When searching for prices on flights, it is always nice to find a good deal on a flight. What is not nice is realizing that it is going to cost you to check bags along the way which takes the price up another $60 or more dollars for a round trip ticket.
This can add up fast especially if you are traveling as a family. For example, a family of 5 all checking a bag can add an additional $300 or more flying round trip.
Different Types of Bags
Before we get into the different ways to get around paying for checked bags, let’s take a look at what the different types of bags are.
Fees for bags come in three different categories:
1. Carry on bags- Carry on bags are those bags that you can carry on the flight, hence the term “carry on.” They are small enough to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.
Most airlines don’t charge for carry-on bags. JetBlue and United charge carry-on fees if you are flying on their economy fair.
Budget airlines like Allegiant and Spirit charge for carry on bags.
2. Personal items- Personal items are things like a purse, backpack, or laptop bag. They are separate from carry-on bags. Airlines don’t charge for personal items that you take on the plane.
3. Checked bags- Larger luggage that is going to be stored in the hold of the plane is considered checked baggage. Most airlines are going to charge you a certain amount for checking a bag.
They will charge you extra for each additional bag that you check. They will also charge you more if it does not meet their dimension or weight requirements.
So, now let’s get to the good stuff and look at some things that you can do to avoid those pesky checked bag fees.
1. Pick Up an Airline Credit Card
One way to get around checked baggage fees is to have an airline credit card. Airline credit cards have annual fees but even if you don’t fly all the time it can be beneficial to have an airline credit card.
If you do fly often then it is definitely going to be a cost effective way to save money when you fly.
You have to do the math when looking at an airline credit card. Are you going to get the necessary value out of the card to account for an airline credit card?
For example, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard has an annual fee of $99 that is waived for the first year. The first checked bag on domestic flights flies free for you and up to 4 other companions.
American Airlines charges $30 one way for a checked bag on a domestic flight. So, it would cost you $120 for a round trip ticket for you and a companion. One flight would pay for the fee and then some.
Most major US airlines have free checked baggage along with having one of their credit cards. Click the links below to see available credit cards for each airline.
Discount airlines, such as Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant do not have credit cards that give you free checked bags.
2. Fly Southwest
One of the things that I love about Southwest is the fact that they allow up to two checked bags to fly for free when you fly with them.
Not only do you get two checked bags but you also get a carry on and personal item on top of that.
Sometimes, the flight with Southwest will cost more then another airline but when you factor in luggage it is actually cheaper since checked bags are flying for free.
3. Use Military Discount
If you are an active military member, you can get free checked bags when you fly with all of the major US airlines.
This would include:
- United
- American Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Delta
- Jet Blue
- Spirit
- Allegiant
- Frontier
- Southwest– Southwest has two free checked bags but has other exemptions for active military.
Each of the airlines has their own policies as it comes to military members. You can click on the links above to see what they are.
For example, with United an active military member and dependents can have 3 checked bags when not on official business.
When on official business the military member along with dependents can have up to 5 checked bags.
4. Earn Elite Status
If you fly often and you fly one particular airline you can earn elite status. If you have elite status, many frequent flyer programs allow elite status members to have their checked bags fly for free.
For example, with American Airlines Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro members get 3 checked bags for free. Platinum members get 2 checked bags for free. Gold members get one checked bag for free.
Elite status with an airline may seem like a lofty goal but there are ways to earn more points on that journey.
For example, if you have status with World of Hyatt, you can link your Hyatt account with your American Airlines account. Each dollar spent at a World of Hyatt hotel earns you a point with American Airlines.
5. Pack Light
I know call me Captain Obvious but packing light is a way to get around checked baggage fees. As I mentioned before, most airlines are going to allow you to take a carry-on bag for free.
I know that this is not always going to be possible or practical for some trips. In cases where you don’t need a ton of clothes and you have access to a washer and dryer. It may be an option to consider.
Not only do you save money with this option but you also can save a lot of time not waiting around for checked bags to come out on the carousel.
6. Pick a Credit Card with a Travel Credit
Tip one was to have an airline card to get around paying for checked bags. There are credit cards that are considered general travel cards and with some of these cards they have credits that you can use to cover the cost of checked bags.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a $300 travel credit that you can use towards travel related expenses, such as baggage fees.
Other credit cards that offer the same kind of perk include: the American Express Platinum Card, American Express Gold Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
7. Fly in a Premium Seat
Airlines usually don’t charge checked baggage fees if you fly in business or first class. This will not save you money the majority of the time since the cost of a business or first class ticket is much more than the cost of a lower level ticket with baggage fees.
If you are into the points game when flying, you can book a flight in first or business class using points. It will save you money and you will get free checked bags in the process.
JetBlue and American Airlines are an exception to the business and first class rule because they have free checked bags for Premium Economy flights.
One Way to Lessen Costs on Checked Bags
If you can’t do any of the various methods that I have listed, there is one thing that you can do to save on checked bags. You can share a suitcase between two people. This will cut your luggage in half and the cost of luggage in half at the same time.
My daughter and I flew to Florida and we flew Spirit which charges for checked bags. We shared a suitcase and washed clothes the week that we were in Florida and saved $80 in the process.
Final Thoughts
Checked bag prices are not going away. As a matter of fact, they are only going up. Remember that you can:
- Pick an airline credit card
- Fly Southwest
- Use Military Discount
- Earn Elite Status
- Pack Light
- Pick a Credit Card with Travel Perks
- Fly in a Premium Seat
Knowledge is power and in this case it is the power to save money on your checked bags the next time you fly.