Best Credit Cards With Free Checked Bags of April 2026

Going on a trip is exciting, but paying for your clothes to get there? Not so much. Recent research from luggage technology company LugLess shows that 71% of travelers avoid checking bags, and 34% wear multiple layers of clothing to eliminate the need to print bag tags. 

If you’re thinking about suffering through your next flight with four sweatshirts on, think again. There are loads of travel credit cards with free checked bags that can save you money. They’re even more valuable now, as airlines increase luggage fees to offset surging fuel prices. 

Read on to learn how checked bag fees work with major airlines and how you can stop worrying about them with the right credit card in your wallet.

Detailed Overview: Best Airline Credit Cards

Checked Bag Fees by Airline

Trying to sift through an airline’s checked baggage fee policy feels like reading an encyclopedia with 17,000 footnotes per page. Delta, for example, will limit anyone flying to Key West, Florida, to just one checked bag. Southwest, meanwhile, has a different checked bag fee structure for Hawaiian residents than for non-Hawaiian residents.

Here’s a rundown of what you can expect to pay on most major airlines. However, keep in mind that fees can vary based on your ticket type, your route and when you pay for the fee. 

American Airlines

For domestic travel on non-basic economy tickets, American’s baggage fee structure includes $50 for the first bag, $60 for the second and a whopping $200 each for any additional bags. You can save $5 on each of those fees if you pay online in advance. 

Most co-branded American Airlines credit cards come with a free first checked bag, albeit with some restrictions. For example, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, an advertising partner, offers a free first checked bag for yourself and up to four people on the same American Airlines reservation — a huge perk if you’re traveling with your family. The benefit only applies to domestic travel, but “domestic” includes Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, too.

Other options for saving on American Airlines checked bag fees include:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (an advertising partner) 
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

United Airlines

Passengers without status will pay $50 for their first checked bag and $60 for their second checked bag on United. You can save $5 by prepaying for the fee in the United app.

You can save on checked bag fees with certain co-branded United credit cards. Consider the  United℠ Explorer Card, which covers the first checked bag for you and a traveling companion on the same United reservation when you use the card to pay for your ticket (or the taxes and fees on an award ticket) — a value of up to $200 round-trip. In addition to the checked bag perk, the card offers a rare benefit for this kind of mid-tier card: two free United Club one-time passes each year. That, paired with a competitive welcome bonus offer, puts it among the best airline credit cards on the market.

You can also get free checked bags on United flights with these cards:

• United Quest℠ Card 
• United Club℠ Card

Delta Air Lines

Delta charges most passengers $45 for their first checked bag and $55 for their second. The amounts apply to bags weighing 50 pounds or less, and, like most carriers, Delta charges more for exceeding its luggage weight and dimension limits.

All co-branded Delta credit cards that charge annual fees offer a free first checked bag on Delta itineraries. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, an advertising partner, waives the baggage fee on the first bag for up to nine people on the same reservation — a potential benefit of up to $405 each way.

Consider these other Delta cards that offer free checked bags (both advertising partners):

• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Southwest Airlines

While Southwest used to make headlines by waiving checked bag fees, the airline now charges $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second for most customers. If you book a full vacation via Getaways by Southwest, however, baggage fees for first and second bags are waived for everyone on the reservation.

You can avoid checked bag fees on Southwest by holding a co-branded Southwest credit card, such as the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. It waives the first baggage fee for the cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.

Other Southwest cards with free checked bags include:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines

If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, you’re already in luck: You can get free checked bags simply by joining the Club 49 or Huaka’i free loyalty programs. If you live elsewhere, however, you’ll likely be paying $45 for your first bag and $55 for your second. (Slight discounts apply for travel between the Hawaiian islands.)

To avoid checked bag fees with either airline, consider a co-branded Atmos Rewards card, such as the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® or Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card. They offer a free first checked bag on Alaska and Hawaiian flights for you and up to six traveling companions on the same reservation when you use it to pay for your ticket, for a total value of up to $315 each way.

