Since JetBlue increased its checked-bag fee in late March, several other major U.S. carriers have fallen in line like dominos, including United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, whose new charges went into effect today.
Southwest Airlines is the latest.
Less than a year after introducing checked-bag fees, Southwest this week quietly updated its website, indicating that checked-bag fees for first and second bags for U.S. mainland tickets purchased on or after April 9 would increase by $10 each, to $45 and $55, respectively. Its third checked-bag fee remains the same at $150.
For interisland Hawaii travel, residents still are allowed to check first and second bags for free and a third bag for $50, but the fees for nonresidents checking a first or second bag will double to $30 and $40, respectively.
The only major U.S. carriers that have not yet increased their first checked-bag fees are Alaska Airlines and American Airlines. The latter, did, however, increase the fee for its second checked bag on Feb. 18.
The increases come amid higher jet fuel costs over the past five weeks due to the war in Iran and its effect on oil prices.