Baggage Fees
…stink. There’s no other way to say that. But there are ways to avoid them. I’ll show you multiple different ways around paying for luggage in this post.
I love Southwest for many reasons- their Companion Pass that gives BOGO travel for at least a year, the fact that I can board somewhere in the front of the plane- without having to carry my tired body most of the way down the aisle, and the fact that they allow two free checked bags per person.
So that’s my first tip, is to fly with Southwest, if for no other reason than the two free checked bags. 😉 If they don’t go the route you need or they’re too expensive, there are other options!
Co-branded Credit Cards
I know, I told you to start with flexible points repeatedly, including in this post. And I mean it. But! If there’s a particular brand that you find yourself flying regularly, or otherwise want to be loyal to, it may benefit you to go ahead and get that airline’s credit card, because they will pay you back in points for free flights and status. (Always check for a business option to avoid a 5/24 slot, and shop around for the highest welcome bonus points offer!)
What’s nice about most airline credit cards is that they come with status. Any level of status with an airline brand will give you many perks, which you may decide are worth it for you- such as dedicated customer assistance queues and phone lines, upgraded seats, priority boarding, priority security line, lounge access, upgraded stand-by opportunities, the list goes on. Sometimes opening a co-branded card is the quickest way to earn status with a brand. So, if the benefits are what you want, go for it.
Co-branded cards often also come with welcome points bonuses and card multipliers for the chance to earn free flights sooner. Especially if this brand has some “sweet spot” redemption routes which you want to pursue, getting that airline’s card is probably worth it, as they will give you welcome points that can be used for free flights. This is where the planning part- of where you want to travel to, and which cards will get you there- becomes important!
Major Bank Credit Cards
There are still many options of flexible points cards, which will let you have your proverbial airline cake, and eat it too. By that I mean, the benefits of the card include perks with airlines or that could be used to cover airline fees, including luggage.
Here are six cards that I know of that include such perks, and the details therein:
- The American Express Platinum (personal and business versions) come with an annual $200 airline incidental credit, which can be used for baggage fees. The trick is that you have to assign which airline you want them to pay for in the beginning of the year, so if you fly with a different airline than your previous designation, you maaay be out of luck on this one.
- The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card comes with a $50 quarterly airline credit. Since this is also AmEx, they may require you to designate and stick with one airline brand, but double check that if you’re looking at this card.
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a $300 annual credit to be used for travel or transit expenses. Chase is quite generous with this coverage and what it entails- they will even cover parking fees. Both the Preferred ($95 annual fee) and the Reserve ($550 annual fee) cover baggage delay insurance and lost baggage reimbursement, though the specific terms vary between the two cards. It’s nice to have this peace of mind with either card, though.
- Bank of America Premium Rewards cards come with $100 annual incidental airline credit, which again, could be used for baggage fees.
- The CitiBank Prestige comes with a $250 annual travel expense credit, though I don’t personally use Citi so I couldn’t vouch for how restrictive they are with reimbursing it. (Also, the Prestige card is no longer available for new applicants, so you’d have to already have the card and hold onto it to take advantage of the benefits. The new Strata Premier card doesn’t seem to offer the same benefits.)
- The US Bank Altitude Reserve gives $325 annual travel credit. This credit looks to be as liberal as the Chase credit- to be used on any travel (in or outside of their portal), including cruises, parking, transit, and all the rest. Actually, this looks like a decent card- it also offers 12 in-flight WiFi passes and four Priority Pass lounge visits per year. Not shabby.
What do I mean by “incidental airline credit”, you may ask? Thanks for asking. This credit includes anything that could otherwise be paid with cash, associated with flying. This includes everything from taxes associated with a points redemption ticket, luggage fees, fees for upgrading class or boarding position, fees they may charge for customer service, and all the rest. The credit is flexible in that anything associated with booking a ticket or traveling with that airline is covered, up until the annual limit, even if there are multiple charges (or multiple flights). Kinda nice, right?
Have Status With An Airline Brand
A co-branded credit card is not the only way to achieve status tiers with airlines, although having one is often the quickest way to obtain status. However, most airlines will offer status after so many flights, tickets purchased, or money spent with them. As discussed above, obtaining status with a brand is often lucrative, especially if loyal to that brand. Most airlines include free checked bags on their base level of status.
Travel With A Buddy
If your travel mate has status with a brand, they can often check your bag for free as well. For example, both Alaska and American Airlines offer their card carrying member, and up to six other people in their party, to each check two free bags- that’s up to 14 pieces of luggage under one booking! So if you know you’re flying in a group anytime soon, it might be worth it for all of you, if just one group member pursues status and/or opens an airline branded credit card.
In Summary
Airline fees are getting kind of out of control, but are pesky little buggers we all have to learn to live with for now, if we want to travel. The good news is that there are ways to get around some fees, like checked bags! Follow along with this blog for more tips and tricks that will have you flying like a pro, in no time! 🙂
Disclaimer: All information portrayed in this article was researched and found to be factually correct as of the date of publishing, May 22, 2024. Any annual fee amounts, benefits coverage, or any other credit card specific information mentioned in this post are subject to the bank’s or card issuer’s discretion and may change at any time. Please research any of these cards prior to applying. Disabled Travel on Points is not affiliated of any of these programs and the author does not get paid to publish these data.