US Airline Baggage Rules
Airline baggage rules change more often than luggage does. These pages cover the numbers that decide whether your bag flies free or costs you $45 each way — carry-on dimensions, personal item size, checked limits, and the fees that went up across almost every US carrier in April 2026.
Key Facts
A bag that is two inches too tall can cost more than the bag itself over a year of trips.
Every fee on these pages was checked against the airline during the April 2026 round of increases — many comparison sites still list the old prices.
Each page links to carry-on and checked luggage that actually clears that airline limits.
US Airline Baggage Rules
Southwest baggage rules for 2026: 24x16x10 carry-on, personal item size, checked bag fees after the April 2026 increase, overweight charges, and who still checks bags free.
Delta Air Lines Delta Baggage Rules 2026: Carry-On Size, Personal Item and Checked Bag FeesDelta baggage rules for 2026: 22x14x9 carry-on, personal item limits, $45 first checked bag and $55 second, overweight and oversize fees, and who checks bags free.
United Airlines United Baggage Rules 2026: Carry-On Size, Personal Item and Checked Bag FeesUnited baggage rules for 2026: 22x14x9 carry-on, the narrow 17x10x9 personal item limit, checked bag fees after the April 2026 increase, and the Basic Economy carry-on trap.
American Airlines American Airlines Baggage Rules 2026: Carry-On Size and Checked Bag FeesAmerican Airlines baggage rules for 2026: 22x14x9 carry-on, 18x14x8 personal item, $45 first checked bag prepaid, and why Basic Economy still includes a carry-on.
Spirit and Frontier Spirit and Frontier Baggage Rules 2026: Why the Carry-On Costs More Than the Checked BagSpirit and Frontier baggage rules for 2026: free personal item size, what carry-on and checked bags cost, and why checking a bag is often cheaper than carrying it on.
Fee comparison US Airline Baggage Fees Compared 2026: Every Major Carrier Side by SideA side-by-side comparison of 2026 baggage fees and size limits for Southwest, Delta, United, American, Alaska, JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier, updated after the April 2026 increases.
Recommended Next Reads
Before your next trip
Check fit and total baggage cost
Start with a side-by-side fee table and round-trip examples.