in major U.S. hubs versus $2.50 before the war.
  • U.S. carriers are leaning on baggage fees to recover costs, while many non-U.S. airlines are adding explicit fuel surcharges to tickets.
  • Southwest ended its long-running two-free-bags policy in May 2025, erasing a key perk and making today’s increase more costly for travelers who lack elite status or a qualifying credit card.