Southwest and Delta have both raised checked bag fees again, adding to the cost of flying to Costa Rica at a time when many travelers were already feeling squeezed by airfare, hotels, and the strong colón. For Costa Rica-bound passengers flying Southwest, the standard checked bag price is now $45 for a first bag and $55 for a second bag on Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares, according to the airline’s fee page.
Southwest still includes a free carry-on and personal item, but its longtime two-free-bags policy is gone for most passengers. Choice Extra fares and Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members still get two free checked bags, while A-List members and certain Southwest credit cardholders get the first checked bag free.
That matters for Costa Rica travelers because Southwest continues to sell flights to both San José and Liberia, including from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. A traveler checking one suitcase round trip now faces $90 in bag fees on Southwest. Two checked bags on a round trip would come to $200.
Delta has also raised its standard checked bag prices. On its official baggage page, Delta now lists the first standard checked bag at $45 each way and the second at $55 each way for Delta Main and Delta Comfort passengers on domestic flights within the United States, absent status, credit-card, or military exceptions.
Delta’s latest increase also applies on select short-haul international routes, while long-haul international baggage fees remain unchanged. Delta says baggage charges vary by route and fare class, so Costa Rica travelers should confirm the exact price for their itinerary before paying.
For travelers comparing the two airlines, the headline number is simple. On standard fares, both carriers now charge $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second on many itineraries. In practical terms, that means a family of four checking one bag each could pay $360 in round-trip bag fees. A couple checking one bag each would pay $180 round trip.
The timing is not ideal for Costa Rica. Airlines are leaning harder on ancillary fees just as travelers are becoming more price sensitive. Southwest’s earlier decision to end its iconic free-bag policy marked a major break from one of its best-known selling points, and the newest increase pushes its checked bag costs into line with the rest of the industry. Reuters reported Southwest first moved to paid checked bags in 2025 at $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second before this latest $10 increase.
For anyone booking a Costa Rica trip, the lesson is that the advertised airfare may no longer tell the real story. Once bag fees are added, a cheap fare can become far less attractive, especially for beach vacations, surf trips, or family travel where checked luggage is common. Travelers who can pack lighter, qualify for bag-fee waivers through elite status or airline cards, or compare total trip cost instead of base fare alone will be in a better position.
