Points, Miles & Credit Cards

Credit Cards That Offer Free Checked Bags

Kurt Adams

March 6, 2024

6 min read

Going has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Going and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses, and recommendations are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of all of the card offers that appear on this page are from advertisers; compensation may affect how and where the cards appear on the site; and Going does not include all card companies are all available card offers.

Table of Contents

Several airlines recently raised the cost to check a bag on a domestic flight. 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.

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

Alaska Airlines cards are not currently available through Going's partners, but you can learn more here.

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.

American Airlines cards are not currently available through Going's partners, but you can learn more here and here.

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 US Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases	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 Mile on all other eligible purchases.	Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
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.	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. 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.	Earn 1.5X miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your Card in a year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply. Enjoy 3x miles per dollar on Delta purchases.
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

Hawaiian Airlines cards are not currently available through Going's partners, but you can learn more.

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.

JetBlue Airways cards are not currently available through Going's partners, 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 $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
card_name: Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply)
card_name: Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply)
card_name: Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 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
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.	3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases	4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases	Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent 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
Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary.	Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year - terms apply Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases) Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit Priority Boarding privileges for the primary cardholder and companions on the same reservation 25% back as a statement credit on inflight purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United flights when you pay with your United Quest Card The primary cardholder who is also a Mileage Plus Premier® member and traveling on an award ticket can take advantage of Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated flights when available Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance with reimbursement up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations Lost luggage reimbursement with up to $3,000 reimbursement for your checked or carry-on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier- also gives coverage to an immediate family member Trip delay reimbursement coverage up to $500 per ticket if your travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay	United Club membership with a value of up to $650 per year (worth more than the card's annual fee). You'll get access to United Club locations and participating Star Alliance affiliated lounges around the world. Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus fee credit up to $100 every four years. Earn 25% back on United inflight purchases, including food, beverages, and Wi-Fi. Premier upgrades on awards tickets when you're traveling with one companion on the same reservation. Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases) Access to the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection with more than 1,000 properties, including hotels, resorts, lodges, and spas. Benefits include daily breakfast for two, free room upgrades, free Wi-Fi, and more. United Card events from Chase and United MileagePlus events. Avis President's Club enrollment with free two-car class upgrades, guaranteed availability, expedited service, and more.	Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card. Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges. $100 United® travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines allows passengers to fly with two checked bags for free to your final destination. Also, Southwest credit cards are pretty great for earning the Southwest Companion Pass.

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	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 (SM) 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 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.	Earn 2X miles per dollar on every eligible purchase, everyday. Earn 5X miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.	Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year); and on eligible prepaid hotels booked at AmexTravel.com, including The Hotel Collection. Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.	2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars 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.