Air travelers spent a massive $7.27 billion paying airlines to carry their baggage last year.
Baggage fees remain a key and very lucrative ancillary revenue stream, with the top three airlines each generating at least $1 billion in baggage fee revenues.
American Airlines made $1.5 billion in 2024, followed by United and Delta Air Lines.
Next were low cost carriers Frontier and Spirit Airlines.
The one holdout – until very recently – is Southwest Airlines.
Last year it generated just $83 million, which is less than much smaller airlines like Sun Country.
It has always had a ‘bags fly free’ policy but this week ended this perk for most passengers.
The data was published by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The airline industry started charging fees for checked bags about 15 years ago.
