Many times when you look for flights, the fares appear lower than they actually are. The key to getting a great airfare deal is to know how much the total cost of your flight will be.

• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires air carriers to fully disclose the ticket price at purchase, including taxes and fees and carrier surcharges. However, other services like check-in bags, seat assignments, meals, flight changes, are considered optional services and these fees are not required to be fully disclosed at the time of purchase. For instance, the air carriers have to disclose information about the optional services, but except for the bag fees which have to specify the $ amount, the other fees can be presented as a range. Sometimes it can be difficult for consumers to compare prices in the marketplace while shopping.

How to determine the bag allowance and fees?

1.  If you use flights on separate tickets for your itinerary, each ticket will have its own bag allowances and fee rules and you can find the info on each carrier website. You will have to pay bag fees on each segment (when applicable) and you will be able to check-in your bags to final destination only on limited flights combinations. For example, United will check your bags until destination when you fly on separate tickets if the tickets are with United and Star Alliance partners only.

2. For domestic itinerary with one or more connections (on code-share or interline tickets), and for international flights when the ticket origin or destination is a U.S. point, carriers must apply bag allowance and fees at the beginning of the itinerary, and they will be carried throughout the entire itinerary. 

In order to determine your baggage allowance and fees, look at the first flight number on the ticket (the fight number represents the marketing carrier) and check with that airline to see which bag rules that airline applies for code-share or interline tickets.

For more in-depth reading about the Airlines Fees, check out the full article.

We make it easier to compare the airlines fees. Below we list some of the major air carriers for your convenience.

1. Alaska Airlines fees

• One carry-on and one personal item free of charge.
• Domestic flights and Canada: 1-st bag $25, 2-nd bag $25. For more info visit Alaska Checked Baggage page
• Free standard seat assignment in Main Cabin. 
• Premium seats available for a fee, starting at $15. For more info visit Alaska Premium Class Seats page.

2. American Airlines fees

A) Basic Economy: 1 personal item free, no full size carry-on bag allowed. Carry-on will be charged as regular checked bag plus $25 handling fee if you take it to the gate. Seat selection available for a fee. No seat upgraded available. No flight changes or refunds allowed, except 24-hrs cancellation for flights booked 7 days or more prior to departure.

B) In Economy: 

• One carry-on and one personal item free of charge.
• Free standard seat assignment.
• Checked baggage fees:

• Enjoy more space with Main Cabin Extra seating, starting at $20. For seat assignment questions, visit American Main Cabin Extra page.

3. Delta Airlines fees

A) Basic Economy: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on free of charge.  No seat selection and no upgrade available; the seat is assigned at boarding. Customers traveling as families will not be able to sit together. No flight changes or refunds allowed, except 24-hrs cancellation for flights booked 7 days or more prior to departure.

B) In Main Cabin Economy:

• Domestic flights and Canada: one carry-on and one personal item free of charge.1-st bag $25, 2-nd bag $35.
• To other destinations, checked bags prices vary by itinerary. For more info visit Delta Baggage and Travel Fees page.
•  Preferred seating available for a fee, for more info visit Delta Main Cabin Economy page.

4. Frontier Airlines fees

• Carry-on fee: $35 during online booking, $38 online after booking, $40 through call center & web check-in, $45 at airport ticket counter and $60 at departure gate.
• 1-st checked-in bag fee: $30 during online booking, $38 online after booking, $40 through call center & web check-in, $45 at airport ticket counter and $60 at departure gate.
• 2-nd checked-in bag fee: $45 during online booking, $45 online after booking, $45 through call center & web check-in and $50 at airport ticket counter.
• For more baggage fee info, visit Frontier Baggage Information page.
• Standard seating starting at $6 during online booking, starting at $8 through call center, starting at $11 with web check-in or airport counter or self check-in kiosk.
• Stretch seating starting at $20 during online booking, starting at $20 through call center, starting at $25 with web check-in or airport counter or self check-in kiosk.
•  Charges for seating upgrades are charged per flight and connecting itineraries will incur fees for each flight where an upgrade is purchased. For more info about seating options and pricing, visit Frontier Seating Options page.

5. Hawaiian Airlines

• One carry-on and one personal item free of charge, on all flights.
• Domestic flights between N. America and Hawaii: 1st bag $25, 2nd bag $35.
• Hawaiian inter-island flights: 1st bag $25, 2nd bag $35.
• International flights: 1st and 2nd bag free.
• Free standard seat assignment.
• Preferred seating available for a fee, for more info visit Hawaiian Seat Assignment page.

6. JetBlue Airlines fees

• For Blue: 1st bag fee $25, 2nd bag fee $35.
• For Blue Plus: 1st bag is free and 2nd bag fee $35.
• For Blue Flex: 1st bag and 2nd bags are free.
• For more info visit JetBlue Checked Baggage Help page.
• Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages included.
• Seats upgrades available for a fee, for more info visit JetBlue Even More page.

7. Southwest Airlines fees

• One Carry-on and one personal item free of charge.
• 1-st bag and 2-nd bag free of charge, for more info visit Southwest Checked Baggage page.
• No seat assignment. Open seating, you can choose your seat, from the ones available after you board the plane.
• Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages included.

8. Spirit Airlines fees

• Only one personal item free of charge is allowed. 
• Carry-on bag and checked-in baggage fees depend on itinerary and when the fees are paid (during booking, at online booking, at airport desk or at the gate). Use Spirit Baggage Fees Calculator for specific information. 
• For example, the carry-on fee starts at $35 during booking, $45 with online check-in, $55 at the airport desk and $65 at the gate. 1-st checked-in bag fee starts at $30 during booking, $40 with online check-in, $50 at the airport desk and $65 at the gate. 2-nd checked-in bag fee starts at $40 during booking, $50 with online check-in, and $60 at the airport desk.
• Spirit assigned seat at check-in is free.
• Advanced seat assignment for regular seats from $1 to $50.
• Advanced seat assignment for bigger front seats from $12 to $150.
• Bigger front seats, on-board assignment from $25 to $175.

9. United Airlines fees

• A) Basic Economy: 1 personal item free, no full size carry-on bag allowed. Carry-on will be charged as regular checked bag plus $25 handling fee if you take it to the gate. No seat selection and upgrade available; the seat is assigned at boarding. Customers traveling as families will not be able to sit together (only if seats are available). No flight changes or refunds allowed, except 24-hrs cancellation for flights booked 7 days or more prior to departure.

  B) In Economy: 

• One carry-on item and one personal item free of charge.
• Domestic flights and Canada: 1-st bag $25, 2-nd bag $35.
• To other destinations, checked bags prices vary by itinerary. Use United Bag Calculator available on United Checked Baggage Page.
• Free standard seat assignment.
• For other seat assignment questions, visit United Aircraft Seating FAQ page.