Introduction
A first checked bag now runs $45 each way on Delta, Alaska and Southwest, $45 on American if you pay online, and $45 to $49 on JetBlue depending on the season, if you add the bag at least 24 hours before departure. The second bag is $55 on Delta, Alaska and Southwest. Say you're a couple checking one bag each on a $45-a-bag round trip: that's $180 in fees before the wheels go up. The right credit card eliminates that cost, but only if you fly the airline whose card you're holding, and only if you fly it often enough that the annual fee plus opportunity cost stay under what you'd otherwise pay at the bag drop.
This guide walks through the credit cards that waive checked bag fees on every major U.S. airline, the math that decides whether the perk earns its annual fee, and the two flexible-points cards worth holding instead if you fly multiple carriers. I'll be specific about who each card is for and where the break-even sits.
Quick Answer
The best free-checked-bag card is the co-brand for the airline you fly most. Delta SkyMiles Gold ($0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $150; free first bag for you plus eight companions, and a free second bag for you on domestic Delta flights) is the strongest if you fly Delta. Alaska's Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature ($95) covers you plus six guests when you pay for the flight with the card, on Alaska and Hawaiian flights. The United Explorer ($0 the first year, then $150) and Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select ($99, waived the first year) cover smaller groups. If you fly more than one airline, hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture instead.
Why the Math Matters Before the Card
A checked-bag perk is only as valuable as the bags you actually check. The 2026 fee structure on major U.S. carriers:
- First checked bag, domestic, each way: $45 on Delta, Alaska and Southwest (Southwest's fee for travel booked on or after April 9, 2026), $45 online or $50 at the airport on American, and $45 to $49 on JetBlue depending on season, if you add the bag at least 24 hours before departure. Chase's United Explorer page values the free first bag at up to $50 each way.
- Second checked bag, domestic, each way: $55 on Delta, Alaska and Southwest, $55 online or $60 at the airport on American, and $59 to $69 on JetBlue on the same terms.
Delta puts the saving from its cards' free first bag at up to $90 per person on a round trip, or up to $360 for a family of four. Stack that against a $95 to $150 annual fee and the math is straightforward. The card earns out fast for anyone who already flies that airline regularly.
The harder question is opportunity cost. A $95 airline-co-brand card you hold for the bag perk is $95 you're not paying toward a Chase Sapphire Preferred or a Capital One Venture, both of which earn flexible points worth materially more than airline miles in most uses. If you fly the same airline twice a year and check a bag once, the co-brand card is the better hold. If you fly five different airlines twice a year each, a flexible-points card wins.
Delta Air Lines: Up to Eight Companions
Delta's three Amex co-brands all waive the first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation. Delta charges $45 each way for a first standard bag on domestic flights, so the math scales aggressively with party size. Since June 4, 2026, each Basic Card Member on the reservation also gets a free second checked bag on domestic Delta-operated flights.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- Free first bag: Cardholder plus eight companions, same reservation.
- Earn rate: 2x at U.S. supermarkets, restaurants, and on Delta purchases; 1x elsewhere.
- Best for: Families and groups who fly Delta two or more times a year.
Say you're a couple taking one domestic round trip with a bag each: at $45 a bag each way, that's $180 in waived fees, already past the $150 fee. The card also earns 2x at U.S. supermarkets, which closes some of the gap against a Chase Sapphire Preferred for grocery-heavy households. Apply for the Delta SkyMiles Gold.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express
- Annual fee: $350.
- Free first bag: Same coverage as Gold.
- Headline benefit: A Companion Certificate each year after renewal, for a Delta Main round trip on domestic, Caribbean or Central American routes (you pay taxes and fees, no more than $80 on a domestic round trip).
- Best for: Delta loyalists who fly with a partner two or more times a year.
The companion certificate is the reason to hold this card over the Gold, not the bag perk. Both cover bags the same way. If you'll use the certificate on a round trip you'd otherwise pay for, the upgrade can earn out. If you wouldn't, stay on Gold. Apply for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express
- Annual fee: $650.
- Free first bag: Same coverage.
- Headline benefit: 15 Delta Sky Club visits each Medallion Year (unlimited after $75,000 in purchases in a calendar year), access to The Centurion Lounge when you book your Delta flight with the card, and a Companion Certificate usable in Delta First, Delta Comfort or Delta Main.
- Best for: Delta flyers who'd use the Sky Club on most trips.
Sky Club access is the case for the Reserve over the Platinum. If you'd use the lounge on most Delta trips, the Reserve earns its keep and adds a Companion Certificate that works in Delta First and Delta Comfort on top. If you wouldn't, the Platinum delivers the same bag benefits and a Delta Main certificate for a $350 fee. Apply for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve.
