The recent news that Southwest Airlines will no longer be offering its longstanding “two checked bags for free” policy has caused outrage in the travel community. The result of this announcement is that as of May 28th, 2025, all major US airlines will now be charging for checked luggage:
The good news is that despite the announcement, there are still ways for travelers to reduce, and even avoid, baggage fees on the major airlines. To help you plan for your next trip, we have broken down every possible way to save on luggage fees across all the major US airlines, so that you can keep travel costs as low as possible and focus on enjoying your trip.
As the fourth largest airline in North America, chances are that you will fly with Southwest Airlines at some point. It flies into over 100 different destinations, including most of the United States, as well as several international airports.
Southwest generally has a reputation for being a moderately affordable airline, you might have heard the news that the airline is no longer offering its popular “two bags fly free” program, which has caused some concern for frequent flyers and those who like to travel on a budget. From the 28th of May, 2025, most passengers will now need to pay a fee for their checked baggage, which will unfortunately bring up the overall cost of flying with the airline.
Luckily, there are still ways you can avoid or minimize these fees. One of the best ways is to be a part of one of the Southwest elite passenger programs, as members will continue to enjoy a limited free baggage allowance. These programs include;
Additionally, if you select a “Business Select” fare when booking your flight, you will also be entitled to a limited free baggage allowance.
American Airlines is the largest airline in the world, making it a popular choice for travelers across the globe when booking flights. The airline’s fares can be pricey at times, so it is a good idea to try to reduce your total flying costs as much as possible.
Typically, American Airlines passengers must pay a fee for their checked baggage, which can be an inconvenient cost that makes your trip just that little bit more expensive. However, there are ways you can minimize baggage fees with relative ease.
The easiest way to do this is by using a co-branded AAdvantage credit card. Holding an American Airlines credit card often grants the holder a free checked bag, as well as free baggage for their companions too. The American Airlines co-branded credit cards you can choose from are:
Additionally, passengers who have achieved AAdvantage elite status also receive complimentary checked baggage. You can achieve this status by frequently flying with the airline and earning enough loyalty points to qualify you for the program. There are several statuses you can achieve, as it operates in a tiered system, meaning the more you fly, the more benefits you get, including more free checked bags.
The different status levels are;
Another popular airline for flyers in North America is Delta Air Lines. Delta has a very strong reputation for excellent customer service and great in-flight facilities, making it one of the largest airlines in the world.
By default, Delta also requires travelers to pay a fee for their checked baggage, however, like any great airline, they also offer ways for you to minimize or eliminate this cost.
Delta partners with American Express to offer customers a co-branded credit card option that gives the holder the typical Amex benefits, as well as extra Delta-specific perks. One of these perks is free checked baggage.
Delta SkyMiles Amex Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Reserve cardholders all receive their first checked bag for free when flying with Delta. This translates to a $70 savings for solo travelers and up to $280 for a family of four—an impactful cost cut.
It is worth noting that the Delta SkyMiles Amex Blue card does not offer this benefit, so make sure you check which card tier you hold before booking to make sure you receive the reduced baggage fees.
Furthermore, if you are a part of the Delta SkyMiles Medallion Benefits loyalty system, you can also expect waived baggage fees. No matter if you’re a Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond member, you do not have to pay for your first checked bag.
Additionally, elite members traveling in the Comfort or Economy cabins can check in one additional bag over the standard allowance for free, and if you are traveling in Delta One or First Class, you are free to check in an additional 3 bags.
United Airlines flies to more destinations than any other airline in the world, making it the go-to choice for all your travel needs.
The standard for United Airlines passengers is that they are expected to pay to check a bag into a flight. These fees can start at $35, but can become even more expensive depending on how heavy your bag is or how many bags you wish to check in.
Fortunately, there are several ways you can avoid or minimize these baggage fees.
One way is to hold a United Mileage Plus Credit card. Different card tiers offer varying benefits, including complimentary checked bags and reduced baggage fees. The free baggage allowance for each tier is as follows;
Alternatively, you can also minimize your baggage fees on United if you are a member of their elite MileagePlus program. Again, the number of free bags you are entitled to depends on which tier you are a part of. Typically;
JetBlue is another major airline that many travelers opt for when trying to reach a new destination.
Baggage fees are typically mandatory for JetBlue passengers and start at $35, with additional charges for heavy or additional bags. Nevertheless, there are options to help passengers avoid paying these fees and to keep the cost of their travel as low as possible.
