The biggest changes coming to airlines in 2025: new baggage fees, carry-on policies and more up-to-date rules

If your New Year’s resolution is to travel more, you’ll want to be aware of any changes coming to airlines in the new year.

Many airlines are making major adjustments in 2025, including updated baggage fees, carry-on policies and general rules.

No matter which airline you fly, there’s likely to be an update that could affect your travels.

Here are some of the biggest changes coming to airlines in 2025:

Air Canada

Beginning in January 2025, Air Canada will implement a carry-on bag surcharge.

Basic Economy passengers bringing on board luggage larger than a carry-on bag or small backpack will be liable to pay an additional fee. The fee will apply to flights within America, according to the Miami Herald.

When checking in for a flight, passengers will be charged $25 for their first bag – which includes any roll-on or wheeled bags, as well as large backpacks that are often used abroad – and an additional $36 for a second.

In addition, those who do not check in their checked baggage during screening before arriving at the airport will be charged an elevated airport fee of $46.

The airline will also start charging basic economy flyers to change their assigned seats automatically at check-in starting in January. 21. However, it is unclear what that fee will be.

American Airlines

New upgrades are coming to American Airlines in 2025 for AAdvantage members.

As airlines aim to keep their most frequent customers loyal, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom revealed after an earnings call what their plan is to do so — though it was something they were planning to announce publicly in January, according to View From The Wing.

When addressing the frustration among customers who can’t use their miles for upgrades, the airline’s Vice President of Revenue Engineering Marcial Lapp said they will solve this by treating miles like cash, allowing customers to redeem upgrades with miles just like money would have – at a lower price. the value of miles than it would be today.

“We will be launching the upgrade offers with miles in the first quarter of 2025. So that will happen relatively quickly. And another great use of your miles, so for those customers who have those miles and want to use them, they’ll be able to. So more useful, more useful product,” he said, via View From The Wing.

An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed to the site, “We’re always looking for ways to give customers more security with their upgrades, including the option for an instant upgrade using miles as a form of payment, which we we aim to deliver it in early 2025.”

Delta Air Lines

Starting in 2025, Delta Air Lines is giving its cabin amenities a major upgrade.

The new “modern” models, arriving on the wide-body Airbus A350 early in the new year, will feature fresh seat materials, improved lighting, a renewed color palette and new decorative motifs and signature branding. , according to Delta.

The overhaul focuses on aesthetics and finishes, meaning the seats will be upholstered, the carpets and floors will be updated, and the covers on the aircraft parts and lavatory interiors will be changed – but the physical seat inventory and layout of the cabin will remain the same.

Delta said the transformation — including memory foam cushions on wide-body planes, breathable materials and lighting to enhance relaxation — is based on feedback and research from customers and employees.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines announced that it will begin offering first-class seats in an effort to attract passengers willing to spend more, as well as increase frequent flyer benefits.

The budget carrier hopes to offer first-class seats on all flights by the end of 2025, Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said, although it will require approval from regulators.

“There is a percentage of our customers willing to pay more for comfort,” Biffle told Reuters. “These are affluent leisure customers who want a first-class seat.”

“That’s really our answer,” he said. “We can make the cheapest coach seat, but we can also make the cheapest first class seat.”

JetBlue

JetBlue will open its first airport lounges in 2025, located at its main hubs in New York and Boston.

The “exclusive” lounges will begin with an 8,000-square-foot lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport in late 2025, followed by an 11,000-square-foot facility at Boston’s Logan International Airport.

The amenity will be open to JetBlue credit cardholders, Mint class customers on transatlantic flights as well as some other premium frequent flyers.

“Eligible” customers may be able to purchase daily passes, subject to space availability, and all customers will have the option to purchase an annual pass, JetBlue said. However, they did not specify how much the permits will cost.

The lounges will have cocktail and espresso bars, complimentary food and drinks, workspaces with charging stations, and top tier loyal customers can bring a free guest to the lounge.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy last month, which is sure to bring a lot of shock in 2025.

In an open letter to travelers, CEO Ted Christie clarified that customers “can continue to book and fly” on Spirit as it undergoes structural changes.

The airline plans to operate as planned – however, it will also shrink widely as part of the restructuring.

Conor Cunningham, an airline analyst at Melius Research, wrote in a report shared with Travel + Leisure that Spirit is expected to reduce its schedule by another 30-35% next year.

Travelers should be aware that when booking flights on Spirit, schedule changes may occur.

A flight that is currently on sale may be canceled — but if it is, Spirit is required to offer a full refund or offer other flight options to travelers.