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Domestic Airline Fees

Airline "Fee-fi-fo-fums"


By Marianne Schwab | Best Travel Deals Tips Blog




Domestic airline fees are out of control. You can no longer buy an airline ticket and assume anything is included for the purchase of air fare. The cost of air travel now includes much more than the price of the base ticket fee. Most airlines continue to add fees for everything from checked baggage to blankets and pillows (Ryan Air tried to charge for using the on board toilets) and now charge for these items a la cart.

Mad TV produced a fabulous satire on additional domestic airline fees back in 2007 before airlines started charging for checked luggage and much more but had started charging for meals and things.

It's always great to look at these changing times of air travel and domestic airline fees with a sense of humor since it sure beats crying about escalating fees.




Our domestic airline fees list breaks down what domestic airline carriers are charging for specific services and additional "perks" that used to be included so you can plan your travel budget. Check out this list of domestic airline fees before you purchase your ticket. Keep in mind that there are a lot of airline mergers going on so there may be some overlap, but I do my best to keep this page updated.

Domestic Airline Fees



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Alaska Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $25 - $100
Reservation by phone fee: $15
Unaccompanied minor fee: $25 non-stop, $50 connections (per flight)
First checked bag: $20
Second checked bag: $20
Additional bags fee: $20 for third bag, $50 each for 4 - 10 bags
Overweight bags: $50
Oversize bags: $50 for 63 - 80 in., $75 for 81 in.- 115 in.
Pet flight fee: $100
Disclosure: on itinerary selection page small box appears on right to display total price
Snacks: $4 - $6
Meal: $6
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $6
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: $0
Priority seating fee: None
Legroom fee: None

Allegiant Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $50
Reservation by phone fee: $10
Unaccompanied minor fee: $100 (per flight)
First checked bag: $15 - $20 ($35 at airport)
Second checked bag: $15 - $25 ($35 at airport)
Additional bags fee: $50 each for 4+
Overweight bags: $50 for 51- 70 lbs., $75 for 71- 100 lbs
Oversize bags: $75
Pet flight fee: $100
Disclosure: once depart and return selected secondary quote page display taxes and fees
Snacks: $2 - $4
Meal: none
Beverages: $2
Alcoholic beverages: $5
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: n/a
Priority seating fee: $11 - $13
Legroom fee: $15

American Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $150
Reservation by phone fee: $20
Unaccompanied minor fee: $100 (per flight)
First checked bag fee: $25
Second checked bag fee: $35
Additional bags fee: $100 each for 3-5, $200 each for 6+
Overweight bags: $50 for 50+ - 70 lbs, $100 for 70+ - 100 lbs.
Oversize bags: $150
Pet flight fee: $100 - 150
Disclosure: Taxes and fees are displayed on aa.com after selecting departure and return
Snacks: none
Meal: $3 - $8
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $6
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: $50
Priority seating fee: None
Legroom fee: None

Delta Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $150
Reservation by phone fee: $20
Unaccompanied minor fee: $150 (per flight)
First checked bag fee: $23 - $25
Second checked bag fee: $32 - $35
Additional bags fee: $125 for third bag; $200 each for 4-10 checked bags
Overweight bags: $90 for 51-75 lbs., $175 for 71-100 lbs.
Oversize bags: $175 for bags measuring 63–80 in (L+W+H), $300 for bags measuring 81-115 in (L+W+H)
Pet flight fee: $100 - $175
Disclosure: Bags fees are not included in purchases at delta.com. Bag fees are applied at airport.
Snacks: Free - $5
Meal: $6 - 8
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $5 - $7
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: $50
Priority seating fee: None
Legroom fee: None

Frontier Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $100
Reservation by phone fee: $25
Unaccompanied minor fee: $50 (per flight)
First checked bag: $20
Second checked bag: $30
Additional bags fee: $50 each for 3+ bags
Overweight bags: $75
Oversize bags: $75
Pet flight fee: $100 - $200
Disclosure: on itinerary selection page small box displays total price.
Snacks: $3
Meal: $6 - $7
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $5
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: Varies
Priority seating fee: None
Legroom fee: $25 per segment

Hawaiian Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $150
Reservation by phone fee: $10 - $25
Unaccompanied minor fee: $35 - $100 (per flight)
First checked bag: $23 - $25
Second checked bag: $32 - $35
Additional bags fee: $125 each for 3-6 bags, $200 each for 7+
Overweight bags: $50
Oversize bags: $100
Pet flight fee: $35 - $175
Disclosure: once depart and return selected secondary quote page display taxes and fees
Snacks: Free
Meal: Free
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $6
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: $0
Priority seating fee: None
Legroom fee: None

JetBlue Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $100
Reservation by phone fee: $15
Unaccompanied minor fee: $75 (per flight)
First checked bag: $20
Second checked bag: $30
Additional bags fee: $75 each for 3+
Overweight bags: $50 for 51-70 lbs., $100 for 71-99lbs.
Oversize bags: $75
Pet flight fee: $100
Disclosure: Shows Taxes and fees after selecting departure and return.
Snacks: Free
Meal: Available for Fee
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $6
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: $40
Priority seating fee: $10 - $30
Legroom fee: $10 - $30

