Delta Keeps Its Edge in Airlines' Quest for a Billion Dollars in Baggage Fees

One of these days, despite the best efforts of frugal travelers to fly with less luggage, some crafty airline is going to make $1 billion a year from baggage fees. Delta is still leading the incremental charge to that milestone.

The carrier collected $833 million last year just from slinging bags, more than any other airline, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Delta made slightly more by charging passengers for changing or cancelling reservations, another category in which it bested all other airlines. Almost 5 percent of Delta’s revenue now comes from these add-on fees.