JetBlue partners with Mastercard to offer a generous credit card system, and depending on which card you hold, you may be entitled to reduced baggage fees. Those who hold a JetBlue Plus Card and a JetBlue Premier Card are entitled to one of the most generous checked bag systems across all airlines. Holders of these cards receive their first checked bag free, as well as one free checked bag each for up to three companions.
If you happen to be a frequent flyer with JetBlue and have become a part of their elite Mosaic Status system, you also have options to minimize baggage fees. The Mosaic Status system has four tiers, and you can rise up through each level by obtaining JetBlue “tiles,” which are earned by taking frequent flights with the airline.
While the perks on offer differ for each tier, one thing remains the same across all. All members receive two free checked bags on each flight. Considering you earn one tile for every $100 spent with JetBlue, and you need 50 tiles to reach the lowest Mosaic tier, it is relatively easy to obtain their generous free baggage policy for members.
As one of the main carriers connecting passengers on the West Coast of the United States with the rest of the country, it is no wonder that Alaska Airlines has become one of the major players in the aviation space.
The airline typically charges passengers $35 for their first check, $45 for the second, and $150 for any additional bags, meaning it can be quite pricey to travel with a significant amount of luggage. However, there are ways you can circumvent paying these fees and reduce the overall price of your ticket.
As it is a major airline, it should come as no surprise that Alaska Airlines has its own credit card program, which it offers in partnership with Visa. If you are looking to minimize baggage fees, this might be worth looking into, as cardholders receive some great benefits that include free checked bags. If you pay for your ticket with your Alaska Airlines credit card, you are entitled to one free checked bag for you and up to six guests on your reservation. If you are traveling in a group, this means you are granted a significant saving, as everyone in your party avoids paying the baggage fees.
On the other hand, frequent fliers who are part of the Mileage Plan program can also be entitled to free checked bags on all flights, depending on which tier they are a part of. The free checked bag policy on Alaska Airlines is as follows;
Spirit Airlines is the go-to carrier for any traveler on a budget, as the entire business is based on a low-cost model.
If you are flying with Spirit, chances are you are aiming to save as much money on your flight. While the ticket fares may be cheap, baggage fees typically start at $50 per bag, which is more than some of the high-cost airlines. However, travelers are in luck, as Spirit offers several ways for you to avoid or reduce the baggage fees on your flights.
The easiest way to do this is by joining Spirit’s Saver$ club. This is the airline’s membership program that grants cost-saving benefits to travelers, helping them to keep their overall travel expenses low. One of the best benefits is the discounted baggage fees policy that all club members enjoy. Unfortunately, we can’t give you the exact details of the discount, as it depends on the route and time of year you are flying. However, this is still a great saving and one that helps you to minimize baggage costs as much as possible.
Additionally, like any airline, Spirit has a loyalty program that rewards its most frequent customers. There are three tiers in the Free Spirit Status system, however, only the top tier receives a baggage allowance. Those who achieve Free Spirit Status Gold membership (which requires you to earn 5000 status qualifying points) are entitled to one free checked bag per flight.
Another airline familiar to budget-conscious travelers is Frontier Airlines, which describes itself as an “ultra-low-cost airline.”
Like Spirit, Frontier offers passengers highly competitive rates across a wide range of routes, making it a popular choice for domestic travelers looking to get across the country.
While passengers can take a free personal item on a Frontier flight, they are expected to pay for any additional checked baggage. The final cost of checking on a bag depends on its weight and size, as well as which route you are flying, so it can often be an expensive add-on to your ticket.
Thankfully, there are ways to reduce or avoid baggage fees on Frontier flights, including having a membership under their Elite Status program. Like most airlines, this loyalty program is divided into tiers, and each tier grants members a different free baggage policy.
Those who have reached Elite Gold status by earning 20,000 points are entitled to a free carry-on bag on each flight they take. Elite Platinum and Elite Diamond members, who need to earn 50,000 and 100,000 points respectively, get an even better deal, as they are granted a free carry-on bag and a free checked bag on each flight.
Don’t worry if you aren’t a frequent flier with Frontier - there are still options for you to reduce the baggage fee on your flights. When making your booking, opt for the “WORKS” or “PERKS” bundles on offer, as these include discounted baggage fees on checked bags and carry-on, helping you to fly for as little as possible.