Planning a Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation involves more line items than most guests initially account for. Park tickets, resort costs, dining reservations, Lightning Lane selections, and ground transportation from the airport all get their share of attention in the planning spreadsheet.Credit: DisneyWhat often gets underestimated is the travel itself, specifically the cost of getting everyone and everything on the plane.A family of four traveling to Orlando for a week-long Walt Disney World trip is not traveling light. Strollers, extra clothes for Florida weather that turns on a dime, shoes appropriate for full theme park days, rain gear, and everything else that goes into a family vacation tends to fill bags in a way that makes checked luggage almost unavoidable.That category just got more expensive at four of the country’s major airlines, with a fifth having already raised fees in the previous week, and the increases are significant enough to change the math on a Disney vacation budget in a meaningful way. Airlines have pointed to fuel costs as the driver, specifically the sharp increase in jet fuel prices tied to the ongoing Iran conflict. Whatever the cause, the new fees are in effect for recently purchased tickets, and they are not going away before peak Disney summer travel season arrives, per SF Gate. Which Airlines Raised Fees and by How MuchCredit: Ed Aguila, Inside the MagicDelta, Southwest, Alaska Airlines and its partner Hawaiian Airlines, and American Airlines have all increased checked baggage fees, joining JetBlue and United which made similar moves the week before. Together, these carriers cover the overwhelming majority of domestic air travel to Orlando International Airport and the airports serving Disneyland Resort.Delta raised its first checked bag fee from $35 to $45 and its second from $45 to $55, effective for flights booked on or after April 8. A third bag now costs $200, up $50 from the previous rate. These increases apply to domestic flights for main cabin and Delta Comfort passengers. Long-haul international routes are unaffected, and fee waivers remain in place for SkyMiles elite members, premium fare buyers, and Delta co-branded credit card holders.American Airlines moved its first checked bag fee from $35 to $45 when prepaid, and from $45 to $55 when paid at the airport. The second bag follows the same structure, rising to $55 prepaid and $60 at the airport. These rates apply to domestic flights and routes to Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands for tickets purchased on or after April 9. AAdvantage elite members, American credit card holders, premium seat purchasers, and active military retain their fee exemptions.American also tightened its policies for basic economy purchasers in a separate update. Starting May 15, basic economy passengers on domestic flights will pay $50 to $55 for the first bag and $60 to $65 for the second. For basic economy tickets purchased on or after May 18, all customers regardless of status will need to pay for seat selection and will not be eligible for complimentary upgrades. AAdvantage members without elite status or AA credit cards who buy basic economy tickets will be placed in Group 7 for boarding later this year.Southwest raised its first checked bag fee from $35 to $45 and its second from $45 to $55, effective for tickets booked on or after April 9. A-List elites and Rapid Rewards credit card holders still get the first bag free. A-List Preferred members and Choice Extra fare purchasers still receive two free bags.Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines moved their first bag fee to $45 and their second to $55, effective April 10, up from $40 and $45 respectively. The third bag now costs $200, up from $150. The previous $5 discount for prepayment has been eliminated. Free bag allowances remain for Atmos Rewards elites and card holders, as well as premium cabin passengers.What This Means for a Disney Vacation BudgetCredit: Edited by Inside the MagicFor a family of four checking two bags each on a round-trip flight to Orlando on Delta, the fee increase from $35 to $45 per bag adds $80 to the trip cost compared to what the same itinerary would have cost for tickets booked before April 8. For families checking more luggage or flying on American during the post-May 15 window under basic economy rules, the additional cost is higher. Across the full population of Disney-bound travelers, these increases represent a meaningful shift in the total cost of getting to the resort.The practical response for Disney travelers is worth thinking through before booking. Travelers who qualify for fee waivers through elite status or co-branded airline credit cards are insulated from the increases and should ensure their card benefits are activated before travel. Travelers who do not qualify may find that the cost difference between main cabin and basic economy fares, combined with the new baggage and seat selection fees on basic economy, narrows the savings case for choosing the cheaper fare class. Running those numbers before booking rather than after is worth the few minutes it requires.Southwest’s New Power Bank RulesSeparate from the baggage fee changes, Southwest has announced new restrictions on portable lithium battery chargers, effective April 20. Passengers will be allowed one power bank per person, up to 100 watt-hours. Chargers cannot be stored in overhead bins and must be kept in bags under the seat or carried on the person. Power banks can only be used in flight if they are visible. These restrictions are stricter than the existing Federal Aviation Administration rules, which prohibit lithium batteries from being checked but allow them in carry-on bags. The International Civil Aviation Organization recently updated its rules to limit passengers to two portable chargers and prohibit in-flight recharging. The FAA documented 97 in-flight lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat in 2025, up from 39 in 2020.For Disney travelers, this is worth knowing because portable chargers are essentially standard equipment for a theme park day. The My Disney Experience app runs constantly, wait times are monitored throughout the day, and mobile orders go through the phone. A dead phone at 2 p.m. in the middle of Magic Kingdom is a real problem. Packing a compliant power bank and understanding that it needs to stay accessible rather than stored overhead is a simple adjustment that avoids any boarding complications.A Note on Loyalty ProgramsWalletHub’s 2026 annual report on airline loyalty programs ranked Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards first for the third consecutive year, followed by United, Delta, American, JetBlue, and Southwest. Frontier’s program was rated the most generous in terms of rewards value at $13.92 returned per $100 spent, with Alaska second at $9.58. The report noted that the top ten airlines are offering on average 5 percent greater rewards value than in 2025. WalletHub also found that airline miles cost an average of 2.5 times more than their value when purchased rather than earned, a useful reminder for anyone considering topping off a miles account before a Disney trip.If you are booking flights for a Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation in the coming months, now is the time to run the numbers on baggage fees against your planned luggage and fare class. Our Disney travel guide includes current airline fee information and packing guidance for Disney trips. Check it before you book so your travel budget reflects what flying to the parks actually costs right now.The post Confirmed: Airlines to Punish Disney Travelers Flying to Orlando or Anaheim After Booking appeared first on Inside the Magic.