You know what’s a great deal? Paying $99 a year to save $400.

That’s not a hypothetical. That’s the math on a mid-tier co-branded credit card for a family of four who check a bag on a round-trip flight, at current bag-fee rates, which aren’t getting any cheaper.

Airlines have been raising checked bag fees over the past couple of years. Recent bumps haven’t been small, either. Some carriers went up $10 to $15 per bag, a 20-30% jump. Southwest went from “bags fly free,” their actual marketing slogan for decades, to charging $35 when they introduced fees in May 2025. Then it was raised to $45 less than a year later.

The result: one round-trip with a checked bag, for two people, now costs anywhere from $180 to $200 in bag fees alone, depending on the airline.

Here’s where the six major domestic airlines stand right now on first checked bag fees (per person, each way):

Airline	First Bag Fee
Alaska	$45
American	$45
Delta	$45
Southwest	$45
JetBlue	$49
United	$50

Each of the airline cards below eliminates that checked baggage fee entirely. Coverage extends to at least one travel companion, for an annual fee that the bag savings alone can cover.

Before you jump to the card list, though, a few things worth thinking through first.

Before You Pick a Card, Read This

Start with Your Airline, Not the Card

The most common mistake people make with airline cards is picking the card before picking the airline. Then they end up with miles they can’t easily use because the flights aren’t there.

Start with your home airport. Which airlines use it as a hub, or run high-frequency routes to the places you actually go? That’s your airline. Hub carriers give you better route access, more schedule flexibility, and more chances to earn status. An airline that barely touches your city is going to frustrate you no matter how good the card is.

Once you know your airline, the card choice becomes obvious.

Build the Right Points Foundation First

Airline cards are powerful, but they shouldn’t be your first card. Transferable points programs, where your points can move to multiple airlines and hotels, should be your foundation. The reason is flexibility. You’re not betting everything on one airline’s availability or pricing. And your transferable points program should ideally partner with your chosen airline, so everyday spending feeds the same ecosystem. Here’s how the programs line up:

Transferable Program	Airline Partners (from this list)
Amex Membership Rewards	Delta, JetBlue
Bilt Rewards	Alaska, Southwest, United
Capital One Miles	JetBlue
Chase Ultimate Rewards	JetBlue, Southwest, United
Citi ThankYou Points	American, JetBlue
See all card transfer partners

JetBlue partners with every major transferable program. Almost any transferable points card works as a complement. For Delta flyers, the Amex card lineup is the natural starting point.

The Ideal Setup

Once you’ve identified your airline and your transferable points program, the ideal wallet looks like this: a transferable points card as your everyday workhorse for earning, paired with your airline’s co-branded card for the perks that usually require status or higher spending: free checked bags, priority boarding, companion fares, lounge passes.

Two cards. One airline program. And because your transferable points stay flexible, you’re never locked in. If a better redemption opportunity comes up somewhere else, your points can be used there instead.

Best Credit Cards for Free Checked Bags

Each airline offers a range of personal and business cards. In this article, I am featuring entry- to mid-tier personal cards. Low annual fees, practical checked bag benefits, and a straightforward value proposition: fly the airline a few times a year, check a bag, and the card pays for itself before you even think about the points.

Free Checked Baggage Fees: Does the Annual Fee Actually Pay Off?

The savings from checked baggage fees justify most of these cards on their own. Here’s a quick framework:

Scenario A — Solo traveler, 2 round-trips with a checked bag (4 one-way flights):

• Alaska: $45 x 4 = $180 saved vs. $95 fee. Net: +$85 before any other perk.
• American: $45 x 4 = $180 saved vs. $99 fee. Net: +$81 before any other perk.
• Delta: $45 x 4 = $180 saved vs. $150 fee. Net: +$30 before any other perk.
• United: $50 x 4 = $200 saved vs. $150 fee. Net: +$50 before any other perk.

Note: most of these cards cover only the first bag. If you regularly need two free checked bags per person, step-up cards like the United Quest are worth a look, though the annual fees reflect that added benefit.

Scenario B — Two people traveling together, 2 round-trips with checked bags: Every card on this list covers at least you and your companion. Your bag savings double. At that point, you’re looking at $320-$400 in savings vs. a $95-$150 fee. Every card clears comfortably.

And that’s before counting the sign-up bonus, in-flight discounts, anniversary bonuses, lounge passes, companion fares, or anything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do any airlines offer free checked bags? Yes, but only in certain circumstances. Most major U.S. airlines now charge for checked bags on standard economy fares. The exception: elite status members, premium cabin passengers, certain fare types, and co-branded credit card holders. All six airlines in this article offer free checked bags to their co-branded cardholders.

Do I need to pay for my flight with the card to get free checked bags? It depends on the airline. This is one of the most important fine-print details to know. Here’s how each card works:

• Alaska (Atmos Ascent): Yes, must purchase the flight with the card. Cardholder must be traveling.
• American (AAdvantage Platinum Select): No, just need your AAdvantage number in the reservation at least 7 days before travel.
• Delta (SkyMiles Gold Amex): No, just need your SkyMiles number linked to your card and included in the reservation. Pay with any card.
• JetBlue Plus: Yes, must pay with the card. On award tickets, paying taxes and fees with the card typically satisfies the requirement.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus: No, but your Rapid Rewards number must be in the reservation. Authorized users are not eligible.
• United Explorer: Yes, must purchase the ticket with the card. On award tickets, paying taxes and fees with the card satisfies the requirement.

Can I get free checked bags if I pay for my flight with miles? For cards requiring payment with the card (Alaska, JetBlue, United), pay the award ticket taxes and fees with your airline card — that typically satisfies the requirement. For cards that don’t require it (American, Delta, Southwest), miles bookings don’t affect eligibility at all. Your loyalty number in the reservation is all that’s needed.

Can authorized users get free checked bags? Generally yes, with exceptions. Alaska, JetBlue, and United authorized users can get the benefit when they pay with their authorized user card. American and Delta require the primary cardholder to be on the same reservation. Southwest explicitly excludes authorized users from this benefit regardless of circumstances.

Does the free checked bag perk cover oversized or overweight luggage? No. Standard bags only, typically under 50 lbs and within 62 inches total linear dimensions. Oversized and overweight fees apply regardless of card status.

Are there general travel cards that offer free checked bags? Almost never. This benefit is almost exclusively a co-branded airline card perk. General travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Gold earn transferable points but don’t waive bag fees directly.

Wrap-up: Credit Cards With Free Checked Bag Fees

Checked baggage fees just got more expensive. The airline credit cards that offer free checked bags just got more valuable. Travelers who are still paying full checked bag fees on airlines that offer a card, even though the first bag alone might cover the fee on a round-trip, are throwing money away.

Among the best travel credit cards you can add to your wallet, these rank at the top for sheer practical value. If you travel frequently, you might consider a premium version with added benefits and status-boosting features. Or you might decide you want to focus on multiple airlines. You can always target multiple programs to build your setup.

The annual fee is the price of admission. The free checked bag is the return on investment. Everything else is a bonus.