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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 Travel Credit Cards
Credit Card | Intro Bonus | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Learn More |
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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) |
$95 |
1x- 5xPoints
The card offers 5x points per dollar on Chase Travel℠, 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. |
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50,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $700 (50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.014 base) |
$69 |
1x - 2xPoints
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases. |
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$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. |
$0 |
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. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025. |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
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60,000Citi ThankYou Points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Points after making $4,000 worth of purchases during the first three months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,080 (60,000 Citi ThankYou Points * 0.018 base) |
$95 |
1X-10XPoints
10X total ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets 1X -- Earn 1 Point on All Other Purchases |
Apply Now 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:
Current Southwest Credit Card Offers: Earn 50,000 Bonus Points
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. For example, some cards offer two free bags for yourself and a companion, but som
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.
Best Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Reimbursement
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.