JetBlue

JetBlue’s baggage fee structure includes higher prices for travel during “peak” periods. For example, the first checked bag fee during the final two weeks of the year is $59 — $10 more than if you’re not traveling during the holidays. Regardless of when you’re taking to the skies, you’re better off paying well in advance: Passengers save $10 by paying at least 24 hours before departure. 

You can save money on bag fees with co-branded cards like the JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Premier Card, which waive the first checked bag fee for the cardholder and up to three additional passengers on the same reservation as long as you use it to pay for your flight.

Frontier

Frontier’s baggage fees look different depending on when you pay them: $59 for the first bag during booking, $75 when you check in online, $79 if you pay at the airport kiosk and as much as $99 if you wind up having to pay at the gate. Second checked bags start at $69 during booking. 

The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® can save you money with up to two free checked bags. The bad news: It only applies to you, and the limit is 40 pounds.

Air Canada

Most Air Canada passengers pay $45 for their first checked bag, while the second costs $60. It’s important to note that the cost is reflected in local currency — either Canadian or U.S. dollars, depending on where you live. 

But with the Aeroplan® Credit Card, you and up to eight additional travelers on the same reservation can qualify for a free first checked bag on any itinerary that originates with an Air Canada flight. 

Other Ways To Get Free Checked Bags

In addition to comparing credit cards with free checked bags, there are other options for shrinking your luggage costs to zero, including:

• Work toward status: If you regularly fly with the same airline, qualifying for the first tier of status typically gets you one free checked bag on each flight. And if you’re in a higher tier, you may get multiple free checked bags. You may be able to qualify for status across an entire alliance, too. For example, the Oneworld alliance includes 15 airlines, and depending on your status, you may be able to get an additional free bag across the entire network.
• Pay a higher fare: Airlines now have a maze of different ticketing types, which they’ve all referred to as “unbundling.” For example, booking a Main Plus ticket on American includes one checked bag — a perk that does not come with the standard Main category. However, it’s important to note that there can be a sizable price difference. When I booked a one-way trip from Chicago (ORD) to Salt Lake City (SLC), the Main ticket was $263, while Main Plus was $338.
• Redeem your miles: While cashing in your miles for bags isn’t the most exciting way to spend your loyalty earnings, it is an option with a number of airlines, including United, Delta and Frontier. 

Alternatives to Airline Credit Cards With Free Checked Bags

One downside of credit cards with free checked baggage is that they can limit your options. If you’re only getting free checked bags on Delta, for example, you’re limited to one set of routes and one set of pricing to use your benefit. Instead of sticking with one airline, you may be better off with a more versatile card that can help you offset your baggage fees — no matter what logo is on the plane.

Amex Platinum

As one of the best premium credit cards, the $895-annual-fee American Express Platinum Card®, an advertising partner, offers a laundry list of benefits to make your time away from home more rewarding, including up to $200 in annual airline incidental fee credit (enrollment required). You can use it to recoup any baggage fees you pay, and it can also cover other costs, such as in-flight food and beverages. While you’re limited to just one eligible airline, you get the ability to update that airline each January, giving you more flexibility to shop around for the best customer experience each year.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a hefty $795 annual fee, but one way to offset that cost is a $300 annual travel credit that can automatically cover baggage fees. Unlike the Amex Platinum, there is no need to enroll in a specific airline. You’ll be able to use the credit by using the card to pay for any baggage fee on any flight, along with loads of other travel purchases.

Hilton Aspire

If you’re a Hilton loyalist, the earning structure on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card can fast-track you to plenty of free stays. The card’s up to $200 in annual airline credit can help you save money while you’re traveling to those hotels. The credit is a quarterly benefit that helps you get up to $50 reimbursed each quarter. That’s enough to offset the first checked bag fee on a one-way ticket on most airlines. Of course, since you only get one each quarter, you could be stuck paying for your luggage on the way back.

Bank of America Premium Rewards

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card offers up to $100 annually in airline incidental credit, which can be used for baggage fees, helping you offset the typical round-trip cost of bringing along a non-carry-on piece of luggage.

