Checked bag fees typically cost $30 or more — adding up quickly, especially if you travel with your family. Even Southwest Airlines, long famed for its two-free-checked-bags policy, will start charging for bags from late May.
But by carrying the right credit card, you may be able to get these charges waived completely — possibly even for the people you’re traveling with.
If you get an airline cobranded card that has an annual fee of $100 and check a bag on at least three flights with that airline each year, you’ll come out ahead.
In this guide, we’ll go over the credit cards that feature free checked baggage as a benefit.
The best cards for free checked bags
*The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard, the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard, the JetBlue Plus Card, the JetBlue Premier Card, the JetBlue Business Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card and the United Club Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuers.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines charges $35 for the first checked bag on all its flights.
But if you have the Alaska Airlines Visa ($95 annual fee) or the Alaska Airlines Business ($70 for the company and $25 per card annual fee), you’re in luck. You can check the first bag for free for yourself and up to six additional passengers on the same reservation.
Note, however, that you must purchase their flight with your card in order to receive this benefit.
Related: How to save hundreds on flights with the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare
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American Airlines
American Airlines charges $35 for a first checked bag on domestic itineraries and flights to neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico.
There are three Citi cobranded options that offer a first free checked bag on domestic itineraries:
The Platinum Select and Business cards extend this free checked baggage benefit to you and up to four traveling companions on your reservation.
Meanwhile, the Executive World Elite offers the same free checked bag benefit, but it extends to up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation.
Related: Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
Delta Air Lines
Delta charges $35 each way for a first checked bag on flights within the U.S.
However, most of the carrier’s consumer and business credit cards offer one free checked bag for the cardmember and eight others traveling on the same itinerary. To utilize this benefit, just attach your Delta SkyMiles number to your reservation.
Here are the six Delta cards that offer this perk:
Related: Best Delta credit cards
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines charges varying prices for checked bags depending on how and when you buy them. It is generally cheapest to prepay for checked baggage at the time of booking.
Here is an example of Frontier checked bag fees on a flight from Atlanta to Las Vegas in mid-June, starting at a whopping $66 each:
Luckily, if you hold the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard ($99 annual fee), you’ll receive two free checked bags. Just one trip alone can cover the card’s annual fee.
Related: Why the Frontier Airlines Mastercard became the newest credit card in my wallet
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian charges $40 for the first checked bag on flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii and $30 for interisland travel.
Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard holders receive two free checked bags — however, travel companions aren’t included in this benefit. The card comes with a $99 annual fee.
Note that the business version of this card does not come with free checked bags.
Related: Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are offering reciprocal status matches
JetBlue
Checked bags on JetBlue start at $35 for domestic flights and $65 for transatlantic flights.
Thankfully, you can avoid these charges if you carry the JetBlue Plus or the JetBlue Business — both with a $99 annual fee — or the JetBlue Premier, which charges $499.
The free first-checked-bag benefit extends to you and up to three travel companions on your reservation.
Related: JetBlue Plus Card vs. JetBlue Business Card: Battle of the $99 cards
Southwest Airlines
Southwest, famously known for its bags-fly-free policy, will start charging for checked bags on reservations made from May 28 (prices have yet to be announced).
Elite status members and those traveling on business fares will receive complimentary checked bags.
And if you hold any of the following five cards, you and up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation will receive one free checked bag each:
Related: Southwest backtracks yet again with another big change — to its boarding process
United Airlines
United charges at least $35 for the first checked bag on all domestic flights.
However, you can apply for one of five Chase cards to avoid checked bag fees:
- United Explorer ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150) and Business ($150 annual fee): One bag for you and a companion on your reservation
- United Quest ($350 annual fee) and Club and Club Business (both with a $695 annual fee): Two bags for you and a companion on your reservation
However, there’s a big caveat here: You must have your MileagePlus number on your reservation and purchase your ticket with the applicable card for the perk to apply. So, if you use a different card with a better earning rate on airfare, you may miss out on the free checked bags.
Related: Best United Airlines credit cards
Other cards worth considering
While opening any of the airline credit cards above is a great way to save on checked bag fees, what happens if you fly with multiple carriers throughout the year?
If you tend to prioritize price or convenience over sticking with a particular airline, it may not be worth it to apply for a cobranded credit card that offers perks solely on that one carrier.
An alternative is to apply for a credit card that comes with more general travel benefits and can reimburse you for checked bag charges:
What you should know about checked bags
Free baggage benefits don’t stack
There’s a myth that your credit card will offer an additional free checked bag rather than the first free checked bag. Unfortunately, these cards’ fee waivers don’t apply if you already receive a free checked bag due to your elite status, class of service or travel to an overseas destination.
Therefore, you will not receive an additional free checked bag beyond your existing allowance just for holding a credit card that offers this benefit. Some airlines make exceptions, but check your airline’s policy before assuming an additional bag will be covered.
Use the right card to purchase your flight
With most of these offers, you only have to attach your frequent flyer number to your reservation to be given the free-checked-bag benefit.
The exceptions are Alaska and United, which require you to purchase the ticket (or pay taxes and fees on an award ticket) using your airline credit card.
Be careful when booking large groups
It’s nice that several of these credit cards offer free baggage for multiple companions, but there’s a potential catch.
When searching for flights, airlines will display a single fare class that applies to all tickets rather than offer lower fares for some passengers.
So, if only three seats are offered for $300 each and the next best fare is $400, booking four people together in one reservation will cost $400 each. Clearly, paying the extra $300 will not be worth it to receive a free bag worth $70 each round-trip.
So, when booking flights for groups, compare pricing individually or in smaller groups versus the larger group.
Book flights on Southwest
If you book a flight on Southwest Airlines on or before May 27, you will get two free checked bags; if you book from May 28 and don’t have a Southwest card or elite status, you’ll need to pay for your bags.
Bottom line
Flights can be costly by themselves, but checked bag fees can quickly add up — especially when traveling in a large group.
Thankfully, there are several ways to avoid these costs. In fact, many of the cards on this list that offer a free checked bag carry annual fees under $100.
Even if you fly with a specific airline just a few times a year, it can be easy to justify paying the ongoing annual fee — and that’s not even factoring in any welcome bonuses or other perks the cards offer.
Related: How to choose an airline credit card
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.
