Fee of Flying

The original and, arguably the worst: if you can’t stuff everything you need into that carry-on, you’re going to be paying up. Not long after they began charging for a third bag (initially about $40), major carriers began charging for a second, and then for the first bag. Most major carriers—Delta, US Airways, American, and Continental—charge $25 for a first bag and $35 for a second, with all but American offering two bucks off if you check the bags online, rather than waiting until the airport. You’ll save some cash if you catch a budget carrier: AirTran charges $20 and $25, and Spirit charges $25 for both (although the cost will soon rise), while JetBlue charges only for a second bag. Your best bet, though, is to fly Southwest, where your bags fly free.