Which US airline gives you the most free checked bags?

Southwest Airlines gives every passenger two free checked bags, up to 50 lb each — the most generous policy of any major US carrier. No credit card or elite status is required.

Do any US airlines still include a free first checked bag in the base fare?

Southwest is the only major US airline that includes two free checked bags for all passengers. Alaska Airlines offers one free checked bag to credit card holders and elite members but not in base fares.

Do European airlines charge for checked bags?

Yes. All major European carriers — including Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways, and all budget airlines — charge for checked baggage on economy fares. Some include one bag in higher-tier economy fares.

How can I get a free checked bag on American, United, or Delta?

The main ways are: hold airline elite status (minimum Silver/Gold), hold a co-branded credit card (e.g., Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex, United Explorer Card), or book on select fare bundles that include checked luggage.

Airlines With a Free First Checked Bag (2026 Guide)

The era of the free checked bag is largely over. The US airline industry began unbundling baggage fees from fares in 2008, and the global trend has accelerated since. In 2026, most major airlines charge for every checked bag regardless of fare. But a few exceptions remain — and knowing which airlines include checked luggage can save $35–$80 per passenger per flight.

Airlines That Include a Free First Checked Bag

Southwest Airlines — Two Free Bags for Everyone

Southwest Airlines is in a class of its own. Southwest's "Bags Fly Free" policy gives every passenger two free checked bags regardless of fare type, elite status, or credit card held:

Free bags: 2 checked bags per passenger
Weight limit: 50 lb (23 kg) per bag
Size limit: 62 linear inches (L + W + H combined)
Who qualifies: All passengers, on all fares, no exceptions

This policy has been the cornerstone of Southwest's brand positioning for decades. With most other US airlines charging $35–$45 for the first bag and $40–$50 for the second, Southwest's "Bags Fly Free" policy is worth $70–$90 per round trip per passenger compared to a competitor.

The trade-off: Southwest does not partner with global alliances, does not fly internationally (except to Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America), and does not use a seat assignment system. For domestic US travel where two checked bags are needed, Southwest is frequently the financially superior choice even if the base fare is slightly higher.

Hawaiian Airlines — First Bag Free on Neighbor Island Routes

Hawaiian Airlines offers free first checked bags, but with important conditions:

Free bags: First checked bag free on Neighbor Island (inter-Hawaiian island) flights
Mainland US and international routes: Checked bags are charged ($30–$35 first bag)
Elite and credit card holders: Hawaiian Miles card holders get one free bag on all routes

For inter-island travel within Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines includes the first checked bag — practical given that Hawaiian residents frequently check bags on short island-hop flights.

Alaska Airlines — Free Bag via Credit Card or Status

Alaska Airlines does not include a free checked bag in base Economy fares for general passengers, but provides it through two channels:

Alaska Airlines Visa credit card holders: First bag free for the cardholder and up to six companions on the same reservation
Alaska MVP and higher status: First bag free on Alaska flights
Base Economy: First checked bag is $35

The Alaska credit card's free bag benefit is one of the most valuable of any co-branded airline card in the US market, particularly for frequent Alaska flyers in the Pacific Northwest and West Coast.

Airlines That Include Checked Bags in Select Fares

JetBlue — Free Bag on Blue Plus and Higher

JetBlue uses a fare bundle structure where the first checked bag is included at higher tiers:

JetBlue Fare	First Checked Bag
Blue Basic	Not included — $35+
Blue	Not included — $35+
Blue Plus	1 free checked bag
Blue Extra	2 free checked bags
Mint (Business)	2 free checked bags

JetBlue's Blue Plus and above fares include the first checked bag, but the cheapest Blue Basic and Blue fares do not. Blue Plus is typically only marginally more expensive than Blue on many routes, making it worth comparing when you need to check a bag.

JetBlue Plus credit card: Holders of the JetBlue Plus Card get one free checked bag on JetBlue flights for themselves and up to three companions.

