Delta Raises Fees For Checked Bags As Iran War Spikes Jet Fuel Prices

Forbes Topline

Forbes

Business News, News, Entrepreneurship, Business

4.8 • 6 Ratings

🗓️ 11 April 2026

⏱️ 3 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Delta is raising fees for checked luggage this week, according to a statement from the company sent to Forbes on Tuesday—as it seeks to cover the increase in jet fuel prices driven by the U.S. war in Iran. Key Facts Delta will increase the fees for a first and second item of checked baggage by $10, pushing prices to $45 and $55, respectively. The airline is also planning to hike the fees for a third item by $50, meaning customers will pay $200 if they take three bags. The new prices “reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics,” Delta spokesperson Chelsea Wollerson said in a statement sent to Forbes on Tuesday. The price increases will begin for tickets purchased on or after Wednesday. The pricing changes only apply to domestic flights and some select short-haul international flights, according to the company. Other Airlines Raise Luggage Fees Delta is the third U.S. airline to announce price increases for baggage as oil disruptions related to the Iran war continue to impact air travel. United announced a similar price hike last week, also raising prices for checked bags by $10. JetBlue also announced changes to their checked baggage fees last week, raising fees for off-peak travel by $4 and peak travel by $9. Key Background Jet fuel prices have skyrocketed in the last few weeks due to the ongoing war in Iran. After the U.S. and Israel began a campaign of air strikes against the country on Feb. 28, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that separates it from the Arabian Peninsula. About 20 million barrels of oil per day passed through the strait in 2025, according to the International Energy Association, or about 25% of the world’s oil transported by sea. The closure has caused prices for oil and petroleum products like jet fuel to spike. The average price of jet fuel reached $4.69 per gallon on Monday, according to data compiled by aviation trade group Airlines for America—up from $2.50 per gallon on Feb. 27, one day before the war began. Read the full story on Forbes: By Zachary Folk https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/04/07/delta-raises-fees-for-checked-bags-as-iran-war-spikes-jet-fuel-prices/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	At Accardo, you'll save 25% on your first shop and get free delivery, which means if you were to buy a four cheese pizza, you'd basically be getting one of the cheeses for free. Save and splurge at Akado, the online supermarket.
0:12.8	Deographical and other restrictions, min spend £60 on charge to apply, discount available on food, new customers only, max saving £20,000, terms at akado.com.
0:20.1	British gas have this thing.
0:21.8	We call it home care.
0:23.4	We'll fix all sorts and its unlimited repairs.
0:26.6	Expert engineers will solve the upset of boilers not boilering or taps that won't wet.
0:32.9	Electric's playing tricks or a pipe that's broke.
0:36.1	We're there for everyone.
0:39.1	Even blue furry folk.
0:45.5	Your home won't feel booby-trapped, it'll feel just like new. British gas taking care of things and looking after you. T's and C supply, excess options available per repair. Delta is raising fees
0:52.1	for checked luggage this week, according to a statement from the company sent to Forbes on Tuesday, as it seeks to cover the increase in jet fuel prices driven by the U.S. war in Iran.
1:03.5	Delta will increase the fees for a first and second item of checked baggage by $10, pushing prices to $45 and $55 respectively.
1:13.9	The airline is also planning to hike the fees for a third item by $50, meaning customers
1:19.7	will pay $200 if they take three bags.
1:22.9	The price increases will begin for tickets purchased on or after Wednesday.
1:27.4	The pricing changes only apply
1:29.3	to domestic flights and some select short-haul international flights, according to the company.
1:35.5	Delta spokesperson Chelsea Wallerson said in a statement sent to Forbes on Tuesday that the new prices,
1:41.7	quote, reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics.
1:47.0	Delta is the third U.S. airline to announce price increases for baggage as oil disruptions related to the Iran War continue to impact air travel.
1:56.0	United announced a similar price hike last week, also raising prices for checked bags by $10.
2:03.7	JetBlue also announced changes to their checked baggage fees last week, raising fees for
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Forbes, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Forbes and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.