Reddit users are furious about the latest increases, but there are proven ways to avoid paying
A Reddit user posted to r/delta expressing disbelief that the airline had quietly raised first checked bag fees to $35 domestically and second bag fees to $45, sparking hundreds of comments from frustrated travelers. The outrage extended across r/unitedairlines and r/americanairlines as passengers discovered that all three major U.S. carriers had implemented similar increases within months of each other. While airlines justify fee hikes by citing operational costs and inflation, Reddit’s travel community sees a different story: baggage fees are a highly profitable revenue stream that airlines will keep exploiting as long as passengers continue paying without adapting their behavior.
The Current Fee Structure Across Major Carriers
Delta’s current domestic baggage fees stand at $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second when paid at the airport. Paying online during booking or check-in reduces these slightly to $30 and $40 respectively. International flights have different fee structures depending on the destination, with some routes including free checked bags and others charging similar or higher amounts than domestic flights.
United Airlines mirrors Delta’s pricing almost exactly. First bags cost $35 at the airport or $30 online, while second bags run $45 at the airport or $40 online. The airline frames online payment as a discount, though travelers recognize it as a penalty for paying at the airport rather than a true savings.
American Airlines follows the same pattern with $35 first bag fees and $45 second bag fees when paid at the airport, dropping to $30 and $40 when paid online. The uniformity across all three carriers suggests coordinated pricing rather than competitive market forces—when one raises fees, the others follow within weeks.
Budget carriers structure fees differently. Spirit and Frontier charge for all bags including carry-ons, with fees varying based on when you pay and whether the bag goes in the overhead bin or gets checked. A standard carry-on on Spirit costs $35-$65 depending on when you pay, while checked bags run $30-$65 similarly. Frontier has comparable pricing, making their total costs often equal or higher than legacy carriers once bag fees are included.
Southwest remains the notable exception with its “bags fly free” policy allowing two free checked bags per passenger. This policy differentiates Southwest in the market and attracts travelers who need to check luggage, though the airline offsets lost baggage revenue through other means like charging more for tickets upfront.
Why Airlines Keep Raising Checked Bag Costs
The official airline explanation involves rising fuel costs, increased labor expenses, and inflationary pressures across the industry. Airlines argue that unbundling services—separating base airfare from ancillary fees—allows passengers to pay only for what they use while keeping base ticket prices competitive.
Reddit users aren’t buying it. One commenter pointed out that baggage fees generated over $6 billion in revenue for U.S. airlines in recent years, representing almost pure profit since the infrastructure to handle bags already exists. The marginal cost of loading one additional bag onto a plane is minimal, yet airlines charge $35-$45 per bag while actual costs are a fraction of that amount.
Another traveler noted the psychological pricing strategy at work. By keeping base fares artificially low while adding fees for bags, seat selection, and other previously included services, airlines make initial ticket prices appear competitive during comparison shopping. Passengers don’t see total costs until checkout, by which point they’re committed to the itinerary and reluctant to start searching again.
The competitive dynamics also play a role. When all major carriers charge similar bag fees, passengers can’t easily switch airlines to avoid them. If United raises fees and American and Delta don’t follow, United risks losing customers. But when all three raise fees simultaneously, travelers have no low-cost legacy carrier alternative—they either pay the higher fees or switch to Southwest, which serves fewer routes.
Some Reddit users theorize that high baggage fees serve an operational purpose beyond revenue: discouraging checked bags speeds up ground operations and reduces aircraft weight, lowering fuel costs. One airline employee commenting anonymously supported this theory, saying their management actively wants fewer checked bags to improve turnaround times.
Credit Card Perks That Waive Baggage Fees
The most reliable way to avoid baggage fees on legacy carriers is holding an airline-branded credit card. Delta, United, and American all offer co-branded cards that include free checked bags as a primary benefit, often covering the cardholder plus several companions on the same reservation.
The Delta SkyMiles credit cards from American Express include free first checked bag on Delta flights for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation when traveling domestically. This benefit alone can justify the annual fee for travelers who check bags multiple times per year. The cards start around $99 annual fee for basic versions and go up to $550 for premium options with additional perks.
United’s MileagePlus cards from Chase offer similar benefits with free first checked bag for the primary cardholder plus one companion. Premium versions extend this to the cardholder and up to eight companions. Annual fees range from $0 for basic cards (though these typically lack the baggage benefit) to $525 for top-tier cards.
American’s AAdvantage cards from Citi and Barclays include free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to four companions on the same domestic reservation. Fee structures mirror Delta and United with entry-level cards around $99 and premium versions at $450-$550.
Reddit’s travel community frequently runs the math on whether these cards make financial sense. For a family of four taking two round-trip flights per year, the baggage fee savings alone total $560 (4 people × 2 flights × 2 directions × $35). A $99 annual fee credit card that waives these fees provides $461 in net value before considering other benefits like priority boarding, bonus miles, or airport lounge access.
Several commenters note that you don’t need to actively use these cards for spending to maintain the baggage benefits—simply holding the card active keeps the perk available. Some travelers put one small recurring charge on the card each month (like a Netflix subscription) and pay it off immediately, keeping the card active without carrying a balance or paying interest.
Packing Carry-On Only: Lessons From Frequent Flyers
The most straightforward way to avoid baggage fees is never checking bags in the first place. Reddit’s frequent travelers have refined carry-on-only packing into a science, with detailed strategies for trips lasting weeks using just overhead bin space.
