Airlines With Free Baggage in 2026: Which Ones Still Include It?

Are there any airlines with free baggage? The good news is that there are still some airlines with free baggage but sadly it is not the standard anymore. For example, Southwest Airlines ended its "Bags Fly Free" policy in 2025. 

And most major US airlines such as Delta, American, and United only include a free checked bag if you hold elite status, fly a premium cabin, or carry the airline's co-branded credit card. If you're booking Basic Economy or a budget carrier like Spirit, Frontier, or Allegiant be prepared to pay for every checked bag from the first one. 

However, there are a few workarounds that can still get you a free bag without elite status in some airlines. We list the best airlines with free baggage below.

Airlines With Free Checked Baggage

Note: Please check the official website pages for each airline to make sure their baggage policy hasn’t changed.

How to Get a Free Checked Bag Without Elite Status?

So, do you need elite status to get a free checked bag? Not necessarily. Between co-branded credit cards, fare class loopholes, and military exceptions, there are several ways to get a bag included even as a first-time flyer with no status at all.

Do Airline Credit Cards Really Give You a Free Bag?

Yes, and this is one of the easiest ways to get a free checked bag without earning status first. Almost every major US airline has at least one co-branded credit card that includes a free checked bag for the cardholder, and it usually extends to a set number of companions on the same reservation.

• American Airlines: Eligible AAdvantage cardholders get the 1st bag free on domestic itineraries
• Delta Airlines: Eligible SkyMiles Amex cardholders get the 1st bag free; eligible Basic cardholders also get the 2nd bag free
• United Airlines: Eligible MileagePlus co-branded cardholders get a free carry-on in Basic Economy (this is a carry-on perk, not a checked bag, so do not confuse the two)
• JetBlue Airlines: JetBlue Plus/Premier cardholders get the 1st bag free for the cardholder plus companions
• Alaska Airlines: Atmos Rewards Visa cardholders get the 1st bag free
• Hawaiian Airlines: World Elite Mastercard primary cardmember gets 2 free bags on Hawaiian/Alaska flights (the ticket must be purchased with that card)

Important Note: You usually do not need to pay for the flight with the card itself, just having your loyalty number linked in the reservation is enough for most of these. However, some cards require the card to be used for payment, so check your specific card's terms before you count on the perk.

Can You Still Get a Free Bag on Basic Economy?

Sometimes yes, but not the way most people assume. Basic Economy is the fare tier most likely to include zero free bags, so here are the two workarounds that do not require elite status or a credit card.

Upgrade One Fare Tier 

Moving from Basic Economy to standard Economy or Main Cabin does not add a free bag on most US carriers. However, it does remove Basic Economy's other restrictions (no seat selection, last boarding group, no changes), so paying the bag fee upfront often ends up being a better deal than the fare difference alone.

Book a Route Where the Fare Already Includes a Bag 

This is where it gets interesting. United's own Basic Economy page confirms a free checked bag on most Basic Economy flights across the Pacific, and JetBlue includes a free bag on Main, Main Flex, and EvenMore fares specifically on transatlantic and select international routes. 

So technically, you can end up with a "Basic Economy" ticket that still includes a bag, not because of the fare tier, but because of the route.

Tip: Booking Main Cabin with Alaska (not even a premium fare) to Asia, Europe, or Oceania includes a free 1st bag with zero status required. Of everything covered here, this is arguably the single best loophole.

Which Airlines Offer Free Checked Bags for Military?

All three major US carriers checked here do, though the exact numbers vary, so it is worth confirming with the airline directly before you travel.

American Airlines

• Active-duty military and/or dependents with ID traveling on orders: 1st through 5th bags free
• Active-duty military with ID on personal travel: 3 bags free

Delta Airlines

• On military orders: 5 bags free, across all cabins from Basic Economy through Delta One, up to 100 lbs each and 80 linear inches
• Personal travel: 2 bags free in Basic Economy/Main Cabin/Comfort+, 3 bags free in Premium Select and First/Delta One, up to 62 linear inches
• Applies to Delta-marketed tickets, including flights operated by Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, and Virgin Atlantic

United Airlines

• Official orders: 5 bags free, up to 70 lbs each, up to 115 linear inches
• Personal travel: 3 bags free, up to 70 lbs each
• Dependents traveling on the same reservation are included

Booking Flights on Affordable Airlines With Free Baggage

So, now that you know which airlines actually include a free checked bag, how do you find the cheapest fare without losing that perk? The trick is comparing fares side by side rather than booking the first result, since two tickets on the same route can come with very different baggage allowances even on the same airline.

Keep in mind that the cheapest fare is not always the best deal once you factor in a checked bag fee. A Basic Economy ticket that looks $30 cheaper can end up costing more overall if you have to pay $50 to $60 per bag on top of it. So before you book, it is worth checking whether a slightly higher fare tier already includes the bag you need.

Tip: If you are flying to Asia, Europe, or Oceania, check Alaska's Main Cabin fares first. As covered above, the 1st checked bag is free with zero status required, which is not something you will find on most US carriers' base Economy fares.