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There’s something about paying a luggage fee that has always bothered me. As someone who’s old enough to remember when all airlines included at least one free checked bag and one free carry-on, I can’t stand paying for things that used to be free. So I’ve decided to refu
Recommended Credit Cards
Credit Card | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Bonus Offer | Learn More |
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1x- 5xPoints
The card offers 5x points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining (including eligible takeout and delivery services), as well as 3x points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). This card earns 2x points on all other travel spending and 1x point per dollar everywhere else. Chase broadly defines travel to include not just airfare, hotels and rental cars, but expenses like parking, tolls and public transit too. |
$95 |
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base) |
Apply | |
1x - 3xPoints
Earn 3 points for every $1 on Southwest Airlines® purchases, 2 points for every $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, 2 points per $1 on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), 2 points per $1 on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, and 1 point for every $1 on all other purchases. |
$99 |
75,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months Dollar Equivalent: $1,050 (75,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.014 base) |
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2%Cashback
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
$0 |
$200Cash Bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. |
Apply Rates & Fees |
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1% - 5%Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
$0 |
$200Cash Bonus
Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. |
Apply Rates & Fees |
Southwest Is the Only U.S. Domestic Airline With Free Checked Bags
When I shop for domestic flights, and I know I’ll need to check a bag, I investigate the luggage fees before choosing an airline. In the U.S., one airline always rises to the top:

A Roundup of Current Southwest Credit Card Deals
Airline Baggage Fees
There isn't a universal fee for checking a bag—every airline sets its price. And if you check more than one bag, you may pay a different price per bag. For example, it may be $
When checking a bag for a domestic flight on a major U.S. airline, such as Delta or American, expect to pay around
If you're flying on an ultra-low-cost carrier, yo
Airlines That Check Bags for Free on International Flights
If you're flying international, you have a good shot at getting your bags checked for free. Below are airlines that will check your luggage for free
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Air Astana: 1 free bag between 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs), depending on the ticket
Air China: 1-2 free bags, up to 50 lbs (23 kgs) each, depending on the route
Air India: 1-2 free bags, up to 50 lbs (23 kgs) each
Air New Zealand: 1-2 free bags, up to 50 lbs (23 kgs) each
All Nippon Airways: 2-3 free bags, 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
Asiana: 1-2 free bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs) each, depending on the route/ticket
Bangkok Airways: 1 free bag, up to 44-88 lbs (20-40 kgs), depending on the ticket
Cathay Pacific: 1-2 free checked bags up to 50 lbs (23 kgs) each, depending on route/ticket
China Airlines: 1-2 bags, up to 50 lbs (23 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
China Eastern: 1-2 free bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
EL AL: 1-2 free bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
Emirates: 1-2 free bags, up to 50 lbs (23 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
Etihad: 2 free bags, up to 50 lbs (23 kgs) each
Hawaiian Airlines: 2 free bags, up to 50 lbs (23 kgs) each
Korean Air: 2 free bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs), depending on the ticket
Lufthansa: 1-4 free bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs) each, depending on the ticket and/or status/membership
Qantas: 1-3 free bags, up to 70 lbs (32 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
Qatar Airlines: 1-2 bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
Singapore Airlines: 2 free bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
SriLankan Airlines: 1-2 free bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
Thai Airways: 2 free bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs) each, depending on the ticket
Turkish Airlines: 2 free bags, up to 50-70 lbs (23-32 kgs), depending on the ticket
Choose the Right Airline Credit Card
Many airline credit cards offer cardholders a free checked bag for themselves and at least one other person traveling on the same reservation. As an example, both the United Club℠ Infinite Card and United Quest℠ Card credit cards offer two free bags for yourself and a companion, but som
Quick Tip
If it looks like I’ll have no choice but to pay a bag fee for one or more future trips, I’ll get a new credit card that includes a free checked bag and enjoy a valuable welcome bonus while avoiding luggage fees.
Travel Credit Cards That Get You Free Checked Luggage
Whether you're preparing for
Card Name | Feature |
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Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® |
Cardholders and up to 6 additional passengers get a free first bag on the same reservation |
Citi® AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® |
Free first checked bag on domestic AA flights for the cardholder and up to 4 companions on the same reservation |
Citi® AAdvantage® Executive |
Free first checked bag on domestic AA flights for cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation |
Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® |
Free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to 4 companions on the same reservation (domestic only) |
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card |
Free first checked bag on Delta for the cardholder and companions on the same booking, up to 9 bags |
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card |
No charge for the first checked bag for the cardholder and their travel companions on the same reservation, with a max of 9 bags |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card |
The cardholder and their companions on the same reservation get the first checked bag free, up to 9 bags |
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® |
Cardholders enjoy 2 free checked bags per flight |
JetBlue Plus Card |
Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 3 others on the same reservation |
Cardholder and one companion on the same reservation get a free checked bag |
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The first and second checked bag are free for the cardholder and a companion on the same reservation |
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United ClubSM Infinite Card |
Free first and second checked bag for the cardholder and a companion traveling on the same reservation |

7 Best Credit Cards That Include TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
Maximize Your Carry-Ons
Most airlines offer each passenger both a carry-on and a personal item that can fit underneath the seat in front of you. You’d be amazed how much stuff can fit into those two bags. For example, on a 10-day trip to Hawaii, me, my wife and our three children each had a full-size carry-on bag, plus a backpack. In fact, I strapped several of the carry-ons together so that I could wheel them through the airport with ease.
Read the Rules Carefully
As I see it, airline baggage fees are a game, and the way to win at any game is to know the rules. For example, while airlines will accept skis and snowboards as checked bags, often without an additional oversize fee, their
Also, most airlines accept a child car seat as checked luggage. To protect the car seat, I suggest putting it in a duffle bag. And I find that If I include some spare diapers, beach towels, winter coats or other bulky but lightweight items in the duffle, underneath the seat, the airline will never know or care. I’ve even strapped bottles of wine into our children’s car seats, which does as good of a job protecting them as it does my children.
Book Award Tickets
Even when you fly in economy class, the tickets you book with your frequent flyer miles still count as standard
Travel this way as a family, and your biggest challenge will be getting a large enough vehicle to carry you and your stuff to and from the
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, to enjoy your airline card’s free checked bag benefit, you will need to pay for your ticket with the card. If your card also allows free checked luggage for your companions, then they must be on the same booking as you.
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On a major U.S. airline, around $30 is the common checked baggage fee for the first bag. Yet, the cost of additional luggage may rise per bag—for example, you may pay $40 for the second and $150 for a third. Also, if a paid checked bag exceeds the airline’s weight allowance (a maximum of around 50 pounds), expect to pay extra.
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Many U.S.-based airlines give you at least one checked bag for free on transatlantic flights unless you are flying in basic economy or similar. If you have a second bag to check, you may have to pay—a common charge is $100.