Revealed: The best and worst US airlines for carry-on baggage allowance
The policy was seen as a key differentiator between the Dallas-based airline and its competitors and means that now, all the major US airlines charge for checked luggage on domestic routes.
So, does anything separate them when it comes to luggage policies?
We raked over the often convoluted baggage rules and fees for the nine biggest American carriers and discovered that some are definitely more generous than others when it comes to leeway with luggage.
We name the two airlines to avoid if you don't want to pay for carry-on bags, the ones with especially confusing explanations around their rules and declare which carrier is No.1 overall for carry-on generosity.
American Airlines
In the cabin: One personal item and one carry-on for free.
Your personal item, like a purse or small handbag, must fit under the seat in front of you, says American Airlines. Dimensions should not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches, or 45 x 35 x 20cm.
The total size of your carry-on, including the handles and wheels, cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches, or 56 x 36 x 23cm.
Grand overhead bin total: 45 inches, or 114cm.
In the hold: For travel within/between the U.S, Puerto Rico, and U.S Virgin Islands, the first checked bag fee in economy is $40 ($35 if you pay online) and the second checked bag fee is $45.
For travel to/from Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Guyana, the first checked bag fee is $35 and the second checked bag fee is $45.
First checked bag is free for eligible AAdvantage credit cardholders and those with enough status; various international destinations, not including the UK.
Delta Air Lines
In the cabin: One personal item and one carry-on for free. Your personal item must fit under the seat in front of you.
Carry-on bags for the overhead locker may not exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches, or 56 x 35 x 23cm.
Grand overhead bin total: 45 inches, or 114cm.
In the hold: For travel on domestic flights within the U.S, first checked bag in economy is $35, second is $45.
First checked bag is free for passengers on various international flights, including to Northern Europe; Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and select Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members.
United Airlines
In the cabin: One carry-on bag and one personal item for free "on most flights".
Personal items must fit under the seat in front of you, so they must be 9 x 10 x 17 inches, or 22 x 25 x 43cm.
Carry-on items for overhead bins must be no bigger than 22 x 14 x 9 inches, or 56 x 35 x 23cm.
Grand overhead bin total: 45 inches, or 114cm.
In the hold: United has a "checked bag fee calculator", which reveals that the first checked bag in economy on a domestic flight costs $40 ($35 prepaid) and must not exceed 62 linear inches, or 157cm.
The first checked economy bag is free on many international flights, including to London, but a fee of $60 is charged on some routes.
Southwest Airlines
In the cabin: One bag and one personal item. The bag should be stowed in the overhead compartment, and the small personal item stowed under your seat.
Carry-on items for overhead bins must be no bigger than 24 x 16 x 10 inches, or 60 x 40 x 25cm.
Grand overhead bin total: 50 inches, or 127cm.
In the hold: First checked bag in economy is $35, a second checked bag costs $45. Checked bags must not exceed a linear length of 62 inches, or 157cm.
Alaska Airlines
In the cabin: You're allowed one carry-on bag plus one personal item with Alaska.
The carry-on bag size limit for flights on all aircraft types is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, or 56 x 35 x 23cm.
Grand overhead bin total: 45 inches, or 114cm.
In the hold: First checked bag in economy is $35, a second checked bag costs $45. Checked bags must not exceed a linear length of 62 inches, or 157cm.
Frontier Airlines
In the cabin: One personal item is included with your fare.
Carry-on luggage incurs a fee of between $59 and a hefty $99 depending on your departure date and destination. Passengers must use a fee checker on the airline's website to find out what they'll be charged.
Maximum size: 10 x 16 x 24 inches, or 25 x 40 x 60cm, including handles, wheels and straps.
Grand overhead bin total: 50 inches, or 127cm.
In the hold: Checked bags incur a fee depending on the departure date and destination (typically between $55 and $100) and must not exceed 62 linear inches, or 157cm.
Hawaiian Airlines
In the cabin: You're allowed one carry-on bag plus one personal item.
The carry-on bag size limit for flights on all aircraft types is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, or 56 x 36 x 23cm. And bags must not exceed 25 Ibs (11kg).
Grand overhead bin total: 45 inches, or 114cm.
In the hold: First checked bag is $30 if flying to a neighbor island, second bag is $40. If flying to North America, first checked bag is $40 and second is $45.