American Airlines — Free Bag for Credit Card Holders and Status

American Airlines charges for checked bags in base Economy fares. Free bags are available through:

AAdvantage Platinum and above status: First bag free
Citi AAdvantage credit cards (Gold and Platinum): First bag free for cardholder and companions
American Airlines co-branded Barclays cards: First bag free
Base Economy and Main Cabin without card: $35 first bag, $45 second bag

United Airlines — Free Bag for Credit Card Holders and Status

United's structure matches American:

MileagePlus Premier Silver and above: First bag free
United Explorer credit card: First bag free for cardholder and one companion
United Club Infinite card and higher: First and second bags free
Base Economy without card: $35 first bag

Delta Air Lines — Free Bag for Credit Card Holders and Status

Delta follows the same pattern:

SkyMiles Silver Medallion and above: First bag free
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card: First bag free for cardholder and companions on the same reservation
Base Economy without card or status: $35 first bag

Free First Checked Bag: Summary Table

Airline	Free First Bag	Requirement
Southwest	2 bags free	All passengers, no condition
Hawaiian (inter-island)	1 bag free	Neighbor Island routes only
Alaska	1 bag free	Credit card or MVP status
JetBlue	1 bag free	Blue Plus fare or Plus card
American	1 bag free	AAdvantage Platinum+ or credit card
United	1 bag free	Premier Silver+ or Explorer card
Delta	1 bag free	Silver Medallion+ or Gold Amex card
Spirit	Not included	Paid add-on
Frontier	Not included	Paid add-on
Allegiant	Not included	Paid add-on
Ryanair	Not included	Paid add-on
easyJet	Not included	Paid add-on
Lufthansa	In higher fares	Economy Classic and above
British Airways	In standard fares	Economy and above (not HBO)
Air France	In standard fares	Economy and above

European Airlines: Checked Bags Almost Never Free

European full-service carriers include a checked bag in their standard Economy fares — but not in their cheapest or "Hand Baggage Only" versions:

British Airways: Standard Economy includes one 23 kg checked bag; Hand Baggage Only (HBO) fare does not
Lufthansa: Economy Classic includes one checked bag; Economy Light does not
Air France: Economy fares generally include one checked bag except on the cheapest Light or promotional fares
KLM: Similar to Air France — Light fares do not include checked bags

For budget European carriers (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Volotea, Transavia), checked bags are never included in the base fare. Fees range from €10–€50 depending on weight and how far in advance you add the bag.

The Real Cost of "Free" Checked Bags

Airline co-branded credit cards that offer a free first checked bag typically come with annual fees. The math:

Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex: $150 annual fee (after first year) → One round-trip saves $70 in bag fees for two passengers → Net saving: $70 − $150 = card still costs money on bags alone, but other perks (miles, lounge day passes) typically tip the balance.

United Explorer Card: ~$95 annual fee → First bag free saves $35 × 2 (round trip) = $70 → Net on bags: worth it for two or more round trips per year.

Alaska Visa: $75 annual fee → First bag free saves $35–$75 round trip × number of flights → Worth it for anyone flying Alaska more than once a year.

The free bag benefit alone rarely justifies a credit card annual fee on a single annual flight. For frequent flyers — two or more round trips per year with checked luggage — the math works.

Tips for Avoiding Checked Bag Fees

Master the carry-on. A 22 × 14 × 9 inch bag (US domestic standard) holds enough for 5–7 days. The investment in packing skills pays in perpetual bag fee savings.

Choose Southwest for domestic US trips where you need to check bags. Even if the base fare is $20–$40 higher than Spirit or Frontier, two free checked bags make Southwest cheaper total for most passengers.

Get the co-branded card if you fly the same airline twice or more per year. The bag fee savings plus sign-up miles almost always exceed the annual fee in the first year.

Check fare bundles before buying the cheapest option. On many airlines, a fare bundle that includes a checked bag is only $20–$30 more than the base fare — less than adding the bag separately.

Weigh bags before the airport. Overweight bag fees ($100–$200 per bag over 50–70 lb) are far more painful than the first bag fee.

The Bottom Line

Southwest stands alone in offering two free checked bags to every passenger with no conditions. Alaska, JetBlue, American, United, and Delta offer one free checked bag through co-branded credit cards or elite status — not in base fares. European carriers charge for checked bags on budget fares; full-service fares usually include one bag. For frequent domestic US travelers who check bags, Southwest's policy and airline co-branded credit cards are the two most effective tools for avoiding fees.