How to avoid checked baggage fees

Checked bag fees now run $35–$75 one-way on most US airlines, and considerably more if you pay at the airport. There are a handful of ways around them that actually work — here they are, roughly in order of how reliably they save you money.

1. Don't check a bag

The most reliable way to avoid a checked-bag fee is to not need one. Our packing list generator builds a carry-on-only list from your trip length and climate, and our carry-on buying guide covers how to pick a bag that maximizes usable space within airline size limits.

2. An airline credit card

Co-branded airline cards are the most direct route to a free bag: the United Explorer Card includes a free checked bag on United flights, and Southwest's cards give the cardholder (and up to eight companions, on some cards) a free first checked bag. General travel cards help indirectly — Chase Sapphire Reserve's annual travel credit and Amex Platinum's airline incidental credit can both be applied toward baggage fees, though they're not a dedicated free-bag benefit.

3. Elite frequent-flyer status

Any tier of Delta Medallion status includes free checked bags. Alaska Airlines' elite tiers include 2–3 free bags depending on level. If you fly one airline regularly enough to be close to a status threshold, the free-bag value alone can be worth chasing it.

4. Alliance and partner status

Status earned on one airline can carry over to its alliance partners — for example, SkyTeam elite status from another airline can unlock free checked bags on Delta if your frequent-flyer number is attached to the booking. Worth checking before assuming a partner-airline flight has no status benefit.

5. Fare class

Business and first class tickets typically include at least one free checked bag. On the other end, basic economy fares on several airlines exclude even a full-size carry-on, not just checked bags — read the fare rules before you book, not after you're at the gate.

6. Compare the total cost, not just the fare

A cheaper base fare on a budget carrier can end up more expensive than a full-service airline once a checked bag is added — this is increasingly true now that airlines like Southwest charge for most checked bags and Ryanair's free allowance is a small personal item only. Price your trip with the bags you actually need included, not just the base ticket.

Bottom line

Packing carry-on-only beats every workaround, because it doesn't depend on holding a specific card or status. Where checking a bag is unavoidable, an airline credit card or elite status pays for itself quickly if you fly that airline more than once or twice a year.

Sources

• Upgraded Points — The Ultimate Guide to Avoid Paying for Baggage Fees
• CNBC Select — Airlines Are Raising Checked Bag Fees: How to Avoid Paying Them