Why do airlines charge so much for checked bags? This obscure rule helps explain why
- Written by Jay L. Zagorsky, Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, Boston University
Five out of the six biggest U.S. airlines have raised their checked bag fees since January 2024.
Take American Airlines. In 2023, it cost US$30 to check a standard bag in with the airline; today, as of March 2024, it costs $40 at a U.S. airport – a whopping 33% increase.
As a business schoolprofessor who studies travel, I’m often asked...