# Customers checking one bag will pay $45 starting on Thursday, while a second will now cost $55.

*business · news · 2026-04-08 · Chicago Sun-Times*

## Key points

- Southwest Airlines is raising checked bag fees to $45 for the first and $55 for the second.
- Southwest ended its two free checked bags policy in May 2025, ending a decades-old differentiator.
- Jet fuel prices have nearly doubled since the Iran war began, now averaging $4.81 per gallon.
- Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again, threatening oil supply and casting doubt on the ceasefire.
- U.S. airlines are raising baggage fees instead of adding fuel surcharges, unlike many international carriers.

**Companies:** Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines
**Countries:** United States, Iran

[Read the full story on Chicago Sun-Times](https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/04/08/southwest-airlines-bag-fee)

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