If you’re traveling, chances are that you’ve scoped out the best way to avoid checked baggage fees. There’s a lot of information on this topic and it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. This blog will help clear up some common questions about avoiding those charges while flying.
The “do you have to pay for checked bags twice on a round trip” is the question that many people want answered. If you are traveling with your family, it’s important to know how to avoid checked baggage fees.
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There was a time, believe it or not, when checked luggage fees were not the norm. In truth, ancillary fees are a relatively new trend, as airlines have turned to them as a strategy to increase income from passengers.
While checked baggage fees have mostly been seen as a success for airlines’ bottom lines, they do come at the price of the passenger’s money. In 2019, the federal Bureau of Transportation estimated that luggage fees alone brought in $5.8 billion for airlines.
While these taxes have been a boon to airlines, they have been a source of annoyance for passengers who have had to accept the fact that travel is becoming more costly.
Fortunately, there are a number of methods to avoid the annoying luggage fees that have become the standard in recent years. Before we get into those suggestions, keep in mind that if you’re travelling on a long-haul international trip with any airline, you should check with them directly to see whether you’ll be charged for checked luggage. Some airlines charge for checked bags on all basic economy prices, while others charge differently depending on the location you’re going to. It’s a good idea to complete your homework ahead of time.
Here are five simple strategies to avoid paying those irritating additional costs when you book your next ticket.
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Credit card issuers started redesigning the advantages of airline co-branded cards soon after airlines began charging for checked baggage, including a free checked bag for the cardholder (and in some cases, their traveling companions). This perk is still prevalent among airline co-branded cards today, and it may save you a lot of money, particularly if you fly more than a few times each year.
Here are some of the co-branded options from major US airlines that include a complimentary checked bag while flying.
First checked bag is free for you and up to six passengers on the same route when you use your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card. The yearly charge for this card is $75.
First checked bag is free for you and up to four companions flying on the same domestic route with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®. The annual cost for this card is $99, however it is waived for the first year.
First checked bag is free for you and up to four passengers flying on the same domestic route with the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®. The annual cost for this card is $99 per year.
First checked bag is free for you and up to eight companions flying on the same domestic route with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. The annual fee for this card is $450.
First checked bag is free for you and up to eight friends flying on the same route when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. For the first year, there is no annual cost; after that, it is $99 per year. (See the prices and fees page for further information.)
First checked bag is free for you and up to eight friends flying on the same route when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. The yearly fee for this card is $250. (See the prices and fees page for further information.)
First checked bag is free for you and up to eight friends flying on the same route when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. The yearly fee for this card is $550. (See the prices and fees page for further information.)
When you use the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® to book a ticket directly from Hawaiian Airlines, the main cardholder receives a free checked bag. The annual cost for this card is $99 per year.
When you buy tickets with the JetBlue Plus Card, you get a free first checked bag for you and up to three passengers on the same route. The annual cost for this card is $99 per year.
When you buy tickets with your United Explorer Card, you get a free checked bag for you and one companion on the same itinerary. For the first year, there is no annual cost; after that, the price is $95 per year.
When you use the United Quest Card to book tickets, you and one companion on the same itinerary get complimentary first and second checked baggage. The yearly fee for this card is $250.
When you use the United Club Infinite Card to book tickets, you and one companion on the same itinerary get complimentary first and second checked baggage. The yearly fee for this card is $525.
Co-branded airline credit cards aren’t the only method to get your baggage free flights. Annual travel credits are available on several non-branded premium travel rewards credit cards, which may be used to pay the cost of a checked bag.
Here are a few of the greatest alternatives:
- The American Express Platinum Card® offers the following benefits: The American Express Platinum card, which is generally regarded as one of the greatest travel cards, comes with a $200 yearly airline credit that may be used on incidental airline items like checked luggage. You must sign up for this advantage, and you may only fly with one airline for a year.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: The Sapphire Reserve comes with a $300 yearly travel credit that may be used to any travel spend. If you need to pay for a bag, just charge it to your card and you’ll get a statement credit.
- Capital One Venture X: This new Capital One program gives you a $300 yearly travel credit for purchases made via the Capital One Travel site, as well as the ability to redeem points for one cent each to pay qualified travel expenses. For example, if you paid $30 for a bag using your card, you could spend 3,000 points to remove the charge off your account.
