|
Airline Fees are a fact of life (hastened by $140/barrel oil), it is important that everyone take into account airline fees while shopping for airfare. To that end we have compiled a handy comparison list of U.S. domestic airline fees.
Fees are changing rapidly and we’ll do our best to keep the chart up to date.
It should be noted that 1st and 2nd checked bag fees are waived for passengers with “elite” status.
|
|
updated 18-Jan-2010
|
??
|
Reservation by Phone (per person)
|
1st Checked Bag Fee (each-way)
|
2nd Checked Bag Fee (each-way)
|
Seat Selection / Priority / Leg Room
|
| American |
$20
|
$2518
|
$3518
|
None
|
| Continental |
$15
|
$23 – $2510
|
$32 – $3510
|
None
|
| Delta |
$20
|
$23 – $2514
|
$32 – $3514
|
None
|
| Northwest |
$20
|
$23 – $2514
|
$32 – $3514
|
$5 – $35
|
| United |
$25
|
$20 – $257
|
$30 – $357
|
$14 – $109
|
| US Airways |
$25 – $35
|
$23 – 2516
|
$32 – $3516
|
$5 – $30
|
| AirTran |
$15
|
$15
|
$255
|
$6 – $20
|
| Alaska |
$15
|
$1517
|
$25
|
None
|
| Frontier |
$25
|
$2011
|
$3011
|
None
|
| JetBlue |
$15
|
Free
|
$30
|
$10 – $30
|
| Southwest |
Free
|
Free
|
Free (3+ $25)
|
$10 – $30 1
|
| Spirit |
Free (no sale fares) |
$15 – $255
|
$25
|
$5 – $15
|
| Midwest |
$25
|
$20
|
$30
|
$65
|
| Hawaiian |
$10-$25
|
$1515
|
$2515
|
None
|
| Go |
Free
|
$10
|
$17
|
None
|
| ExpressJet |
Free
|
Free
|
Free
|
None
|
| Virgin America |
$15
|
$2519
|
$2519
|
$50 – $100
|
| Allegiant |
$10 – $15 ea/way
|
$15 – $35
|
$25 – 35
|
$11 – $13
|
| Sun Country |
$10
|
$15
|
$25
|
?
|
|
??
|
Beverage/Snack Packet
|
Meal
|
Alcohol
|
Oversize Bag Fee (each-way)
|
Overweight Bag Fee (each-way)
|
Standby/Confirmed
Seat Fee
|
| American |
Free/none
|
$3 – $10
|
$6
|
$150
|
$50 – $100
|
$50
|
| Continental |
Free
|
Free 2
|
$5
|
$100
|
$50
|
$0 – $50
|
| Delta |
Free
|
$3 – $8
|
$7
|
$175
|
$90 – $175
|
$50
|
| Northwest |
Free/$3 – $5
|
$7 – $10
|
$5 |
$175
|
$90 – $175
|
$25
|
| United |
Free
|
$9
|
$6
|
$175
|
$125
|
Free
|
| US Airways |
Free/$58
|
$78
|
$7
|
$100
|
$50 – $100
|
$25
|
| AirTran |
Free
|
None
|
$6
|
$49 – $79
|
$49 – $79
|
$0 – $49
|
| Alaska |
Free
|
$5
|
$5
|
$50 – $75
|
$50
|
$0
|
| Frontier |
Free
|
$3
|
$5
|
$75
|
$75
|
Varies12
|
| JetBlue |
Free
|
None
|
$5
|
$75
|
$50 – $100
|
$40
|
| Southwest |
Free ($3 Energy)
|
None
|
$4
|
$50
|
$25 – $50
|
Varies13
|
| Spirit |
$2 – $3/$2 – $5
|
None |
$5
|
$100 – $150
|
$50 – $100
|
$25
|
| Midwest |
Free (Cookie)
|
$6 – $11
|
$5
|
$80
|
$50 – $65
|
$35
|
| Hawaiian |
Free
|
Free |
$6 |
$160 – $360
|
$50
|
$0
|
| Go |
$1.5/None
|
None
|
$2.5 – $3.5
|
$25
|
$25-50
|
?
