Ranking: The Airlines Cashing In Most on Baggage Fees

Major airlines had a good second quarter in 2012. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the largest air carriers reported a 6% profit margin in Q2, up from 5.3% in the same quarter in 2011.

But where the real action came is in baggage fees. Overall, the industry set a record in the first half of this year with more than $1.7 billion in such fees.

The top fee earner is Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) which brought in over $420 million dollars in the first six months of the year. They were followed by United Continental (NYSE:UAL) with $350 million.

Here’s a list of the top 10 fee earners for the first six months of 2012:

1. Delta: $429 million
2. United: $351 million
3. American (PINK:AAMRQ): $288 million
4. US Airways (NYSE:LLC): $260 million
5. Spirit Air (NASDAQ:SAVE): $82 million
6. Alaska Air (NYSE:ALK): $71 million
7. Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV): $58 million
8. Allegiant Air (NASDAQ:ALGT): $36 million
9. Frontier Air (NASDAQ:RJET): $35 million
10. JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU): 34 million

The full list can be viewed here.

Other interesting airline stories from InvestorPlace:

• The Best and Worst U.S. Airlines in July