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Early boarding, privileged access to better seats (or even free upgrades), airport lounge access, and more — including more generous checked luggage allowances — are just some of the benefits offered by airlines to their most loyal customers.
You won’t have to pay to check your luggage if you travel sufficiently with a major US airline to obtain elite status. You’ll also be allowed to check more — and larger — luggage without paying additional fees after you attain higher levels of elite membership.
Let’s have a look at the different elite member allowances offered by the main US airlines.
- Alaska Airlines offers two free checked baggage to MVP and MVP Gold customers. Members of MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K enjoy three complimentary checked baggage.
- American Airlines offers one free checked bag to AAdvantage Gold members, two free checked bags to AAdvantage Platinum members, and three free checked bags to AAdvantage Platinum Pro and AAdvantage Executive Platinum members. (Keep in mind that you may now only achieve American Airlines elite status by using your co-branded credit card to make purchases.)
- Delta Air Lines: Silver Medallion members get one free checked bag up to 70 pounds, and if they also have a Delta co-branded credit card, they may check an extra bag for free. Gold Medallion members are entitled to two complimentary checked baggage each weighing up to 70 pounds. Platinum and Diamond Medallion members are entitled to three complimentary checked baggage weighing up to 70 pounds each.
- Hawaiian Airlines offers two free checked baggage to Pualani Gold members and three free checked bags to Pualani Platinum customers.
- JetBlue Airways offers two complimentary checked baggage to TrueBlue Mosaic and Mosaic+ customers.
- Spirit Airlines offers one free checked bag to Spirit Gold members.
- United Airlines offers one free checked bag up to 70 pounds to Premier Silver members, two free checked bags up to 70 pounds to Premier Gold members, and three free checked bags up to 70 pounds to Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members.
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Booking a ticket in first or business class is another method to ensure you won’t have to pay extra to check a bag. When you purchase a ticket in a premium cabin, you’ll almost always be able to check one — or possibly two — bags for free.
Of course, the ticket will be more costly, and the savings from checking luggage will most likely be insufficient to compensate for the price difference. However, if you know you’ll be traveling with a lot of baggage, it’s worth checking into.
Keep in mind the importance of mileage as well. While the cash costs will be significantly higher than in economy, you may be able to pay the cost of a ticket by using your loyalty points and miles — or those earned through a lucrative travel credit card. Premium redemptions are, in fact, often among the finest uses of your points and miles.
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Southwest has tried to set itself apart from the competition for years by sticking to its “Bags fly free” policy, which enables each booked customer to check two pieces of baggage for free to their ultimate destination. With most major US legacy airlines asking roughly $30 for the first bag and more for the second, flying Southwest instead of another airline might save you a lot of money, particularly if you’re traveling with a family.
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The simplest solution to avoid paying for a checked luggage is to not check a bag in the first place. If you can, pack everything you need in a carry-on bag and a travel backpack and take it on the airline with you. This will save you time at the conclusion of your voyage.
Be aware, though, that travelling with just carry-on baggage may not always save you money. You’ll almost certainly be charged for a carry-on if you’re travelling with a low-cost airline like Frontier Airlines or Spirit Airlines. You’ll also be on the hook for the privilege of bringing a bag on the aircraft if you purchase a basic economy ticket with most of the big legacy airlines. If you just intend to travel with carry-on baggage, the bottom line is to buy a non-basic economy ticket with a legacy airline.
If you’re looking for a travel credit card, you’ve come to the right place. Discover which credit cards CNN Underscored selected as the top travel credit cards for 2022.
The “which international airlines have free checked bags” is a question that many people ask. There are several airlines that offer free checked baggage, but not all of them. Checked baggage fees can be avoided by booking flights with these airlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I avoid paying my baggage fees?
A: You can avoid paying fees by traveling in Economy class.
What airlines allow checked baggage for free?
A: This depends on the airline. Some airlines allow for free checked baggage, but some do not offer it at all. To find out which airlines have a policy on checking bags, you can always search online to see what other people are saying about each individual airlines policies regarding this service.
Is it cheaper to pay for baggage at the airport?
A: The price of airfare is dependent on the airline. In general, its not cheaper to pay for baggage at the airport as there are fees involved with checking luggage and bringing them onto a flight.
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