|
| ExpressJet |
Free
|
Free
|
$1 – $3
|
$50
|
$50
|
?
|
| Virgin America |
Free
|
$6 – $8
|
$5 – $6
|
$50
|
$50 – $100
|
$0 – $25
|
| Allegiant |
$2/$2-$4
|
$4
|
$5
|
may apply
|
may apply
|
n/a
|
| Sun Country |
Free
|
Free
|
$5
|
$60
|
$60
|
|
??
|
Travel w/ Pets (each-way)*
|
Unaccompanied Minors (per flight)
|
Curbside Check-In
|
Non-Refundable Ticket Change Fee 6
|
| American |
$100 – $150
|
$100
|
Free
|
$150
|
| Continental |
$125
|
$75 – $100
|
Free
|
$150
|
| Delta |
$100 – $175
|
$100
|
Free
|
$150
|
| Northwest |
$100 – $175
|
$100
|
$2
|
$150
|
| United |
$125 – $250
|
$99
|
$2
|
$150
|
| US Airways |
$100
|
$100
|
$2
|
$150
|
| AirTran |
$69
|
$39 – $59
|
Free
|
$75
|
| Alaska |
$100
|
$75
|
$2
|
$50 – $75
|
| Frontier |
$150
|
$50
|
n/a
|
$100
|
| JetBlue |
$100
|
$75
|
$2
|
$100
|
| Southwest |
$75
|
$25
|
Free
|
Free
|
| Spirit |
$100
|
$75
|
$2
|
$80 – $90
|
| Midwest |
$150
|
$50 – $100
|
Free
|
$100
|
| Hawaiian |
$175 – $22520
|
$35 – $95
|
n/a
|
$150
|
| Go |
$25
|
$25
|
n/a
|
$20
|
| ExpressJet |
$50
|
$50
|
n/a
|
$50
|
| Virgin America |
$100
|
$75
|
n/a
|
$50
|
| Allegiant |
$100
|
$100
|
n/a
|
$50 4
|
| Sun Country |
$100 – $199
|
$50
|
Free
|
$75 – $100
|
Miscellaneous Fees
–JetBlue now charges $7 for a blanket and pillow (yours to keep)
*This covers the range of pet travel options, from cabin travel to checked-luggage
1 Business Select Additional Fee for Priority Boarding. Southwest has also added a $10 each-way fee for “EarlyBird Check In” which allows passengers to check in for a flight prior to 24 hours before the flight.
2 Flights 2+ hours
3 Snack Box
4 Trip Flex Free
5 Effective September 18, 2008, for reservations booked on August 14 or later.
6 Plus Difference in Current Airfare Price
7 If you pay bag fee online (“Easy Check-in”), you pay the lower price. (for both first and second checked bags) – for tickets purchased on or after Jan 14, 2010 for travel on or after Jan 21, 2010.
8 New charges as of August 1, 2008
9 For tickets purchased on/after July 10, 2008 for travel on/after August 28, 2008
10 If you pay bag fee online?? you pay the lower price. (for both first and second checked bags). Effective for tickets purchased on Jan. 9 for travel on or after Jan. 16. Travelers still pay $23 and $32 for bags checked online.
11 For tickets purchased on/after Sept. 8, 2009 and applies to travel commencing on or after Oct. 1, 2009
12 Travelers pay the difference between their original fare and the current fare to be confirmed on the new flight.
13 Depending on fare, Free or customer pays the difference between the original fare and the “Anytime” fare
14 For tickets Purchased after Jan 5, 2010 – If you pay bag fee online?? you pay the lower price. (for both first and second checked bags)..
15For flights to/from the Mainland.
16New fees for tickets bought on or after Jan. 18, 2009 for travel on or after ) Feb. 1, 2010. If you check bag online you pay the lower price for both 1st and 2nd checked bag.
17For Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air passengers traveling on tickets purchased or reissued on or after May 1, 2009 for travel on or after July 7, 2009
18For purchase of domestic Economy Class tickets on or after February 1, 2010
19for all bookings made on or after February 12, 2010, for travel on or after March 1, 2010
20for travel to points serviced by Hawaiian Airlines other than wholly within the State of Hawaii