Checked bags are free on international flights, except to Australia and New Zealand.
Hold bags must not exceed a linear size of 62 inches (157cm).
JetBlue
In the cabin: Each economy customer is allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item for free.
Carry-on bags must not exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches, or 55 x 35 x 22cm.
Grand overhead bin total: 45 inches, or 114cm. There is no weight limit.
In the hold: JetBlue's checked baggage rules are quite complicated, with passengers charged different fees depending on their fare type and when they book the baggage.
Within the U.S, the first checked bag is $35, the second $40. For transatlantic flights the fee is $60 for "Blue Basic" but included for seats in tiers above this.
Hold bags must not exceed a linear size of 62 inches (157cm).
Spirit Airlines
In the cabin: All passengers can bring one personal item, and carry-ons are free for three fare types, but those on the basic "Go travel" option will have to pay a fee of between $37 and $65 depending on whether they pay online, when checking in, or at the gate.
Carry-on bags must not exceed 22 x18 x10 inches, or 56 x 46 x 25cm.
Grand overhead bin total: 50 inches, or 127cm.
Checked bags must not exceed 80 inches or 203cm in linear size.
Verdict
Southwest Airlines offers the best overall carry-on allowance, allowing passengers to take 50 inches of overhead bin luggage onboard for free.
Frontier and Spirit are also generous with the carry-on size allowance, matching Southwest's 50 inches for overhead locker luggage, but they both charge basic fare passengers a fee.
It's more difficult to separate the airlines when it comes to checked luggage, though many will find the fee-checking tools being used on some websites, such as Frontier and United's, annoying.
Southwest garners extra points here for laying out its fees clearly in a table, while JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines' and Spirit lose marks for less-than-clear baggage explanations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
34 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Trump's cold brew: New York coffee shops warn of higher prices amid steep tariffs
The Trump administration has targeted Brazil with steep US tariffs of 50%. Coffee shops in the heart of New York are bracing for impact. When the Trump administration announced another wave of sweeping tariffs, particularly on Brazil, Stone Street Cafe's managing partner was first confused. Then came fear. A cafe already runs on slim margins and extra costs passed on from tariffs could risk everything. 'If these tariffs are long term, it will put our business in jeopardy,' Antony Garrigues, managing partner of Stone Street Cafe, said. 'In New York City, the operating costs are already so high, and these tariffs will make everything much more expensive. 'In the end, if people cannot afford our coffee, and we do not have a profit margin, we will not make it.' Stone Street Cafe, based in Manhattan, sources green coffee beans from more than 35 different countries, including Brazil. But Brazil is not the only coffee-producing nation facing tariff pressures: Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia and Indonesia are also affected. 'These tariffs are not paid by the country. The costs are passed down to the business owner, and consumer,' noted Garrigues. 'For now, we are going to try and absorb as much [of] the cost as we can. But at the end of the day, this is a business – so we may have to increase the prices.' With the growing effects of climate change already inflating coffee prices, other cafes have already done so. Aside from coffee Ciao Gloria, in Brooklyn, also imports cocoa powder from Brazil. Jams sourced from Italy now face Trump's 15% tariff on exports from the European Union. The cafe raised prices by about 25 cents per cup, but plans to absorb any additional tariffs costs, at least for now. 'I'm selling sugar and caffeine – I'm basically a drug dealer,' joked owner Renato Poliafito. 'So I want to make sure the menu is affordable.' But then he turned serious. 'We have to be vigilant about analyzing the situation before jumping to price increases.' Customers are already scrutinizing their receipts. US coffee prices rose 14.5% in the year to July, according to official data. 'It's this idea of shifting baseline where we normalize something being expensive when it shouldn't [be], and it's very scary to see,' said Helina Seyoum, 29, who has reverted to making coffee at home. 