Airline Baggage Fee Estimator
Calculate estimated checked bag fees, overweight costs, and oversize penalties for major airlines. Prevent airport gate shock with this travel budget tool.
About
Excess baggage fees generate over $30 billion annually for airlines. This tool serves as a financial defense mechanism against the opacity of carrier fee structures (often termed "Gate Shock"). By modeling the complex tiered pricing of major international and domestic carriers, this estimator calculates potential costs before you reach the check-in counter.
Unlike simple lists, this calculator applies specific logic for weight thresholds (e.g., the strict 23kg/50lb cutoff), fare_class multipliers, and cumulative bag logic (where the 3rd bag often costs 3x the 1st). It accounts for standard IATA recommendations where specific airline data is unavailable, providing a high-confidence upper-bound estimate for travel budgeting.
Formulas
The total baggage cost C is calculated as the summation of base fees, excess weight penalties, and dimensional surcharges for each bag i:
C = n∑i=1 ( Basei + max(0, wi − L) × Rexcess + Ssize )
Basei = Standard fee for bag i (tiered)
wi = Actual weight of bag i
L = Weight limit (Limit) for fare class
Rexcess = Rate per kg/lb over limit
Ssize = Surcharge for oversize dimensions (>158cm)
Reference Data
| Carrier Category | Standard Allowance | Overweight Threshold | Avg. Excess Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy International (Economy) | 23 kg (50 lb) | > 23 kg | $75 - $150 / bag |
| Low Cost / Budget | 0 kg (Paid Only) | > 15 or 20 kg | $15 - $20 / kg |
| Business / First | 32 kg (70 lb) | > 32 kg | Cargo Rates Apply |
| Domestic (US) | 0 kg (Paid Only) | > 23 kg | $30 (1st), $40 (2nd) |