Travelers flying with Delta Air Lines should brace for heftier fees as the company announced a $5 increase on checked baggage for most U.S. domestic and select international flights. Now fetching $35 and $45 for the first and second checked bags respectively, the new rates have landed, marking Delta's first price hike since 2018. The Atlanta-based carrier stated the increase is to maintain pace with the escalating costs in the industry.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the new fees rolled out on March 5 and are applicable to most short-haul international routes, although several exemptions have been noted. Passengers lucky enough to tote a Delta SkyMiles Medallion Membership or those seated comfortably in First Class, Delta Premium Select, and Delta One, along with customers wielding eligible Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards, will find their baggage still flies free.
Delta cushioned the blow somewhat by clarifying the fees remain unchanged for bags checked between the U.S. and select countries in Latin America. In an effort to keep your wallet partly closed, passengers are still allowed to bring a carry-on and a personal item, at no extra charge — a courtesy not mirrored by some competitors who've clipped the wings off free carry-ons.
In the weeks following suit, Delta's not alone, as American Airlines, closely followed by United Airlines, also announced their checked baggage will add more weight to your travel costs. JetBlue and Alaska Airlines have similarly adjusted their fees this year, as reported by CNBC. The revenue from these fees is no small drop in the airline's fuel tanks. IdeaWorks Co. and CarTrawler revealed that the top 20 global airlines boasted over $33 billion bagged from such fees last year, with Delta alone pocketing $979 million.
Those scrambling to find solace in the fine print will be relieved to learn the fee uptick does not apply to tickets purchased before yesterday. The airline industry, buffering against tides of fluctuating costs, appears adamant in asserting these fees as technological lifelines to their economic vitality. As travelers acclimatize to this new altitude in airline pricing, it's clear that these fees, historically born from an "economic necessity" during times of fiscal turbulence, have settled into permanent fixtures in the skyline of air travel economics.