'Now a morning coffee becomes a burden, because you're obsessing over the costs.' A daily cafe trip was how Aley Longo, 28, made sure she escaped the confines of her studio apartment and spoke to people outside work in an 'affordable' way. Now it's strictly a weekend activity. Trump's tariffs are 'bad for Americans, and our quality of life', Longo said, 'and we are suffering, whether it's as tiny as just being able to buy coffee out, or something so much bigger'. Those behind the counter know what it's like to watch the price of a regular purchase grow. Allon Azulai, who owns Kos Kaffe in Brooklyn, which imports beans from countries including Colombia, Honduras and Kenya, described nervously asking vendors for their latest prices each week, as tariffs and mounting demand looms large. 'Right now the industry is so unstable and what worries me if tariffs continue is cafes that do not have big pockets will not be able to survive,' said Azulai. As US cafes come under pressure, the coffee producers they source from are also preparing for disruption. Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer and exporter. The US is the leading destination of its coffee: about a third of its coffee imports are Brazilian. The Brazilian Soluble Coffee Industry Association, which represents producers, said the 50% US tariff on the country's exports amounted to a 'clear competitive disadvantage' as other leading countries for coffee production face lower rates, ranging from 10% to 27%. 'This decision not only harms the Brazilian industry but could also negatively affect American consumers, who benefit from the quality and competitive price of our coffee,' the association said. Brazilian producers and exporters still hope they can lobby for coffee to be exempt from US tariffs, arguing the US produces very little coffee domestically. The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, had previously suggested products not cultivated on American soil could be granted zero tariffs, they note. If that fails Brazil's Coffee Exporters Council says it will at least seek to reduce the tariff on coffee to 10%, in line with other Brazilian goods, including oil, orange juice and aircraft. 'We remain optimistic and hopeful,' the council said. New coffee export deals with the US are on hold and shipments ready to go are stuck in storage, adding costs for exporters. China has meanwhile approved 183 new Brazilian firms to export coffee, although the exporters' council cautioned that sales may take time to materialize. In Vietnam and Colombia – the world's second and third largest coffee-producing nations, respectively – exporters hope that lower US tariffs on their coffee will help them steal a march on Brazil. 'The US can't grow coffee at scale, so tariffs won't bring production back home,' Timen Swijtink, founder of Lacàph Coffees in Vietnam, said. 'With the tiny margins in our industry, any tariff cost goes straight to the American consumer.' Even with 20% US tariffs on Vietnam, the country's farmers 'are resilient and will find new markets', added Swijtink, 'with global demand strong and China's demand growing like a rocket ship'. With the US tariff on Colombia only at the baseline 10%, small coffee growers across the country are shrugging off any immediate impacts. 'The average coffee farmer won't feel it, at least for now,' said José David Posada, a fourth-generation coffee farmer and owner of Capilla del Rosario, a finca in Medellín. 'It's the exporters who will be impacted.' There is also a sense among some that, given Brazil's tariffs are at 50%, Trump's tariff war could even help Colombian business. The country's coffee cultivation is vital to the national economy, representing 8% of total Colombian exports. Posada said: 'The fact that Brazil has a higher tariff, obviously that's going to have a positive impact on us, right?' Guilherme Morya, a coffee analyst at Rabobank, said the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee may, at least in the short term, shift American buyers toward other sources. 'Colombia gains a price advantage, and being the second-largest supplier, it becomes the most obvious candidate to fill this gap,' he said. But Alejandro Lloreda, a farmer at family-run Cafetal de la Trinidad, which produces specialty coffee, cautioned the difference would only give Colombia 'a temporary advantage'. 'A coffee tree can take two to three years to produce, and the tariff situation could well change before then,' he said. Back in New York, cafe owners find themselves in an equally uncertain position. 'The tariffs are to small businesses' detriment,' said Poliafito, of Ciao Gloria. 'Big businesses can find a way around it. But we will suffer the costs.' 'It's scary to not know if we can continue our business,' added Nick Kim, manager of Koré Coffee in Manhattan. 'It's really a shame, and sad, that you know bad things are coming, but you cannot do anything to change it. We have no option but to see what will come.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
A charred Grand Canyon mascot is recovered from the rubble. Can Brighty the Burro be saved?
