TORONTO — Airlines have been raking in billions of dollars worth of ancillary fees for years, for everything from checked bags to seat selection to meals. Now the latest round of baggage fee increases will no doubt offset rising fuel costs too.

Both Air Canada and WestJet are upping their fees for both the first checked bag (from $25 to $30) and the second checked bag (from $30 to $50).

Yesterday JetBlue increased its first checked bag fee from US$25 to $30, the first major U.S. airline to make the move. JetBlue also bumped up its second checked bag fee from $35 to $40, and its third checked bag fee from $100 to $150.

Air Canada noted that its bag fee change was the first increase since 2014. The new fees apply on flights across Canada, to and from the U.S., the Caribbean and Mexico, departing on or after Oct. 5.

Meanwhile WestJet’s changes apply to flights starting Oct. 1 for domestic bookings made as of Aug. 24, and as of Aug. 28 on flights to the U.S. and international destinations.

The fees apply to the lowest fare classes at both airlines.

According to reports the cost of jet fuel has gone up 50% in the past year, prompting airlines to sharply downgrade their profit expectations. In the U.S., Delta Air Lines says its fuel costs jumped $654 million in Q2 2018 versus Q2 2017.

With files from The Canadian Press