Baggage Fees Surge: Analyzing Costs Across Airlines

 

With check-in baggage fees increasing, we wanted to see how they vary across major airlines and how Americans are responding. This study explores the revenue airlines have generated from baggage fees since 2020, weighs the cost of luggage against airline credit card perks, and gathers insights from American travelers on their booking habits and strategies for offsetting baggage costs.

Key Takeaways

• On average, 48% of American travelers travel with 1 check-in bag, and 32% travel with 2 or more check-in bags.
• On average, Americans spent $175 on check-in baggage in the last year.
• Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (18%) plan to cut back on travel in response to increased baggage fees; Gen Z (27%) is the most likely to do so.
• Total baggage revenue jumped a projected 10.2% from 2022 to 2023.

Baggage Costs and Impacts

• On average, women (4.3) took more flights than men (4) in the last year.
• On average, millennials (4.3) took the most flights in the last year among all age groups.
• Gen Z spent the most on check-in baggage in the last year ($228) compared to other age groups.
• Men ($194) spent 24% more than women ($156) on check-in baggage in the last year.
• Percentage of Americans that travel with an average of:
  • 0 check-in bags: 21%
  • 1 check-in bag: 48%
  • 2 or more check-in bags: 32%
• Men are 37% more likely to travel with 2 or more check-in bags than women; women are 28% more likely to travel with no check-in bags than men.
• Gen Z (45%) are the most likely to travel with 2 or more check-in bags among all age groups.
• Gen Z (8%) is the most likely to use a travel agent when booking travel.
• The most commonly owned airline credit cards among American travelers are:
  • American Airlines: 10%
  • Delta Airlines: 9%
  • Southwest Airlines: 8%
• The most commonly owned airline credit cards by generation are:
  • Gen X: Southwest Airlines and American Airlines (Tie - 12%)
  • Millennial: Delta Airlines (10%)
  • Gen Z: American Airlines (11%)

 

 

• Alaska Airlines fliers are the most likely to cut back on travel (22%) to avoid baggage fees.
• United Airlines fliers are the most likely to apply for a new airline credit card (11%) to avoid baggage fees.
• Alaska Airlines fliers are the most likely to upgrade their current travel credit card (12%) to avoid baggage fees.
• Gen Z and Millennials are the most likely to plan to switch airlines (30%).
• Over 1 in 4 Gen Zers (27%) plan to cut back on travel in response to increased airline baggage fees. 

Tracing Airline Revenues

 

• Total baggage revenue jumped a projected 10.2% from 2022 to 2023.*
• Total baggage revenue in each of the last 4 years among major U.S. airlines:
  • 2020: $2.8 billion
  • 2021: $5.3 billion
  • 2022: $6.8 billion
  • 2023: $7.4 billion*

*2023 revenue is based on projection based on Q1 2023, Q2 2023, and Q3 2023 values

Methodology

For this study, we surveyed 1,004 Americans who travel and asked them about their airplane travel habits and spending. Additionally, we leveraged data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to grasp the revenue airlines have generated from baggage fees. Airlines included in this study were Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines.

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Fair Use Statement

Interested in sharing our insights on baggage fees and travel trends? You're welcome to use this article for any noncommercial purpose. Please provide a link back to this page to ensure access to the full context and methodology behind our findings.