Southwest Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: free
Reservation by phone fee: free
Unaccompanied minor fee: $50 (per flight)
First checked bag: Free
Second checked bag: Free
Additional bags fee: $50 each for 3-9 bags, $110 each for 10+
Overweight bags: $50
Oversize bags: $50
Pet flight fee: $75
Disclosure: once depart and return itinerary selected secondary quote page display taxes and fees
Snacks: Free
Meal: None
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $5
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: Varies
Priority seating fee: $15 - $30
Legroom fee: None

Spirit Airlines

Carry-On Bag Fee: $25 (starts August 1, 2010)
Non-refundable ticket change fee: $100 - $110
Reservation by phone fee: $10
Unaccompanied minor fee: $100
First checked bag: $19 - $25
Second checked bag: $25
Additional bags fee: $100 each for 3-5 bags
Overweight bags: $50 for 51-70lbs., $100 for 71-99lbs.
Oversize bags: $100 for 62+ in., $150 for 80+ in. Carry-on bags: $20 to $45 for bags in overhead bin
Pet flight fee: $100
Disclosure: once depart and return selected secondary quote page display taxes and fees
Snacks: $2 - $5
Meal: None
Beverages: $2 - $3
Alcoholic beverages: $5
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: $16
Priority seating fee: $8 -$16
Legroom fee: $20

Sun Country Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $75 - $100
Reservation by phone fee: $15
Unaccompanied minor fee: $75 (per flight)
First checked bag: $20 - $25
Second checked bag: $30 - $35
Additional bags fee: $75 each for 3-5 bags
Overweight bags: $75 for 51-98lbs.
Oversize bags: $75 for 62+ in.
Pet flight fee: $100
Disclosure: once depart and return selected secondary quote page display taxes and fees
Snacks: Free
Meal: $3 - $6
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $5
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: N/A
Priority seating fee: N/A
Legroom fee: None

United Airlines

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $150
Reservation by phone fee: $25
Unaccompanied minor fee: $99
First checked bag fee: $25
Second checked bag fee: $35
Additional bags fee: $100 each
Overweight bags: $100 if over 50 lbs.
Oversize bags: $100
Pet flight fee: $125 - $250
Disclosure: once depart and return selected secondary quote page display taxes and fees
Snacks: $3 - $7
Meal: $9
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $6
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: Free
Priority seating fee: $9 - $109
Legroom fee: $9 - $109

US Airways

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $150
Reservation by phone fee: $25 - $35
Unaccompanied minor fee: $100 (per flight)
First checked bag: $23 - $25
Second checked bag: $32 - $35
Additional bags fee: $100 each for 3+ bags
Overweight bags: $50 for 51-70 lbs, $100 for 71-100 lbs.
Oversize bags: $100
Pet flight fee: $100
Disclosure: must click price link to see details of taxes and fees
Snacks: $3 -$6
Meal: $7
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $7 - $8
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: $25
Priority seating fee: $5 - $30
Legroom fee: $5 - $30

Virgin America

Non-refundable ticket change fee: $75
Reservation by phone fee: $15
Unaccompanied minor fee: $75
First checked bag: $25
Second checked bag: $25
Additional bags fee: $25 each for 2-10 bags
Overweight bags: Bag one - 71 to 100 lbs - $100, Bags two through ten - 51 to 70 lbs - $50, 71 to 100 lbs - $100
Oversize bags: $50
Pet flight fee: $100
Disclosure: on itinerary selection page small box appears on right to display total price
Snacks: $3 - $6
Meal: $7 - $10
Beverages: Free
Alcoholic beverages: $6 - $10
Standby/Confirmed seat fee: $50
Priority seating fee: $75
Legroom fee: $75



One of my biggest pet peeves with domestic airline fees is the outrageous change fees on non-refundable ticket purchases second only to charging for checked bags. I sure do miss the good old days...just about ten years ago when air travel was completely different and a much more enjoyable experience. I can't imagine any more fee-fi-fo-fum add-ons that could happen from here, but who knows? I do appreciate that certain airlines, like Southwest Airlines, "get it" and provide more service as a "no frills" airline than most airlines that don't consider themselves no frills do. I think all airlines should downgrade their carrier status to reflect no frills. However, it does seem that there are two things many carriers are giving away for free of charge: Lousy Service AND a Bad Attitude. Enough said (for now.)





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About Marianne Schwab
TV Travel Show Producer

For over twenty years, TV Travel Show Producer, Marianne Schwab, has been collecting money saving travel tips as a travel producer for high profile television programs. She has flown all over the world and produced live television productions on location from Caesar's Palace on the Vegas Strip to the beautiful island of Oahu. Read more