Baggage fees by the numbers

You're checking one or two bags on a one-way domestic economy flight. The numbers below show what it costs on each airline, as long as a suitcase doesn't exceed 50 pounds. If a bag weighs more than 50 pounds, you'll pay even more, often an additional $50.

After each airline name, are the fees for the first checked bag, then a second checked bag. Shown in parentheses is each airline's maximum combined linear measurement for carry-on luggage.

AirTran: $15, $25 for the first and second checked bags. (Carry-on size limit: 55 linear inches or 13 inches x 18 inches x 24 inches)

Alaska Airlines: $15, $25. Within the state of Alaska, passengers are allowed three free checked bags. (Carry-on: 51 linear inches or 10 inches x 17 inches x 24 inches)

American: $25, $35. (Carry-on: 45 linear inches)

Continental: $25, $35. Travelers within Hawaii do not pay fees. (Carry-on: 45 linear inches)

Delta: $25, $35. (Carry-on: 45 linear inches)

Frontier: $20, $30. (Carry-on: 49 linear inches or 9 1/2" x 15 1/2 inches x 24 inches)

JetBlue: free, $30. (Carry-on: 37 1/2 linear inches or 8 inches x 12 1/2 inches x 17 inches)

Southwest: free, free. (Carry-on: 50 linear inches or 10 inches H x 16 inches W x 24 inches L)

United: $25, $35. (Carry-on: 45 linear inches or 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches)

US Airways: $25, $35. (45 linear inches or 14 inches x 9 inches x 22 inches)

Virgin American: $20, $20, although the first checked bag can weigh up to 70 pounds. (Carry-on: 50 linear inches or 10 inches x 16 inches x 24 inches)

Bag-shipping

companies boom

If anyone is thriving from baggage chaos, it's the growing number of luggage-shipping companies.

Luggage Free, for instance, had an 8 to 10 percent increase in customers last year and expects 15 to 20 percent growth this year. Fees start at $2 per pound for shipment within the U.S, going up based on delivery speed.

Jeff Boyd, president of Luggage Free, said that the company recently introduced a more affordable option called Luggage Free Economy. Passengers pay a flat rate of $50 for a bag up to 50 pounds.