A customer called me furious last spring. She'd booked a flight for her family of four on Spirit — $49 per person each way, $392 total for the round trip. A genuinely good base fare. By the time she got to the gate, she'd spent $1,247.
Four carry-on bags: $272. Four checked bags: $248. Seat selection for four to sit together: $144. Boarding pass printing at the airport: $40. Snacks on the plane: $68. That's $772 in fees on top of a $392 base fare. The flight itself cost less than the fees.
She wasn't stupid. She just didn't know what she didn't know. Let me fix that for you.
⚠️ The #1 rule: Never compare flights by base fare alone. Always calculate the total door-to-door cost including bags, seat selection, and any other fees before deciding which airline is actually cheaper.
Checked Baggage Fees in 2026 — By Airline
| Airline | 1st Bag | 2nd Bag | Free Bag Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | FREE | FREE | 2 checked bags free for everyone |
| American | $35 | $45 | Free with co-branded credit card |
| Delta | $35 | $45 | Free with Delta Amex card or Medallion status |
| United | $35 | $45 | Free with United credit card or Premier status |
| JetBlue | $35 | $55 | Mosaic status or Mint class only |
| Spirit | $39–$79 | $39–$79 | Never — even carry-ons cost extra |
| Frontier | $35–$59 | $35–$59 | FEDS membership reduces fees |
| Allegiant | $35–$50 | $35–$50 | Never |
A family of four traveling round trip with one checked bag each would pay $280 in bag fees on American — but $0 on Southwest. That's the entire cost of a one-way Spirit ticket, just to check bags. This is why Southwest still has devoted fans despite rarely having the cheapest base fares.
Carry-On Bags — Where It Gets Really Sneaky
Until a few years ago, carry-on bags were always free. Spirit Airlines changed that, and Frontier and Allegiant followed. This is the hidden fee that shocks travelers most because it runs counter to decades of airline travel expectations.
On Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant:
- A personal item (small bag that fits under the seat) is included in the base fare
- A carry-on bag (overhead bin) costs $35–$79 each way
- That's up to $158 round trip for one carry-on
- Four people traveling with carry-ons could pay $632 extra — round trip
Seat Selection Fees — Paying to Choose Where You Sit
On most major airlines today, if you book a standard economy fare, you're assigned a seat at check-in unless you pay extra. This is how they generate revenue from what used to be a basic courtesy.
- Standard economy seats: $10–$35 per person per flight segment
- Preferred seats (front of cabin, aisle): $20–$50 per person per segment
- Exit row (extra legroom): $30–$75 per person per segment
- Basic Economy: No seat selection at all — assigned at check-in, often middle seats in the last rows
A family of four flying round trip who wants to sit together would pay $80–$280 in seat selection fees on top of their base fares. On a four-hour flight, sitting with your family feels worth it — but the airline is charging you for something that used to be automatic.
Change and Cancellation Fees — The Good News and the Bad News
The good news: American, Delta, United, and Southwest all eliminated change fees on most standard economy tickets after 2020. If your plans change, you can rebook without a penalty fee — though you'll pay any fare difference.
The bad news: Basic Economy tickets on American, Delta, and United are typically completely non-changeable and non-refundable. Spirit and Frontier still charge $99–$119 to change most tickets. And "no change fee" doesn't mean you can get your money back — it means you can rebook on a different date without paying extra.
✅ Best protection: Buy travel insurance for any non-refundable international ticket. A $60–$80 policy on a $900 ticket is almost always worth it, especially if travel plans have any uncertainty.
Fees You've Probably Never Heard Of
These exist and are perfectly legal. Airlines count on you not knowing about them:
- Phone booking fee: $15–$35 per ticket if you book directly with the airline by phone instead of online. Always book online with the airline — or call a travel agent instead, who typically doesn't charge this fee.
- Airport check-in fee: Spirit charges $10–$25 if you check in at the airport counter instead of online. Check in online, always.
- Printing boarding pass at airport: Spirit charges $3–$25 for this. Save your boarding pass to your phone.
- Oversize bag fee: Anything over 62 linear inches costs $100–$200 extra. Most suitcases are fine, but ski bags and golf bags are not.
- Overweight bag fee: Over 50 pounds, you pay $100–$200. Over 70 pounds, some airlines won't accept it at all.
- Pet in cabin: $95–$125 each way. The pet must fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you.
- Unaccompanied minor fee: $100–$150 per child per segment. If your child is flying alone, this is unavoidable.
How AirTicketFee Is Transparent About Fees
When you call us at +1-302-305-3558, we tell you the complete cost before you decide anything. That includes the base fare, all government taxes, fuel surcharges, our service fee, and the baggage policy for your specific ticket. There are no surprises at the gate.
We'll also tell you honestly if you need to pay a bag fee on the airline we're booking, and factor that into our comparison. Sometimes the slightly higher-priced itinerary is actually cheaper when you include what you would have paid in fees on the "cheaper" option.
📞 Get a Complete, Transparent Quote
We quote the all-in price every time — taxes, fees, baggage policy explained. No surprises at the gate or at checkout.
📞 +1-302-305-3558Frequently Asked Questions
Southwest is the clear winner — two free checked bags for every passenger, no change fees, no cancellation fees, and no Basic Economy tier. JetBlue and Alaska are also more transparent than most. Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant have the most fees — though their base fares are genuinely low, you need to calculate carefully.
Sometimes — if you're traveling solo with only a personal item, don't need to choose your seat, and are absolutely certain your plans won't change. For families, travelers with bags, or anyone who values flexibility, standard economy is usually the smarter buy even if it costs $30–$50 more per ticket.
Yes — most major airline credit cards include free checked bags as a cardholder benefit. The American Airlines credit card, Delta SkyMiles card, and United Explorer card all include one or two free checked bags. If you fly the same airline regularly, the credit card annual fee often pays for itself in bag fee savings alone.