The core principle involves packing versatile clothing in neutral colors that mix and match, then planning to do laundry during trips longer than five to six days. One business traveler described packing five shirts, two pairs of pants, and underwear for six days, then using hotel laundry service or finding a laundromat for longer trips.
Wearing bulky items during travel creates additional capacity. Heavy shoes, winter coats, and thick sweaters all get worn to the airport even if you look overdressed for the climate at your destination. Once through security and on the plane, these items can be removed and stored overhead, but they don’t count against your carry-on allowance while you’re navigating the airport.
Packing cubes and compression bags maximize limited carry-on space. Several Redditors swear by compression cubes that reduce clothing volume by 30-40%, allowing them to fit a week’s worth of clothes in a standard carry-on with room for toiletries and other essentials.
The “personal item” becomes crucial strategic space. Airlines allow both a carry-on and a personal item like a backpack or purse. Savvy travelers maximize personal item dimensions, using large backpacks that hold laptops, toiletries, extra shoes, and other essentials while their carry-on contains primarily clothing.
When Checking a Bag Is Actually Worth It
Despite the fees, some situations make checking bags more practical than forcing everything into carry-ons. Trips longer than two weeks where laundry access is uncertain or impractical may require more clothing than fits in overhead bins. One Reddit traveler described a three-week work trip to remote locations where laundry wasn’t available—checking a bag was simply necessary.
Traveling with specialized equipment like golf clubs, skis, snowboards, or camera gear often requires checking bags since these items exceed carry-on dimensions. While airlines charge for these bags, the alternative of renting equipment at your destination often costs more than the baggage fee.
Families with young children face different calculations. Packing efficiently for adults is one thing, but managing carry-ons while also handling strollers, car seats, and keeping children corralled through airports can be overwhelming. Some parents decide that paying to check bags and travel with less to carry is worth the fee for reduced stress and easier mobility.
Elderly travelers or those with mobility issues may find that checking bags makes travel more manageable even with the fees involved. Navigating airports while managing carry-on luggage presents physical challenges that bag fees may be worth avoiding.
Business travelers often expense baggage fees to their companies, eliminating personal cost concerns. One consultant noted they always check bags because their employer reimburses the fees and arriving with professional attire in good condition matters more than saving $35.
International flights sometimes include free checked bags depending on the route and fare class. Travelers flying to Europe, Asia, or South America on full-service carriers often get one or two free checked bags, making the decision to check easier than on domestic flights where fees apply.
The Behavioral Economics of Why We Keep Paying
Despite widespread Reddit complaints about baggage fees, airline baggage revenue continues climbing year after year. This reveals a gap between what travelers say they’ll do and their actual behavior. Behavioral economics explains why fees keep generating billions despite passenger frustration.
The “decoy effect” plays a role in how airlines price second bags. At $35 for one bag and $45 for a second, the marginal cost of the second bag is only $10 more. This makes checking a second bag feel like better value than it objectively is—passengers think “I’m already paying $35, what’s another $10?” without recognizing they’re now paying $80 round-trip for two bags.
Convenience consistently wins over cost for most travelers. Checking bags eliminates the hassle of managing luggage through airports, competing for overhead bin space, and ensuring everything fits within carry-on limits. One commenter admitted they know they’re overpaying but value arriving at the airport, checking bags, and walking through the terminal unencumbered.
Loyalty programs create psychological lock-in. Travelers with elite status or significant miles on one airline continue flying that carrier despite higher fees because switching means abandoning their accumulated benefits and status. Airlines exploit this by offering free checked bags as a status perk, incentivizing continued loyalty while still capturing fee revenue from non-elite passengers.
The pain of paying fees gets separated from the pleasure of booking travel. Passengers book flights weeks or months in advance, feeling excited about their trip. By the time they pay baggage fees at the airport, they’re already committed and the fee feels unavoidable rather than optional. This temporal separation makes fees more tolerable than if they were included in the upfront ticket price.
Traveler’s Checklist: Beating Baggage Fees
- Get an airline credit card if you check bags 2+ times per year—the math works out
- Free checked bag benefit covers you plus companions on the same reservation
- Calculate annual fee vs. baggage fee savings for your typical travel pattern
- Master carry-on-only packing using compression cubes and strategic clothing choices
- Wear your bulkiest items (shoes, jacket) to the airport to save luggage space
- Maximize your personal item allowance with a large backpack
- Consider Southwest if you regularly need to check bags and they serve your routes
- Pay baggage fees online during booking/check-in to save $5 per bag vs. airport rates
- Check international flight baggage policies—many include free bags
- Evaluate whether checking bags despite fees makes sense for your specific situation
Baggage fees frustrate travelers because they represent airlines unbundling services that were once included in ticket prices and charging premium rates for basic functionality. Reddit’s travel communities rail against these fees regularly, yet airline baggage revenue keeps growing because most passengers ultimately pay rather than adapt their packing or switch carriers. The travelers who successfully avoid fees either commit to carry-on-only travel with the packing discipline that requires, or they leverage credit card benefits to eliminate fees while maintaining the convenience of checked luggage. Either approach works, but the middle ground of occasionally checking bags and paying fees each time delivers the worst value—maximum cost with minimal convenience.