A beloved bronze statue, Brighty the Burro, has been rescued from the charred remains of a historic Grand Canyon lodge, sparking hopes for his restoration after a devastating wildfire. The 600-pound (273-kilogram) sculpture, a familiar sight to visitors at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the national park's North Rim, was severely damaged when a summer wildfire reduced the nearly century-old building to rubble. Brighty was discovered with his head and body largely intact, but missing an ear and with his front legs detached, a stark testament to the blaze's intensity. As firefighters continued to battle the persistent flames, Brighty embarked on a five-hour journey. Strapped into the back of a pickup truck, he was transported from his North Rim home to the South Rim on Friday, marking a significant step in his recovery. The immediate plan involves housing the iconic burro in the Grand Canyon National Park's museum collection for a thorough assessment. Park officials and conservation experts face the task of determining whether the statue can be meticulously restored to its former glory or if a new sculpture will be commissioned. While no timeline has been set for Brighty's future, a wave of support has emerged on social media. Fans fondly recall family photographs taken with the sculpture and the popular children's book loosely based on the original burro's adventures, all expressing a desire to see Brighty returned to his rightful place. 'It's a very special symbolic piece of history for a lot of people,' park spokesperson Joëlle Baird told The Associated Press. An enduring symbol of life along the rugged canyon, the hefty statue represents a free-spirited burro who lived more than a century ago. Brighty was known to migrate up and down the canyon as the seasons changed. He'd help haul water to a summer camp on the North Rim in exchange for pancakes and would give children rides. One of the first chores for the team will be testing for any toxic materials on the sculpture, Baird said. Then, depending on the damage assessment, the park could end up working with a foundry to make the burro whole again. Brighty is a small but important part of what will be a yearslong effort for the National Park Service as it charts a path for restoration and reconstruction on the North Rim. More immediately, Baird said a special team that focuses on stabilizing the soil, controlling erosion and reseeding will begin assessing the burned areas starting next week. The Dragon Bravo Fire was sparked by lightning in early July. It burned for about a week before exploding into a fast moving conflagration that forced evacuations and consumed the Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of cabins. The National Park Service has defended its handling of the fire, saying a sudden and extreme shift in the wind far exceeded forecasts. Persistent hot, dry and windy weather has hampered crews over the past several weeks, making it more difficult to fight the flames on the North Rim and elsewhere around the West — from Idaho and Montana to California, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, nearly four dozen large fires are burning in the U.S., with more than 17,700 firefighters and support personnel assigned to them.
Geeky Gadgets
2 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
From Idea to App in Hours : How Claude Code Turns Ambition Into Reality
What if you could create anything—from a innovative AI-powered app to a dynamic website, without being a coding wizard? Imagine turning your most ambitious ideas into reality using a tool designed to simplify even the most complex development tasks. Enter Claude Code, a innovative platform that's reshaping how we approach software creation. With its intuitive design and AI-driven capabilities, Claude Code enables developers and enthusiasts alike to build solutions that are not only functional but also scalable. Whether you're crafting a customer relationship management (CRM) system or experimenting with AI-driven automation, the possibilities are as vast as your imagination. The real question is: how do you unlock its full potential? David Ondrej guides you through the essentials of working with Claude Code, from mastering its core principles to overcoming common challenges. You'll discover how to optimize workflows with tools like sub-agents and precise prompting, and why clarity of purpose is your greatest ally in development. Along the way, we'll explore strategies for debugging, scaling, and making sure your projects remain future-proof. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this journey into Claude Code will leave you with actionable insights and the confidence to bring your boldest ideas to life. After all, innovation thrives when creativity meets the right tools. Claude Code Development Guide The Four Pillars of Claude Code Success To fully harness the capabilities of Claude Code, it is essential to focus on four foundational pillars: Setup Optimization: Use hooks, commands, prompts, and sub-agents to simplify your development process and improve the reliability of your application. These tools help automate repetitive tasks and ensure consistency. Use hooks, commands, prompts, and sub-agents to simplify your development process and improve the reliability of your application. These tools help automate repetitive tasks and ensure consistency. Clarity of Purpose: Clearly define your project's goals and requirements. A well-defined purpose serves as a roadmap, keeping your efforts focused and aligned with your objectives. Clearly define your project's goals and requirements. A well-defined purpose serves as a roadmap, keeping your efforts focused and aligned with your objectives. Technical Skill: Build a robust foundation in software development and computer science. This knowledge equips you to address complex challenges and implement advanced features with confidence. Build a robust foundation in software development and computer science. This knowledge equips you to address complex challenges and implement advanced features with confidence. Prompting and