For the underlying program mechanics (Medallion status, transfer partners, award sweet spots), see our Delta SkyMiles program overview.
United Airlines: Cardholder Plus One Companion
United's co-brand cards through Chase cover the cardholder plus one companion, narrower than Delta's eight-companion benefit. Chase puts the first-bag waiver at up to $50 each way per person.
United Explorer Card
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- Free first bag: Cardholder plus one companion, same reservation, on United-operated flights.
- Activation requirement: You must include your MileagePlus number and buy the tickets from United with the United Explorer card (waived for flights within 90 days of account opening). This is stricter than Delta's "SkyMiles number on the reservation" rule.
- Best for: Couples who fly United one to two round trips a year.
Chase puts the saving at up to $200 per round trip for you and a companion, against a $150 fee from year two. The activation requirement is the catch. If you book on a different card, the bag fee returns even with your MileagePlus number attached.
United Club Card
- Annual fee: $695.
- Free bags: Cardholder plus one companion, a first and second bag each.
- Headline benefit: United Club lounge membership.
The United Club Card math mirrors the Delta Reserve's: it's worth the fee if you'd otherwise pay for United Club access. If you wouldn't, stay on the Explorer.
American Airlines: Citi's Cards
The American co-brand cards in this guide come from Citi. American charges $45 for a first checked bag if you pay online and $50 at the airport, on travel within the U.S. and nearby regions.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
- Annual fee: $99, waived for the first year.
- Free first bag: Cardholder plus four companions, same reservation, on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
- Activation requirement: Your AAdvantage number must be on the reservation.
The four-companion coverage at a $99 fee makes this a strong value for families who fly American.
Citi AAdvantage Executive World Legend
- Annual fee: $695.
- Free first bag: Cardholder plus eight companions on the same reservation, on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
- Headline benefit: Admirals Club lounge membership.
Same calculus as Delta Reserve and the United Club Card. This card earns out only if you'd otherwise pay for Admirals Club access.
For a deeper comparison of premium airline cards across all three legacy carriers, see our roundup of the best premium travel rewards credit cards.
Alaska Airlines: Generous Group Coverage on a $95 Fee
Alaska's Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card, from Bank of America, is one of the better value picks in the entire airline-co-brand category if you fly Alaska or Hawaiian.
Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature
- Annual fee: $95.
- Free checked bag: You and up to six guests on the same reservation, when you pay for the flight with the card. It applies on flights marketed by Alaska or Hawaiian and operated by Alaska, Hawaiian, Horizon or SkyWest.
- Headline benefit: A $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases in the prior anniversary year, on Alaska- or Hawaiian-operated flights within North America.
Alaska charges $45 for a first checked bag in North America. Say a family of four takes one round trip: that's $360 in waived fees against a $95 annual fee.
The Hawaiian Airlines coverage is the underrated piece here: the free bag works on flights Hawaiian markets and operates, too.
JetBlue: Reasonable Fee, Reasonable Coverage
The JetBlue Plus Card sits in the middle of the pack, solid for couples and small families who fly JetBlue regularly.
JetBlue Plus Card
- Annual fee: $99.
- Free first bag: Cardholder plus three companions, same reservation.
- Earn rate: 6x on JetBlue purchases, 2x at restaurants and grocery stores, 1x elsewhere.
- Other perks: 5,000 bonus points each year after your account anniversary, no foreign transaction fees, and 10 percent of your points back after you redeem for and travel on a JetBlue-operated award flight.
JetBlue charges $45 to $49 for a first bag within the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada, depending on season, if you add the bag at least 24 hours before departure. Say you and a companion take one off-peak round trip: that's $180 in waived fees against the $99 fee. The 10 percent points back on JetBlue-operated award flights is the differentiator. Say you redeem 50,000 TrueBlue points on one: 5,000 come back.
Southwest: A Different Calculus With Paid Bags
For U.S. mainland travel booked on or after April 9, 2026, Southwest's Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares pay $45 for a first bag and $55 for a second; Choice Extra fares and A-List Preferred members get two free; A-List members get one. Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers get a free first bag for themselves and up to eight others on the same reservation, as long as they include the Rapid Rewards account number at the time of booking.
The Plus card's annual fee is $99, and Chase puts the first-bag saving at up to $90 per round trip. Say two of you each check a bag on one round trip: that's $180 in waived fees. If Southwest is your primary carrier, the card is now close to required for anyone who checks bags.
For Southwest's underlying program details and the case for and against airline cards generally, see our analysis of whether airline credit cards are worth it and our roundup of the best credit cards for elite status.
