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Delta joins a growing list of airlines hiking checked bag fees. See which carriers are increasing prices.

Roya Shahidi
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⚡ Quantum Brief
Major US airlines—Delta, United, and JetBlue—raised checked baggage fees in April 2026, citing rising operational costs. Delta and United increased first/second bag fees by $10, while JetBlue hiked first-bag fees by up to $9. The fee increases stem from surging jet fuel prices caused by geopolitical tensions, including the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which disrupted global supply chains and tightened airline profit margins. Delta’s changes apply to domestic and short-haul international routes, excluding long-haul flights and complimentary bag benefits. United’s hikes affect US, Mexico, Canada, and Latin America bookings starting April 3. JetBlue’s fee adjustments vary by travel demand, with peak-day first-bag fees rising to $49 from $40. The airline attributed the move to broader cost pressures but avoided directly blaming fuel prices. Airlines are also canceling flights due to fuel shortages, compounding financial strain. The trend reflects broader industry efforts to offset costs amid volatile global conditions.
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Delta joins a growing list of airlines hiking checked bag fees. See which carriers are increasing prices.

Some airlines have increased checked-bag fees amid rising jet fuel costs. Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images 2026-04-07T15:12:09.051Z Share Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. Spiking jet fuel prices have left airlines looking for ways to recoup their extra costs. Many airlines have already increased ticket prices, and now some are bumping checked bag fees.

Delta Air Lines said it will increase fees for first and second checked bags by $10 from Wednesday. AI-generated summary Summaries are generated by an AI model trained on Business Insider's articles. AI may make mistakes or provide inaccurate/incomplete information. We're unable to load that answer right now. Please try again. What factors drive jet fuel prices? What impact do baggage fees have on travelers? What strategies do airlines use to offset costs? How do airlines manage rising costs? How is the airline industry adapting to crises? Travelers are feeling the pinch from the war in Iran.Many airlines have already increased ticket prices and introduced fuel surcharges, but now there's a new target: checked bags. Three major US airlines have increased baggage fees in recent days as soaring jet fuel prices have left them scrambling to offset skyrocketing costs.The US and Israel's war on Iran has caused supply chain disruptions, leading to a surge in jet fuel prices, which has tightened margins for airlines.Flight prices are rising as a result, and some airlines have already canceled — or are planning to cancel — flights due to the jet fuel shortages. See which airlines have increased their fees for checked luggage: Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines said the fee increases are due to "evolving global conditions." Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images Delta Air Lines will increase fees for first and second checked bags by $10 from Wednesday, according to a statement shared with Business Insider.For the third checked bag, fees will increase by $50. The changes apply to domestic and select short-haul international routes, and will not impact long-haul international flights or complimentary bag benefits, the airline said."These updates are part of Delta's ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics," Delta said in the statement on Tuesday.

United Airlines United Airlines has increased the fees for first and second checked bags by $10. Peter Nicholls/Getty Images United Airlines said on Friday that it was raising the fees for first and second checked bags by $10. Like Delta, it said it will charge an extra $50 for third bags.The airline said in a previously shared statement to Business Insider that this would apply to "customers traveling in the US, Mexico, and Canada and Latin America beginning with tickets purchased Friday, April 3." JetBlue JetBlue has increased the fee for a first checked bag by up to $9. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images JetBlue increased its checked baggage fees at the end of March.The price of a first checked bag for a domestic flight has risen to $39 from $35 on non-peak days, and to $49 from $40 on peak travel days.In a previous statement to Business Insider, the airline did not directly reference rising fuel prices as the reason for the fee increase, though it did note that its operating costs are rising."As we experience rising operating costs, we regularly evaluate how to manage those costs while keeping base fares competitive and continuing to invest in the experience our customers value," a spokesperson for JetBlue previously told Business Insider.

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