Get Free Luggage with the Right Cards (Whether or Not You Pay with Them) (2024)

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From Alaska Airlines down to United, all the major airlines offer co-branded credit cards teasing big bonuses and an incredibly valuable benefit: Free checked baggage on every flight.

With airlines charging at least $30 per bag each way on domestic flights and even more for long-haul international flights, this perk can add up fast, easily outweighing the annual fee on your airline credit card. But every airline handles these cardholder benefit a bit differently: How many bags can you bring? International or only domestic?

But above all, one quirk with free luggage perks on credit cards catches many travelers by surprise. Do you need to actually pay for your flight with that credit card to get a checked bag for free?

Many travelers assume that's the case – it makes sense, right? But several airlines will give you a free bag so long as you simply have the card open, freeing you up to use another card that earns more points or comes with built-in travel insurance. Other carriers, meanwhile, aren't quite so generous.

We'll walk you through the basics of how this benefit works on some of the largest U.S. airlines.

The Basics of Free Baggage

From American to Delta to United and even Alaska, every major U.S. airline offers a co-branded credit card. And each of them gives these cardholders a free checked bag on every flight.

That alone is a worthwhile perk, and one of the top benefits that come with many airline co-branded credit cards. Seeing as checking a bag costs at least $30 each way, you could save more than $100 on just two round trips.

What's more, this benefit won't just get you a free checked bag. It can also get your companions a free bag, too … so long as they're booked under your reservation.For traveling families, the savings can easily multiply. Just how many companions will get a free bag depends on the airline. But remember: The cardholder has to be traveling, too – it's not enough to simply book a flight for a friend or family member.

With few exceptions, these cards carry annual fees of at least $95 to $100 – though that could be waived for your first year with the card. That means a year of free checked baggage. Once that annual fee kicks in, just two round trips with a checked bag a year (or less) will mean you'll come out ahead on your annual fee.

But how do you get free baggage with your airline? Do you have to use that card to pay for your flight? Do all flights qualify?

A Breakdown of Free Bag Benefits by Airline

Unfortunately, this is where the simplicity ends.

Exactly what you get with your credit card depends on the airline and which credit card you've got in your wallet. So we've broken it down, airline-by-airline.

Free Baggage with Alaska Airlines Credit Card

Now, you'll need to make sure you use your Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card when purchasing flights if you want that checked bag for free.

That became a requirement as of March 1, 2023, for you (and up to six companions) to get a free bag on your next Alaska Airlines flight. For years, it wasn't necessary to actually book with the Alaska Visa Card, which carries a $95 annual fee.

• Flights: All Alaska Airlines flights
• Companions: You and up to six companions on the same reservation will get your first checked bag free.
• Pay with the card?Yes, as of March 1, 2023.

Free Baggage with American Airlines Credit Card

Keep that card in your wallet – you won't need it to get a free bag flying American Airlines.

And that's a big win, as it means you can instead book your flight with a credit card that will earn you more points (or give you travel insurance – or both!) like the *chase sapphire reserve* or*amex platinum*. Just make sure your American Airlines card is still open and attached to your account, and you're set.

You've got a few options to score a free bag when you're flying American Airlines. There's the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® with a $99 annual fee that is waived in year one. Then there's the AAdvantage World Elite Mastercard from Barclays. American also has a handful of other, more expensive credit cards.

No matter which card you've got, you'll get your first checked bag free for yourself and up to four companions – and you don't have to pay for your flight with your card.

But there is a catch: With American credit cards, only domestic flights qualify for a free bag.

• Flights: Domestic American Airlines flights only.
• Companions: You and up to four companions on the same reservation will get your first checked bag free.
• Pay with the card?Not necessary!

Free Baggage with Delta Credit Cards

Are you sensing a pattern yet? There's no need to use that Delta credit card to get a free bag.

For you Delta flyers, all of the airline’s co-branded American Express cards include that free luggage perk – except the no-annual-fee *delta blue*.

But you're set with personal and business versions of the *delta skymiles gold card*, *delta skymiles platinum card*, and the *delta reserve card*. Annual fees start at $150 on the Gold Card, though it has a $0 introductory fee for the first year (see ).

Whichever eligible card you've got, Delta's free baggage benefit is more generous than any other airline.

For starters, you can technically apply the free bag waiver to up to eight other passengers under your same reservation. And you can use any card you'd like to book your flight, as simply having your Delta card attached to your SkyMiles account will get you the free bag benefit.

Unlike American Airlines, Delta cardholders get a free checked bag on all Delta-operated flights, domestic or international. Just keep in mind it won't work on flights operated by one of Delta's partner airlines like Air France or Korean Air.

• Flights: All Delta-operated flights
• Companions: You and up to eight companions on the same reservation will get your first checked bag free.
• Pay with the card?Not necessary!

Read our master guide to Delta baggage fees!

Free Baggage with JetBlue Credit Card

Here's where the pattern ends.

Unlike many of its competitors, you'll have to actually pay for your flight with your JetBlue credit card in order to get a free bag. There's theJetBlue Plus Cardand theJetBlue Business Card.Both are operated by Barclays, and both carry an annual fee of $99 starting in year one.

• Flights: All JetBlue flights
• Companions: You and up to three companions on the same reservation will get your first checked bag free.
• Pay with the card?Yes, you must pay with your JetBlue credit card to get a free bag.

See what else you need to know on JetBlue baggage fees!

Free Baggage with Southwest Credit Card

Psych!

While Southwest has a slew of credit cards to choose from, they won't get you free baggage … because all flyers get two free checked bags on every Southwest flight. While other airlines started charging for bags years ago, Southwest has resisted. It's one of the things that sets Southwest apart.

Free Baggage with United Credit Card

We've got bad news, United flyers. You'll have to pay for your United flight with your United credit card to get a free bag.

Unlike its competitors American and Delta, United requires flyers to pay with their co-branded Chase credit card in order to get a free checked bag. Pay with a *united explorer*, and you'll get a free checked bag for yourself and one companion on your reservation. That card carries a $95 annual fee, though that's waived in year one.

Use the new *united quest*, and you'll get not one but two free checked bags for yourself and one companion. The Quest Card has a $250 annual fee.

Those savings can add up even faster, as United began charging $35 per bag if you don't prepay online. And it's one of the best ways to beat United's basic economy, as the airline doesn't allow basic economy flyers to bring a carry-on bag onboard … unless you've got a United card.

• Flights: All United and United Express-operated flights
• Companions: You and one on the same reservation will get your first checked bag free.
• Pay with the card?Yes, you must pay with your United credit card to get a free bag.

Read more on United Airlines baggage fees!

Bottom Line

Lots of travelers out there love their co-branded airline cards, in large part due to the free checked bag benefit. It gives you a compelling reason to keep that card open for your preferred airline.

Yet these benefits remain misunderstood. You don't always have to pay with that credit card in order to get a free bag. It just depends on which airline you're flying with.