Baggage Fees Are Up. Here’s How to Avoid Them.

In the wake of the war in Iran, airlines have been raising their fees for checked bags.

According to airline executives, operating costs have gone up since the conflict began, and with jet fuel prices surging, raising baggage fees is one way to address the added costs. Most major airlines have hiked the price to check a bag by about $10.

But there are tools to help minimize your expenses.

Travelers in premium cabins and active military personnel often have their baggage fees waived. For the rest of us, the best options are credit cards and airline loyalty programs, which, depending on your status, may mean a break on baggage fees.

Some credit cards effectively get you free checked bags by offering an airline fee credit that you can use on airplane tickets, bags or other purchases. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card ($795 annual fee) offers a $300 travel credit per year that can be used to cover bag fees, while the Platinum Card from American Express ($895 annual fee) offers $200 per year for airline fees.

But if you fly one airline often, it can make more sense to use an airline-specific, cobranded card to wriggle out of baggage fees.

Another thing to keep in mind: Airlines are increasingly tacking on an extra fee — usually $5 — for travelers who pay for their checked bags less than 24 hours before departure, so plan ahead.

Here are the current prepaid fees for checking bags on major U.S. airlines, and how to avoid them.

American Airlines

First checked bag: $45. Second checked bag: $55.

• Premium fare: First class and business class tickets usually include two free checked bags or more.

• Loyalty programs: AAdvantage Gold status members get one free checked bag; AAdvantage Platinum members get two free checked bags; Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members get three checked bags free. If you have loyalty status with a partner airline in the Oneworld alliance, like British Airways or Qatar Airways, you can still get free bags when flying American.

• Credit cards: The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card allows one free checked bag for you and four companions ($99 annual fee, often waived in the first year). The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard ($595 annual fee) offers one free checked bag for you plus eight companions. The AAdvantage MileUp card (no annual fee), however, does not include a free bag allowance.

Delta Air Lines

First checked bag: $45. Second checked bag: $55.

• Premium fare: Delta One and Delta First passengers can check up to three free bags.

• Loyalty Programs: Delta SkyMiles Medallion members get one free bag for themselves and one each for up to eight companions. Gold and Platinum Medallion members get a first and second free bag for themselves and up to eight companions. Medallion program baggage benefits also apply when the member is flying with China Southern Airlines or other SkyTeam alliance partner airlines, like AirFrance, KLM or AeroMexico.

• Credit cards: Those with a Delta SkyMiles American Express card, which includes Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex ($150 annual fee after first year free), Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex ($350 annual fee) and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex ($650 annual fee), get their first checked bag free, as do up to eight companions on the reservation. Silver Medallion members who hold an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card receive a second bag free for travel within the United States and Canada. The Delta SkyMiles Blue Amex card (no annual fee), however, does not include a free bag allowance.

United Airlines

First checked bag: $45. Second checked bag: $55.

• Premium fares: Passengers in premium cabins get three free checked bags.

• Loyalty programs: For domestic travel, MileagePlus program members at the Premier Silver level get one free checked bag; Premier Gold members get two free bags; Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members get three free bags.

• Credit cards: For United Explorer card holders ($150 annual fee after first year free), the first bag is free. For those with United Quest ($350 annual fee) and United Club ($695 annual fee), the first and second bags are free.

JetBlue Airways

First checked bag: $39 off-peak, $49 peak. Second checked bag: $59 off-peak, $69 peak.

• Premium fare: Mint (business class) includes two free checked bags. Blue Plus cabins include a free checked bag. On trans-Atlantic flights, Blue and Blue Extra also get one free checked bag.

• Loyalty programs: TrueBlue rewards program members in the Blue Plus, Mint and Mosaic tiers get their first bag free during peak and off-peak periods. Mint and some Mosaic members also have their second bag included.

• Credit cards: JetBlue Plus ($99 annual fee) and JetBlue Premier ($499 annual fee) card holders get their first bag checked free for peak and off-peak periods and up to three companions on the reservation. The JetBlue card (no annual fee), however, does not include a free bag allowance.

Southwest Airlines

First checked bag: $45. Second checked bag: $55.

• Premium fares: Choice Extra ticket holders receive two free checked bags.

• Loyalty programs: Southwest’s Rapid Rewards A-List members get one free checked bag, and the second bag is discounted to $35. Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members get two free checked bags.

• Credit cards: The first checked bag is free for holders of Southwest Rapid Rewards cards, which include the Rapid Rewards Plus card ($99 annual fee), Rapid Rewards Premier ($149) and Rapid Rewards Priority ($229). Up to eight additional passengers in the same reservation can also check their first bag free.

Alaska Airlines

First checked bag: $45. Second checked bag: $55.

• Premium fare: Business or first class passengers receive two free bags.

• Loyalty programs: Atmos Rewards status holders get free checked bags for themselves and their companions. Atmos Silver passengers get one free bag; Atmos Gold passengers get two free bags; and Atmos Platinum and Titanium passengers get three free bags. Residents of Alaska and Hawaii may be eligible for additional bag discounts.

• Credit cards: Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature ($95 annual fee) and Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite ($395 annual fee) cardholders get a free checked bag for themselves and up to six companions on the same reservation.

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