We love to talk about everything that goes into actually getting to a Disney park, because getting there is step one of every single food crawl, every festival lap, every dining reservation we have ever written about.
And right now getting there just got more expensive in a very specific way. Six major U.S. airlines have raised their checked baggage fees in the past two weeks.
Delta, Southwest, Alaska, Hawaiian, and American have all joined JetBlue and United in bumping those fees up, and the timing is not great for anyone booking a summer Disney trip right now.
The airlines are blaming fuel costs, specifically the sharp rise in jet fuel prices tied to the ongoing Iran conflict. Whatever the cause, the new rates are locked in and they are going to hit Disney families harder than most, because Disney families do not travel light. We broke down every airline so you know exactly what you are looking at before you book, per SF Gate.
Every Airline, Every New Fee
Delta: First bag up from $35 to $45, second bag up from $45 to $55, effective for flights booked April 8 or later. Third bag jumps $50 to a total of $200. These rates apply to domestic main cabin and Comfort passengers. International long-haul fees are unchanged. SkyMiles elites, Delta credit card holders, and premium fare buyers are exempt.
American Airlines: First bag up from $35 to $45 prepaid, and $50 at the airport. Second bag up to $55 prepaid and $60 at the airport. Effective for domestic tickets and routes to Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands purchased April 9 or later. AAdvantage elites, American credit card holders, premium seat buyers, and active military keep their exemptions.
American also tightened basic economy rules separately. Starting May 15, basic economy passengers pay $50 to $55 for the first bag and $60 to $65 for the second. For basic economy tickets purchased May 18 or later, everyone including status members pays for seat selection and is not eligible for complimentary upgrades. AAdvantage members without elite status or co-branded credit cards who book basic economy get bumped to Group 7 boarding later this year.
Southwest: First bag up from $35 to $45, second from $45 to $55, effective April 9 or later. A-List elites and Rapid Rewards credit card holders still get the first bag free. A-List Preferred and Choice Extra fare buyers still get two free bags.
Alaska and Hawaiian: First bag up to $45, second up to $55, effective April 10. Up from $40 and $45 respectively. Third bag now $200, up from $150. The $5 prepayment discount is gone. Atmos Rewards elites, card holders, and premium cabin passengers keep their free allowances.
What This Actually Costs a Disney Family
Here is the math that stings. A family of four checking two bags each on a round-trip Delta flight to Orlando is now paying $320 in baggage fees. Under the old rates that was $280. That $40 difference does not sound catastrophic, but it lands on top of park tickets, resort costs, dining budgets, and everything else a Disney trip already costs. And for families checking more bags or flying under the new American basic economy rules, the number climbs faster.
The most practical response if you fly one airline regularly is to look at whether their co-branded credit card makes sense for you. Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska, and United all offer cards that waive checked bag fees for cardholders. At current fee levels, a family that flies even twice a year will often save more in bag fees than the annual fee costs. Run those numbers before your next Disney booking, not after.
If you are considering American basic economy for the savings, do the actual comparison against main cabin right now. The new bag fees, mandatory seat selection charges, and Group 7 boarding for members without status or cards may erase the fare difference entirely on a family trip where bags and seats matter.
Southwest Has a New Rule About Power Banks Too
Separate from the bag fees, Southwest announced new restrictions on portable lithium battery chargers effective April 20. One power bank per person, maximum 100 watt-hours. No overhead bin storage — they have to go in under-seat bags or on your person. Can only be used in flight if visible.
We want to flag this specifically for Disney travelers because portable chargers are not optional on a park day. My Disney Experience runs all day. Mobile ordering, Lightning Lane, wait times, PhotoPass — all of it goes through your phone. A dead phone at 2 p.m. on a Magic Kingdom day is a genuine problem. The FAA recorded 97 in-flight lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat in 2025, up from 39 in 2020, which is why the rules are tightening. Pack a compliant single charger, keep it accessible under your seat, and you are fine.
The Loyalty Program Rankings Are Out Too
WalletHub just released its 2026 airline loyalty program rankings. Alaska Airlines' Atmos Rewards took first place for the third year running. United was second, followed by Delta, American, JetBlue, and Southwest. At the bottom were Spirit, Frontier, Sun Country, and Allegiant. In terms of raw dollar value returned per $100 spent, Frontier actually leads at $13.92, with Alaska second at $9.58 and United eighth at $4.37.
One specific data point worth noting before anyone buys miles to top off an account before a Disney trip: WalletHub found that airline miles cost an average of 2.5 times more than their value when purchased rather than earned. Buy miles if you need to, but go in knowing you are paying a premium.
We update our Disney travel guide whenever something changes that affects the cost of getting to a park, and the airline fee situation right now is exactly that kind of change. Check it before you book your next trip, do the bag fee math for your family size and your carrier, and then come find us on the other side of security when you are ready to talk about what to eat first.
Has the bag fee increase already hit your Disney trip budget? Tell us in the comments. And if you have a credit card hack that makes this less painful, share that too.
