If you’re a budget flyer booking a basic economy ticket, brace yourself — the cost of checking a bag is going up, and it’s higher for you than for everyone else.

American Airlines follows the industry — but goes further for basic economy

American Airlines became the latest carrier to raise checked baggage fees last week, joining a wave of increases that’s swept through the airline industry. United Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, and even Southwest have all bumped up their bag fees recently — largely because of rising jet fuel costs tied to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. But American’s move is a bit different: while other airlines applied across-the-board increases, American Airlines is hitting basic economy passengers harder.

What the new bag fees actually look like

For most tickets booked from Thursday onward, the first checked bag on domestic and short-haul international flights will cost $50 at the airport — that’s a $10 increase. A second bag climbs to $60. Book online through American’s website or app and you’ll save $5 on each, bringing them to $45 and $55.

Basic economy passengers, though, face steeper numbers. Starting May 18, anyone on a basic economy fare will pay $55 for the first bag and $65 for the second. Pre-pay online and those drop slightly to $50 and $60. There are no exceptions, even for frequent flyers with elite status.

Basic economy passengers lose even more perks

The bag fee hike isn’t the only change coming to basic economy. Starting May 18, all basic economy passengers — regardless of their frequent flyer status — will have to pay to choose a seat. They’ll also be locked out of complimentary upgrades and system-wide upgrades entirely. So if you’re used to snagging a free upgrade on a basic fare, that door is now closed.

Why is this happening? Fuel costs are the main culprit

Airline executives insist that travel demand remains strong, but the surge in jet fuel prices is making it harder to absorb costs on their end. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has choked off supplies of both crude oil and refined products — including the jet fuel airlines depend on. Fuel is airlines’ second-largest expense after labor, and with no quick resolution in sight, carriers are passing some of that burden on to passengers through fee increases.

American’s bigger strategy: chasing premium revenue

There’s a broader trend at play here, too. Airlines have been steadily squeezing their cheapest fares while investing more in premium cabins and higher-end perks. The growth in business class, first class, and premium economy has been significantly outpacing standard economy sales. American has notably lagged behind Delta and United in attracting luxury travelers — and these changes signal that American is trying to close that gap by making no-frills tickets less attractive and premium options comparatively more appealing.