When a Flexible-Points Card Wins Instead
If you fly multiple airlines, the math reverses. Holding a Delta Gold ($150), a United Explorer ($150) and a Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select ($99) means paying three annual fees to cover bags across three airlines you fly inconsistently. And you'd still pay full fare on Alaska, JetBlue, and Southwest.
The flexible-points alternative costs less and earns more on non-airline spending.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Annual fee: $95.
- Earn rate: 5x on Chase Travel, 3x on dining, 3x on gas stations, EV charging and vacation homes at top brands, 3x on top streaming services and online grocery, 2x on other travel, 1x elsewhere.
- Bag-fee mechanic: You pay the bag fee with the card and put the points to work elsewhere, such as transfers to the airline programs below.
The Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to United, Southwest, JetBlue, World of Hyatt, and several others. Chase says Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred points now transfer to Hyatt at 4:3, so 1,000 points become 750 (which cards are affected). That earning power across all spend, not just airline spend, is the case for holding it instead of a single co-brand. Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Capital One Venture
- Annual fee: $95.
- Earn rate: 2x miles on every purchase, 5x on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Bag-fee mechanic: Pay any bag fee with your card, then redeem miles for a statement credit or travel; Capital One lets you redeem in any amount.
The Venture's flat 2x earn rate on everything makes it a stronger pick than the Sapphire Preferred for travelers without consistent dining or travel spending. Redeeming miles against the charge is a clean way to pay bag fees with points on any airline. Apply for the Capital One Venture.
For the broader case on credits and statement-credit math across travel cards, see our guide to travel cards with annual credits.
The Decision Framework
Three questions decide which card is right:
1. Do you fly one airline more than 75 percent of the time? If yes, hold that airline's co-brand. Delta Gold, Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa, United Explorer, Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, JetBlue Plus, or a Southwest card depending on which carrier dominates your itineraries.
2. Do you fly two or more airlines roughly equally? If yes, hold a flexible-points card (Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture). The flexibility is worth more than any single airline's bag perk when your routing isn't consistent.
3. Do you fly Southwest primarily? The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card ($99) gives you and up to eight others on your reservation a free first bag.
Common Mistakes That Break the Math
- Activation requirements vary. United requires you to book the ticket with the United card. Delta only requires the SkyMiles number on the reservation. American requires your AAdvantage number on the reservation. Read the small print before you assume the bag is free.
- The benefit covers the same reservation, not the same trip. If a companion books separately, even on the same flight, they don't get the free bag.
- Premium-cabin and elite-status bag waivers may already cover you. A Delta Medallion at silver-tier or higher gets the first bag free without a card. If you already hold elite status, the bag perk on a co-brand card is redundant. The card may still earn out on other benefits, but make sure you're stacking, not duplicating.
- The $45 fee is per direction, not per round trip. Delta puts a round trip's first-bag fees at up to $90 per person, not $45. The break-even math runs faster than people assume.
- International routings often include a bag in the fare. JetBlue's Main fares on transatlantic routes, for example, include the first bag without any card. Check your itinerary before you assume the perk is doing work.
What to Hold and Why
For a Delta-loyal couple flying two round trips a year: Delta SkyMiles Gold ($0 the first year, then $150). Say you each check a bag on both trips: that's $360 in waived first-bag fees at $45 each way, plus 2x at U.S. supermarkets and 2x at restaurants on the year-round spend.
For a family of four on Alaska or Hawaiian: Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature at $95, hands down. Free bags for up to six guests and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) make it an easy keep.
For a Southwest-primary flyer: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus at $99 covers you and up to eight others on the reservation. Say two of you check a bag each on one round trip: that's $180 in waived fees.
For multi-airline flyers: Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture at $95. Earn flexible points on all spend and retain optionality across the entire airline market.
For premium seekers replacing a separate lounge membership: Delta SkyMiles Reserve ($650, 15 Sky Club visits each Medallion Year), Citi AAdvantage Executive ($695, Admirals Club membership), or United Club Card ($695, United Club membership). Hold these only if you'd otherwise pay for lounge access.
The right call depends on your actual flying pattern, not the headline annual fee. Run the math on your last 12 months of travel before applying.
Updated 2026-09-28: Chase says Sapphire Preferred, Ink Business Preferred, Ink Plus and Corporate Flex points transfer to World of Hyatt at 4:3, not 1:1, as of October 1, 2026. We noted the change where this article describes Chase transfers to Hyatt.
Updated September 30, 2026: Corrected checked bag fees on every carrier (most now charge $45 for a first bag), card annual fees and benefits, and card names (United Club Card, Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature); added Delta's free second bag for cardholders; removed the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red. On September 28 we noted Chase's 4:3 transfer ratio to World of Hyatt for Sapphire Preferred.
Updated October 1, 2026: Chase points now transfer to World of Hyatt at 4:3 for Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred cardmembers.
