What a carry-on bag costs you on 9 major airlines
Flying can be stressful and expensive. But besides the price of the ticket, there are lots of other fees that can pop up and add to the cost of a flight. And though it used to be a common assumption that you could get away with skipping the checked-bag fee if you packed everything in a carry-on, that’s not always the case. Some carriers charge for those, too. Making matters worse, a carry-on might cost you more depending on when you let certain airlines know that you’re bringing one.
Click through to see the carry-on fees that different U.S. airlines charge their passengers.
Hawaiian Airlines
Free
Hawaiian’s carry-on baggage rule says that “you are limited to one (1) carry-on bag and one (1) personal item on any flights that we operate.”
Frontier
It depends.
Frontier charges a fee for carry-ons, and that fee goes up the closer you get to takeoff. For instance, a flight departing from Charlotte, North Carolina for Los Angeles on July 16 (checked July 3) has the follow fee schedule for carry-ons:
🧳 $62 if a carry-on is confirmed when the ticket is purchased
🧳 $72 if a carry-on is confirmed when a passenger checks in for their flight via web or app
🧳 $79 if a carry-on is confirmed if a passenger checks in at the ticket counter the day of the flight
🧳 $99 if a carry-on is confirmed at the departure gate
The prices can change at any time and can also change from flight to flight. There are some exceptions:
🛄 Passengers with Elite Gold, Platinum, or Diamond frequent-flyer status can bring a carry-on bag for free.
🛄 Passengers flying on a Elite Diamond member’s booking can bring a carry-on bag for free.
🛄 Active duty military passengers can bring a carry-on bag for free.
🛄 Business travelers who book through a travel agent can get a special fare that allows for free carry-ons.
🛄 The airline sometimes has coupons for free carry-ons, as well.
JetBlue Airways
Free (soon)
Until Sept. 6, all JetBlue passengers fly with a free carry-on except for its budget Blue Basic fares according to the company’s policy. Those tickets will have to pay a $65 fee. But the carrier just announced that Blue Basic customers will get free carry-ons for flights departing after Sept. 6.
Spirit Airlines
It depends
Spirit charges a fee for carry-ons, and that fee goes up the closer you get to takeoff. For instance, a flight departing from Charlotte, North Carolina for Los Angeles on July 16 (checked July 3) has the follow fee schedule for carry-ons:
🧳 $50 if a carry-on is confirmed when a ticket is booked
🧳 $60 if a carry-on is confirmed when a passenger checks in via web or app
🧳 $79 if a carry-on is confirmed at the airport
The prices can change at any time and can also change from flight to flight.
Alaska Airlines
Free
Alaska’s carry-on baggage policy says that “when traveling with us, you’re allowed one carry-on bag plus one personal item.”
United Airlines
Free (mostly)
United’s carry-on policy says that “you can bring one carry-on bag and one personal item for free on most domestic and international flights.”
Passengers flying under the carrier’s budget Basic Economy fare, on the other hand, have to pay a bag fee for carry-ons that varies from trip to trip. For instance, a flight departing from Charlotte, North Carolina for Los Angeles on July 16 (checked July 3) has the follow fee schedule for carry-ons:
🧳 $35 if a carry-on is confirmed at least 24 hours before the flight
🧳 $40 if a carry-on is confirmed less than 24 hours before a flight
🧳 $65 if a carry-on is confirmed at the departure gate
American Airlines
Free
American’s carry-on policy says that each passenger gets “1 personal item and 1 carry-on” free of charge.
Southwest Airlines
Free
Southwest’s carry-on policy says that passengers “may bring one carryon bag and one personal item without charge.”
Delta Air Lines
Free
Delta’s carry-on policy says that “each passenger flying with Delta can bring 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item free of charge.”