Other Benefits of Credit Cards With Free Checked Bags

Credit cards with free checked bags also offer plenty of additional perks. So, even if you aren’t checking a bag, you may be able to enjoy a slightly less stressful travel experience. While every card is different, keep an eye out for these additional benefits as you choose an airline credit card:

• Priority boarding: If you don’t like waiting until the last group lines up, some of these credit cards can help you claim a seat a bit earlier.
• In-flight discounts: Once you’re onboard, you might be able to get a discount — 25% is a popular number with these cards — on any food and drinks you order. These savings are typically applied as a statement credit after you make the purchase with your card.
• Travel insurance: In addition to covering the cost of checking your bags, some credit cards come with travel insurance that can cover you if something goes wrong — your bag gets lost, your flight gets delayed or your rental car gets damaged, for example. Take a look through the fine print to know what kind of peace of mind you can get from a credit card.
• Airport lounge access: Premium co-branded airline credit cards, such as the United Club Card, Citi AA Executive card and Delta Reserve Card, also offer airline-branded airport lounge access. The downside is that these cards all charge annual fees in the hundreds of dollars, but they could be worth it for the most frequent flyers.

In addition to benefits while you’re traveling, airline credit cards that come with free bags also make a difference in helping you get a bit closer to your next trip: These typically pay elevated rewards rates in certain categories that can help you accumulate miles to cash in for a vacation.

Is a Card That Covers Checked Baggage Fees Worth It?

Most credit cards that waive checked bag fees charge an annual fee in the neighborhood of $95, but you can easily offset that cost with one trip. For example, if your card offers a free checked bag for one additional person, you’ll be getting a $100 value (with most carriers) on a one-way ticket. By the time you fly home, you’ve already come out ahead by $105. With a family, the savings grow exponentially. If you’re making multiple trips each year and you aren’t a light packer, these cards can make a big difference in your overall travel budget.

Another potential upside of a credit card that covers checked bag fees: You might be able to save a lot of money on the ticket, too. While I’m not a fan of the basic economy experience, one hack that a few of my budget-conscious friends have been using is pairing the United Explorer Card with a basic economy fare. They save a large chunk of money on the seat while still being able to check a bag without paying extra. If you’re comfortable with boarding last and sitting in a middle seat in row 44, it’s an easy route to spending a lot less on your trip.

Mistakes To Avoid When Using a Credit Card With Free Checked Bags

Be mindful of these common errors that could cost you a free checked bag:

• Forgetting to include your frequent flyer number: You’ll need to include your frequent flyer number on your reservation to ensure the baggage fee benefit applies to your flight — and in some cases, you’re required to use the card to pay for your ticket. If you don’t, you may be out of luck.
• Exceeding baggage limits: Your bag will still need to comply with the airline’s standard weight and size limits. Otherwise, you’ll wind up paying for an oversized bag, which can come with steep fees. So, pack light to avoid any surprises at the airport.
• Assuming the “free” benefit applies everywhere: With some cards, such as the Citi AA Platinum Select Card, the fee waiver only applies to domestic trips. So, if you’re heading to Mexico or the Caribbean, for example, you’ll be on the hook for a fee of $50.
• Trying to combine your credit card benefit with a loyalty benefit: If you’re a frequent flyer, it’s easy to assume that you might get a free checked bag based on your airline status and another free checked bag from your credit card. That’s not the case, though. Instead, each of these benefits typically only applies to the first checked bag.
• Failing to shop around for your fare: Getting your checked bag fees waived is great, but don’t let it lull you into only looking at the airline whose logo is on your credit card. Depending on where and when you’re flying, you may be able to find a better deal on another carrier. If you do, just try to pack light — or of course, put on all those layers of clothes and crank up the AC above your head.

The information related to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®, Aeroplan® Credit Card, JetBlue Plus Card, JetBlue Premier Card, Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card, Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card,  United℠ Explorer Card, United Quest℠ Card, United Club℠ Card and Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.