You can check in from one to more than six standard bags before boarding. Most carriers do not state a limit on the number of bags you may check in.
Most airlines will charge a fee for some or all of your checked baggage; these fees vary from carrier to carrier. If you are checking oversized baggage or special items, special restrictions and fees may apply.
You may be exempt from charges for some bags if you're a member of the airline's frequent flier program or on active military duty.
Check-in baggage fees tend to increase with each bag you check in. Your first will be the least expensive, with most U.S. airlines charging from $15 to $20 for the first standard checked bag on domestic flights. (Some airlines charge less if you check in your bags online before arriving at the airport.) After that, the cost of check-in baggage rises with each subsequent bag. So, if you decide to check 10 bags, you'll be spending hundreds of dollars on checked baggage.
When traveling internationally, the charges for checked bags vary from airline to airline. Visit your air carrier's website before traveling to check its rules.
In 2007, Spirit Air began charging a $5 or $10 fee for passengers to check a second standard bag, and $100 for a third, in the interest of keeping fares low. (See Reference 3)
Charging a fee for checked baggage became more widespread in May 2008, when American Airlines announced it would charge for the first checked bag on domestic flights, in the name of offsetting increased fuel costs. (See Reference 2)
The other major airlines soon followed suit. In August 2009, most major airlines increased fees for checking luggage.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), charging passengers to check their bags has paid off for the airlines: The major U.S. carriers collected $566.3 million in baggage fees in the first quarter of 2009. This is an increase of more than $443 million from the same period a year earlier. (See Reference 1)
The BTS says that American Airlines collects the most from baggage check-in fees, having charged $108.1 million during the first quarter of 2009.
Since checking baggage can result in spending money beyond the cost of your airfare, you may want to reconsider your packing strategy on your next flight. Most airlines allow you to carry one bag, as well as one personal item (such as a briefcase or purse), onto your flight and avoid an additional charge. If you are carrying on your bag, make sure you adhere to the Transportation Security Administration's rules for carrying on liquids.