Context Engineering: Develop precise prompts and manage context effectively to guide AI tools toward achieving desired outcomes. This ensures that the AI operates within the intended parameters. By prioritizing these pillars, you establish a strong framework for your project, allowing you to unlock the full potential of Claude Code and deliver high-quality results. The Development Process: From Planning to Deployment Building an AI-powered application involves several critical stages, including planning, coding, testing, and deployment. For example, a CRM system might incorporate features such as contact management, task tracking, and AI-assisted interactions. However, the development process is rarely linear and often presents challenges. Common obstacles include debugging version mismatches in tools like the Versel AI SDK (V5) or addressing limitations caused by outdated AI training data. To overcome these issues, consider using tools such as Playwright MCP for front-end testing and debugging. This ensures that your application's user interface functions as intended. Additionally, platforms like Perplexity can provide up-to-date web research and documentation, helping you bridge knowledge gaps and stay informed about the latest advancements. How to Build Scalable Apps & Websites With Claude Code Watch this video on YouTube. Browse through more resources below from our in-depth content covering more areas on Claude Code development. Optimizing Your Workflow Efficiency and scalability are crucial when working with Claude Code. Implementing the following strategies can help you optimize your workflow and focus on innovation: Sub-Agents: Incorporate sub-agents, specialized modules designed for tasks such as web research or data processing. These modules automate complex or repetitive operations, improving accuracy and saving time. Incorporate sub-agents, specialized modules designed for tasks such as web research or data processing. These modules automate complex or repetitive operations, improving accuracy and saving time. Hooks and Commands: Automate deterministic actions using hooks and commands to reduce manual effort and maintain consistency across your application. Automate deterministic actions using hooks and commands to reduce manual effort and maintain consistency across your application. Internal Documentation: Maintain clear and accessible documentation to support context engineering and ensure continuity throughout your project. This can include markdown files or other structured formats. By streamlining these processes, you can allocate more time to refining your application's features and addressing user needs, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of your project. Debugging and Problem-Solving Debugging is an integral part of the development process, and Claude Code is no exception. A methodical approach to identifying and resolving issues can significantly improve your application's stability and performance. Consider the following strategies: Debug Log Statements: Use detailed log statements to isolate and identify the root causes of issues, such as API errors or SDK compatibility problems. This approach provides clarity and accelerates problem resolution. Use detailed log statements to isolate and identify the root causes of issues, such as API errors or SDK compatibility problems. This approach provides clarity and accelerates problem resolution. Iterative Testing: Continuously test and refine your application to enhance reliability and performance. Iterative testing ensures that your final product meets user expectations and functions seamlessly. By addressing issues systematically, you not only resolve immediate problems but also strengthen the overall robustness of your application, paving the way for long-term success. Best Practices for AI Development Achieving success with Claude Code requires more than technical expertise. Adopting best practices can enhance your development process and ensure the delivery of high-quality applications: Logical Problem-Solving: Combine AI tools with structured problem-solving techniques to address challenges effectively. This approach fosters innovative solutions and improves decision-making. Combine AI tools with structured problem-solving techniques to address challenges effectively. This approach fosters innovative solutions and improves decision-making. Continuous Learning: Stay updated on the latest advancements in AI and software development. Regularly refining your skills ensures that you remain competitive and capable of using new technologies. Stay updated on the latest advancements in AI and software development. Regularly refining your skills ensures that you remain competitive and capable of using new technologies. Documentation and Collaboration: Use platforms like GitHub to document key learnings, track version control, and assist collaboration within your team. Comprehensive documentation supports knowledge sharing and streamlines future development efforts. For instance, when designing a CRM system, document how specific prompts or commands were crafted to achieve desired outcomes. This practice not only aids future development but also fosters a collaborative environment where team members can contribute effectively. Key Takeaways Claude Code enables developers to create sophisticated, AI-driven applications, but success requires a combination of technical expertise, strategic planning, and effective use of tools. By focusing on clear objectives, precise prompting, and efficient workflows, you can overcome challenges and deliver reliable, scalable solutions. Whether you are developing an AI-powered CRM, a dynamic website, or an innovative mobile app, mastering the principles and tools of Claude Code will enable you to transform your ideas into reality. With a commitment to iterative development, thorough debugging, and comprehensive documentation, you will be well-prepared to unlock the full potential of AI-driven development and achieve your project goals. Media Credit: David Ondrej Filed Under: AI, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
