Allowances, fees & how not to overpay
Baggage Information
Every airline's baggage rules, decoded — and applied correctly to your booking before you fly.
Allowances, fees & how not to overpay
Every airline's baggage rules, decoded — and applied correctly to your booking before you fly.
Most full-service U.S. carriers include a carry-on and personal item on standard fares, then charge roughly $35–$45 for the first checked bag and more for the second. Ultra-low-cost carriers (Spirit, Frontier) charge for everything beyond a small personal item — including full-size carry-ons. Southwest remains the outlier, with two free checked bags on every fare.
Bags are almost always cheapest when purchased with your ticket, and most expensive at the airport counter. When FlexFare books your trip, your bags are added at booking prices — never gate prices.
International economy fares usually include one 23kg (50lb) checked bag, and carriers serving the Middle East and South Asia — Emirates, Qatar Airways — are notably generous, often allowing 25–35kg or two pieces. European carriers sell 'light' fares without any checked bag, which is the single most common surprise we rescue travelers from.
Strollers and car seats fly free on every major U.S. airline. Sports equipment (golf bags, skis, surfboards), instruments, and mobility devices each have per-airline rules — some travel within your standard allowance, some carry flat fees. Tell your agent what you're bringing and it goes on the booking record correctly, so there's no counter debate on travel day.
Speak with a travel expert
Rules differ by airline, fare and route. A FlexFare expert gives you the answer for your exact ticket — before you buy.
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Full-service U.S. carriers spot-check; ultra-low-cost carriers measure and charge aggressively. If your bag is borderline, tell us the dimensions and we'll plan around the strictest airline on your itinerary.
Yes on most carriers, via the airline site or by calling us — still cheaper than the airport.
Fees typically start around $75–$100 over 50lbs domestically. Redistributing into a second free or cheap bag is often smarter — we'll do that math with you.