Southwest Hikes Baggage Fees Again As Jet Fuel Costs Rise
Southwest raised first checked bag to $45 and second to $55, citing rising jet fuel costs after the Feb. 28 Iran war and joining other U.S. carriers in recent fee increases.
ABC NewsSouthwest Airlines, once known for its free bags perk, hikes fees amid higher jet fuel costs
FortuneLess than a year after ditching its famous 'bags fly free' policy, Southwest is hiking prices again | Fortune
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The GuardianDelta CEO braces flyers for higher fares amid surge in oil prices tied to Iran war
Overview
Southwest Airlines said it will charge $45 for a first checked bag and $55 for a second starting Thursday, a $10 increase announced less than a year after ending its free-bag policy in May 2025.
The carrier said the move was made 'as part of an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop' amid jet fuel cost jumps since the Feb. 28 Iran war.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian warned high fuel costs make fee increases hard to call temporary after Delta incurred an extra $330 million in fuel expenses and projected a $2 billion increase in fuel costs in the current quarter.
The average price for a gallon of jet fuel in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York was $4.81 on Tuesday, up from $2.50 the day before the war started, according to Argus Media.
Kayak reported average economy round-trip international fares rose to $998 as of March 30, while domestic fares increased to $350 from $336.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the fee increase as a pragmatic, market-driven response, emphasizing fuel-price and Middle East conflict causation. Editorial choices—calling the prior policy 'generous' and a 'major shift', foregrounding airline statements, citing Argus Media jet-fuel data, and comparing peer carriers—collectively steer readers toward an economic explanation rather than airline strategy or consumer impact.