Credit card with free check bags

Check bags usually cost $35 or more. This may add up quickly, especially when traveling with family. Even Southwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, known for its two-time free check bag policy, began collecting luggage in late May.

But by bringing the right credit card, you may be able to completely exempt these fees, even for those traveling with you.

If you get a co-card for airlines that costs $100 a year, check at least one bag on that airline’s plane every year, you will go forward as an example.

In this guide, we will introduce credit cards with free check luggage as benefits.

The best card for free check bags

*The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select, 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 issuer.

Alaska Airlines

The first checked bag on all flights on Alaska Airlines costs $35.

But, if you have Alaska Airlines Visa ($95 annual fee) or Alaska Airlines Business (The company is $70, with an annual fee of $25 per card) and you are in luck. You can check the first bag yourself for free and up to six passengers on the same reservation on Alaska and Hawaii flights.

But please note that you must purchase their flight with a card to get this benefit.

Related: How to Save Hundreds of Flights with Alaska Airlines Feds

American Airlines

American Airlines charges $35 for online purchases (if purchased at the airport) for the first check bag on domestic itineraries and flights to neighboring countries such as Canada and Mexico.

There are four common options that offer the first free check bag on a domestic itinerary:

Platinum Select and business cards expand this free check luggage benefit to you and expand up to four travel companions in your booking.

Meanwhile, the Executive World Elite offers the same free check bag benefits, but can reach up to eight travel companions in the same booking.

Related: Best Credit Cards for American Airlines Flyer

Delta gas line

Dami

However, most operators’ consumer and business credit cards offer card holders a free check bag, with eight travelling on the same itinerary. To use this benefit, just attach your Delta Skymiles number to your reservation.

Here are the six delta cards that offer this benefit:

Related: Best Delta Credit Cards

Border Airlines

Frontier Airlines charges a shipping bag price vary depending on how you buy it and when you buy it. When booking, it is usually cheapest to prepay checked baggage.

Here is an example of the cost of a Frontier check bag from John Kennedy International Airport (JFK) [LAX] In early August, the price starts at $44 per person:

Fortunately, if you hold a Frontier Airlines World Mastercard ($99 annual fee, $0 introductory annual fee), you will get two free shipping bags. Checking a bag on a round trip is only possible to pay for the card’s annual fee.

Related: Why Border Airlines Mastercard is the latest credit card in my wallet

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiians charge $40 for checked bags on flights between mainland America and Hawaii, while Interisland Travel charges $40.

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard holders receive two free check bags; however, travel companions are not included in this benefit. The card comes with an annual fee of $99.

Please note that there is no free check bag for this card’s business version.

Related: $99 flights from Aloha to Hawaii: Alaska Airlines’ companion fares are available for Hawaiian Airlines flights

JetBlue

Check bags on JetBlue start at $35 for domestic flights and $60 for transatlantic flights. These prices may vary depending on whether the flight is during off-peak or peak season.

Thankfully, if you carry a JetBlue Plus or JetBlue business (both $99 annual fee) or JetBlue Premier, you can avoid these fees, or charge $499.

Free first-time check bag benefits extend to your reservation for up to three travel companions.

Related: The Best Credit Cards for JetBlue Flyer

Southwest Airlines

Southwest, which was once famous for its “free bagging” policy, has begun charging fees for check bags. They are now charging $35 for the first shipment bag.

A-List Elite identity members and those riding the extra fare will receive free check bags.

If you hold any of the following five cards, you and up to eight travel companions in the same booking will receive a free check bag:

Related: Southwest unveiled large credit card refresh: 50% off hiking, but new seating and boarding allowance

United Airlines

The first checked bag on all domestic flights in the United States is charged at least $35.

However, you can apply for one of five chase cards to avoid checking bag fees:

• United Explorer (Introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150) and Joint business ($150 annual fee): One of your bags and your retained companions
• Joint mission ($350 annual fee), United Club and United Club Business (both $695 annual fee): your two bags and a reserved companion

However, here’s a big caveat: To apply for a stipend, you must have mileage numbers on your booking and Purchase your ticket with the applicable card. So if you are using other cards that earn more money on your ticket, you may miss out on your free shipping bag.

Related: Best United Airlines Credit Cards

Other cards worth considering

While opening any airline credit card above, it is a great way to save on check bag fees, what happens if you fly with multiple carriers throughout the year?

If you tend to prioritize price or convenience rather than sticking to a specific airline, applying for a common brand credit card that offers privileges only on that operator may not be worth it.

Another option is to apply for a credit card with more general travel benefits and You can reimburse your check bag fee:

What you should know about shipping bags

Don’t stack free luggage benefits

There is a myth that your credit card will offer an extra free check bag instead of the first free shipping bag. Unfortunately, the fee waiver on these cards will not apply if you are an elite identity, service, or travel to an overseas destination.

Therefore, you will not receive additional free check bags beyond the existence of allowances other than holding a credit card that provides this benefit. Some airlines will have exceptions, but check your airline’s policies before assuming that additional bags will be covered.

Purchase your flight with the right card

With most of these offers, you just need to attach your common flyer number to your reservation to get a free shipping bag benefit.

The exceptions are Alaska and United, which requires you to purchase tickets using your airline credit card (or pay taxes and fees on the award ticket).

Be careful when booking large groups

Several of these credit cards are happy to provide free luggage for multiple companions, but there are potential gains.

When searching for flights, airlines will show a single fare course that works for all tickets, rather than offering lower fares for some passengers.

So if you only offer three seats, each seat is $300 per person, and the next best fare is $400, booking four people together in one reservation for $400 per person. Obviously, paying the extra money is not worth it, and a free bag of $70 per round trip is not worth it.

Therefore, when booking a group’s flight, compare it individually or in smaller groups with larger groups.

Southwest flights

If you book an additional fare flight with Southwest Airlines, you will get two free checked bags. Unless you have a Southwest Card or Elite status, any other fare course will charge you for your luggage.

Bottom line

The flight itself can be expensive, not to mention when check bag fees will be incorporated into the mix.

Thankfully, there are several ways to avoid these costs. In fact, many of the cards on this list offer free check bags for an annual fee of less than $100.

Even if you fly with a specific airline only a few times a year, it’s easy to justify paying an ongoing annual fee without even taking into account any welcome bonuses or other benefits provided by the card.

Related: How to choose an airline credit card

For rates and fees for Delta Skymiles Gold, click here.
For rates and fees for the Delta Skymiles gold business, click here.
For the rates and fees of Delta Skymiles Platinum, click here.
For the rates and fees of the Delta Skymiles Platinum business, click here.
For the rates and fees of Delta Skymiles reserves, click here.
For rates and fees for the Delta Skymiles reserve business, click here.
For Amex Platinum rates and fees, click here.
For rates and fees for Amex business platinum, click here.