There's a number that keeps coming up this week: five. Five major US airlines have now raised their checked bag fees inside seven days. JetBlue went first. Then came Alaska, United, Delta, Southwest, and American - all in quick succession. And American didn't just stop at the fee hike. It went further.

Let's get into it.

Which airline was the FIRST to announce checked bag fee increases this week, triggering a domino effect across the entire US industry?

The answer is waiting near the bottom of today's newsletter... keep scrolling. 👇

Call it what it is: a coordinated industry repricing. JetBlue kicked things off earlier this week, citing rising fuel costs. Within days, Alaska, United, Delta, Southwest, and American had all followed. Not one holdout among the five biggest US carriers.

The fees themselves vary by airline and fare class, but the pattern is unmistakable. This isn't the first time this has happened - the industry did something nearly identical in 2020. And just like last time, don't expect fees to come down if oil prices drop. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said as much on the Q1 earnings call yesterday, noting he hopes the airline can "maintain pricing strength" regardless of fuel costs. He's right that this is just how airline economics work - but that doesn't make it any less frustrating to hear out loud.

The most practical response here? Make sure you're flying with a card that covers your bags. A good airline credit card can easily save a family of four $100-$200 per round trip now that fees have climbed again.

Speaking of which - there's a comprehensive free guide that was just updated to reflect all the new fee levels across every major carrier.

We've covered the full airline fee wave in detail - see all our airline fees coverage for the complete breakdown.

American Airlines didn't just raise its checked bag fees. It also announced a significant change to how basic economy fares interact with AAdvantage elite status - and this one stings.

Going forward, American AAdvantage elites who book basic economy fares will lose access to some of their most valued status perks on those tickets. The philosophy is clear: you are no longer just an elite member on a flight - you are your fare class first, your status second.

This matters more than it sounds. A lot of frequent business travelers also book leisure trips on basic economy to save money, expecting their status to smooth over the rough edges. That assumption no longer holds on American.

For more on how this fits into American's broader strategy, check out all our American Airlines coverage.

If you've been waiting for the right moment on Chase business cards, this is the moment. The Ink Business Preferred is back with a 100,000-point welcome bonus after meeting the spend requirement - and the annual fee is just $95.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are genuinely flexible. You can transfer them to Hyatt, United, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and others. A 100K Chase haul could be worth a business class flight to Europe or multiple free nights at a high-end Hyatt - depending on how you play it.

There's also a 20% Chase-to-Aeroplan transfer bonus running through April 30, and the Chase-to-IHG 70% bonus is still live too. Stacking a card bonus with an active transfer bonus is exactly how you turn a good deal into a great one. Curious what those 100,000 points are actually worth in dollars? Run the numbers with our Chase Points Calculator.

This one has a hard deadline: Monday, April 13. The Capital One Venture Rewards card is currently offering 75,000 miles plus a $250 Capital One Travel credit as its welcome bonus - and that combination puts it among the top personal card offers available right now.

The $250 travel credit alone is real, usable money toward flights and hotels booked through Capital One Travel. Combined with 75K miles that transfer to partners like JAL (with a 30% transfer bonus through April 30), Turkish Airlines, Air France, and others, the first-year value here is substantial. Don't overthink it - if Capital One fits your wallet, Monday is the cutoff.

Air France/KLM Flying Blue has quietly reopened a status match opportunity for residents of the US and Canada. If you hold status with another airline, you may be eligible to match into Flying Blue - though it's worth noting this isn't a free match. There's a fee involved, so the question is whether the Flying Blue benefits justify the cost given how often you'll fly Air France or KLM.

For frequent transatlantic flyers or anyone planning a Europe trip this summer, the timing is good. Flying Blue status unlocks lounge access, upgrades, and bonus miles - and with a 100% Choice-to-Flying Blue transfer bonus running through April 24, there's extra momentum here if you want to top up your Flying Blue balance at the same time.

For all our Flying Blue coverage and strategy, see our dedicated Flying Blue tag page.

The elevated welcome offers on the Hilton Amex cards - which include free night certificates as part of the bonus - expire on April 15. That's this Tuesday.

Hilton free night certificates have become more valuable over the past year as high-end Hilton properties have seen nightly rates climb sharply. The fact that Hilton still lets you use these certificates at almost any standard room - including some genuinely luxurious properties - makes them surprisingly powerful. If you've been on the fence about a Hilton card, the Tuesday deadline is real. Check out our full Hilton Honors coverage for more.

Not sure if you're still eligible for an Amex welcome bonus? Check our Amex eligibility tool before you apply.

Award Travel Finder has been tracking some excellent Hilton redemption sweet spots lately - worth checking if you're planning to use those free night certificates strategically.

Here's a small but annoying change that will catch people off guard: Delta and JetBlue have started charging $3.50 to check bags curbside at select airports. This used to be free - or at most covered by a tip to the skycap.

It's a small dollar amount, but the trend it represents is worth watching. Airlines are finding ways to monetize every single touchpoint of the airport experience. At this rate, it's worth knowing exactly what fees you'll face before you even get to the terminal. Friday Flight Deals is a great resource if you'd rather avoid the whole bag fee game by booking trips where the cash fare itself is low enough that you can afford to travel light.

The answer is JetBlue. They were the first major US carrier to announce a checked bag fee increase this week, citing rising fuel costs - and every other major airline followed within days. Whether that's coincidence or coordination, the result is the same: higher fees across the board for everyone.

That's it for today. Stay sharp out there - the deals window on that Capital One offer is closing fast, and the Hilton Amex bonus disappears Tuesday. See you tomorrow!

Here's what we're seeing in award availability right now (via Award Travel Finder):

Hotels:

Status Matches & Challenges:

See all status matches →

Browse all award deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →

Before we wrap up, I wanted to share some timely opportunities I've been tracking (courtesy of our friends at AwardTravelFinder). These deals won't last long, so let's dive in.

Airline programs:

Hotel programs:

Other programs:

These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve: 125,000 points after spending $6,000 in 3 months ($795/yr)

2. Business Gold Card: 100,000 points after spending $15,000 in 3 months ($375/yr)

3. Ink Business Preferred: 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in 3 months ($95/yr)

4. Capital One Venture Rewards: 75,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months ($95/yr)

Award Travel Finder hunts down the best redemptions so you don't have to.

See all deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →