CONSUMER ALERT: Airlines are hiking bag fees — again

Don’t look now, but the cost of checking your luggage is quietly rising again. American Airlines just upped the price for a second checked bag for tickets issued on or after February 20.

It’s the kind of move that feels like a “gotcha” for anyone who doesn’t spend their free time reading the fine print of airline fee schedules. But American is not alone.

What did American Airlines do?

American upped the rate for a second checked bag on domestic and short-haul international routes to $50 at the airport, a $5 increase from the previous rate.

If you’re savvy enough to pay for your luggage online, you’ll still get the old rate of $45. American claims this is about “streamlining operations,” but it’s really a penalty for needing a human at the airport to help you.

The fee frenzy is spreading

American isn’t the only airline reaching into your wallet. We’ve seen a wave of fee increases across the industry in the recent past:

• United Airlines implemented a similar policy in 2024, raising its first and second bag fees by $5 in most markets.
• JetBlue introduced “peak” and “off-peak” pricing for luggage. During busy periods like spring break or the…