Points, Miles & Credit Cards

Credit Cards with Free Checked Bags

March 6, 2024

6 min read

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While it's not fun paying $35 or more each way to check a bag, the good news is that several credit cards can help you get a free checked bag on your next flight.

Most of the cards that offer this perk are specific to one airline, so consider your flying habits and loyalties first. But, if you're not committed to one airline, scroll down to learn how several general-purpose travel credit cards can help you cover checked baggage fees.

Some of the cards that offer free checked baggage can be applied for through Going, and some cannot. We feature application links with our partners whenever possible.

Get airfare deals for your points and miles with Going

Airline cards that get you free checked bags

Alaska Airlines

Cardholders who purchase airfare with their card can get the first checked bag free for themselves and up to six additional guests on the same reservation.

Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card

American Airlines

The following cards get you a first checked bag free, but the number of additional guests who also can get a free first checked bag varies by card.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: You and up to eight additional people on the same reservation.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: You and up to four additional people on the same reservation.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: You and up to four additional people on the same reservation.
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Red Mastercard®: You and up to four additional people on the same reservation.

Delta Airlines

The following cards get the first checked bag free on Delta flights.

Delta business card options:

card_name (See Rates and Fees)
card_name (See Rates and Fees)
card_name (See Rates and Fees)

Delta personal cards
card_name	card_name	card_name

card_name	card_name	card_name
Annual fee
annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)	annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)	annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
Foreign transaction fees
foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee
Earning rate
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.	Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.	Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full
Our take
A great card option for the casual flyer who loves Delta.	A middle-of-the-road option, this card also includes an annual Companion Certificate each card anniversary.	The top-of-the-line option, this card is great for Delta flyers who love to travel in style.

Delta business cards
card_name	card_name	card_name

card_name	card_name	card_name
Annual fee
annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)	annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)	annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
Foreign transaction fees
foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee
Earning rate
Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year. Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants. Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.	Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.	Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases. Terms apply.
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full
Our take
This card has a pretty decent ongoing rewards earning rate.	The application fee credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck) is a great perk of this card.	This card offers a very attractive Companion Certificate available on each year after your card renews.

Hawaiian Airlines

Cardholders can get two free checked bags on flights purchased with their card.

Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard

All information about the Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by Going. The Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard is not available through Going, but you can learn more here.

JetBlue Airways

The amount of people on your reservation who get the first checked bag free varies based on the card.

JetBlue Plus Card: Cardholders get the first checked bag free.
JetBlue Business Card: Cardholders get the first checked bag free for themselves and up to three additional guests.

All information about the JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card have been collected independently by Going. These cards are not available through Going, but you can learn more here.

United Airlines

Checked baggage perks vary by card.

card_name: Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms apply.
card_name: Free first and second checked bags - savings of up to $360 per roundtrip. Terms apply.
card_name: Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access(R) travel services.
card_name:Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip (terms apply).

United cards
card_name	card_name	card_name	card_name

card_name	card_name	card_name	card_name
Annual fee
annual_fees	annual_fees	annual_fees	annual_fees
Foreign transaction fees
foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee
Earning rate
2x miles on United(R) purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel	3x miles on United(R) purchases 2x miles on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services 1x mile on all other purchases	4x miles on United(R) purchases 2x miles on dining and all other travel 1x mile on all other purchases	2x miles on United(R) purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit and commuting. 1x mile on all other purchases.
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full
Our take
It's rare to find an entry-level card that offers a first checked bag free.	A good option for a United loyalist.	This card is best for devoted United flyers.	In addition to its United perks, this card has a great earning rate on common spending categories.
Card benefits
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club(SM) with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck(R) or NEXUS fee credit Earn a $100 United travel credit after spending $10,000 on purchases with your United(SM) Explorer Card within a calendar year Over $400 in partner credits each year Member FDIC	Receive a $200 United(R) travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary (terms apply) Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after spending $20,000 each calendar year Earn 2 global Economy Plus(R) seat upgrades after spending $40,000 each calendar year Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,000 Card Bonus PQP each year, awarded within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1 each year, starting in 2026. Member FDIC	United Club(SM) membership - at least a $750 value Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access(R) travel services Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 in purchases - up to two times each calendar year Member FDIC	$150 Annual Fee. Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United(SM) Business Card and a personal Chase United(R) credit card. Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club(SM) one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges. Receive a $125 United travel credit after making 5 United(R) flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year with your United(SM) Business Card. Member FDIC

Southwest Airlines

Starting on bookings made May 28, 2025 and after, Southwest Airlines will begin charging for checked baggage. Prior to this change, the airline had offered up to two checked bags for free for nearly 60 years.

Holding a Southwest credit card will allow you and up to eight others on the same reservation will be able to travel with one checked bag for free.

You can read more about the policy change at Southwest's site.

Other cards that can help you save on checked baggage fees

All of the cards above are specific to one airline, but what if you're not loyal to flying one carrier? For those of us who are noncommittal, there are several flexible travel credit cards that could help:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card: This card has an annual travel credit of $300. You could use some of that credit to apply toward checked baggage fees.
The Platinum Card® from American Express and its counterpart, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Each card offers cardholders an annual airline incidental credit worth $200. You could use this credit to cancel out baggage fees you might have. To take advantage of this credit, you’ll need to select one airline to use this with. The best way to do so is to chat with an Amex representative in the app.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: This newly revamped card offers a new flight credit worth up to $200, spread out as $50 statement credits per quarter. This credit applies to “flight purchases made directly with an airline,” and though it’s brand new, it appears that checked baggage fees would qualify.
The Capital One Venture Rewards® Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards® Card, and Capital One Venture X Business® Card: Each of these cards allow you to cover travel purchases, including checked baggage fees, by redeeming Miles (their term for points) as statement credit.

General travel cards that can help offset baggage fees
card_name	card_name	card_name	card_name

card_name	Learn more card_name	card_name	card_name
Annual fee
annual_fees	annual_fees	annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)	annual_fees
Foreign transaction fees
foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee
Earning rate
Earn 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually Earn 10x total points on hotels (excluding The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection) and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.	2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1 X Membership Rewards® Points on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.	2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full
Our take
The annual travel credit is very flexible, making it useful for lots of travel expenses.	This card may have a low annual fee, but it competes with the top luxury options on the market.	The statement credits included with this card are the true showstopper.	An elevated version of its sibling, this card also offers access to some lounges.