There is a quiet joy in clicking purchase and realizing you will not get slapped with an extra charge at the gate. My partner Maya and I have felt the opposite sting too many times, standing at the kiosk with a carry on that suddenly costs more than the flight itself. If you want to fly cheap and still bring a suitcase that actually holds clothes, you need to know which budget airlines treat bags as part of the deal, not as a side hustle. The list is short but sweet, and once you memorize it you can search for flights with your heart instead of a calculator.
Southwest Airlines The Lone Ranger of Free Checked Bags
Two Bags for Everyone
Southwest is the only domestic carrier that lets every single passenger check up to two bags for free, no matter the fare, no matter the status . The bags can weigh up to fifty pounds and measure up to sixty two inches total. If you are traveling as a couple that is four free bags, which can knock hundreds off the final bill compared with Spirit or Frontier. We once flew to Denver with two checked bags, two backpacks, and a guitar and paid zero dollars in baggage fees. The gate agent just smiled and taped on the tags like it was 1995.
The Fine Print You Will Hardly Notice
The free bag deal does not apply to overweight or oversize luggage. Anything over fifty pounds or sixty two inches gets hit with a seventy five dollar fee each way . A third bag is also seventy five dollars. Those numbers are fair and posted in plain English, so there are no surprises at check in. We have never been charged because we weigh our bags on the bathroom scale the night before like responsible adults.
No Assigned Seats but Plenty of Leg Space
Southwest does not assign seats, so you pick any open spot when you board. The process feels like musical chairs but the seats themselves have thirty two inches of pitch, a full four inches more than Spirit or Frontier . Maya is five foot ten and can cross her legs without kicking the row ahead. That alone is worth the slightly higher headline fare.
Alaska Airlines Free Carry On for Every Fare
One Carry On Plus Personal Item
Alaska Airlines lets every traveler bring one carry on bag and one personal item at no extra cost, even on the lowest fare bucket . The carry on must fit in the overhead bin and the personal item has to slide under the seat. We flew Seattle to Anchorage with camera backpacks and winter coats and never opened our wallets after buying the ticket.
Checked Bags Cost Extra
The freebie stops at the overhead bin. A first checked bag runs thirty dollars each way, second bag forty, and third bag one hundred . If you can pack light this policy works perfectly. If you need skis or a stroller, factor the extra cost before you celebrate the cheap seat.
Hawaiian Airlines Island Hopping Without Bag Fees
Carry On Included
Hawaiian Airlines also includes one carry on and one personal item free of charge for every passenger, regardless of fare type . The carry on can weigh up to twenty five pounds, which is generous compared with the twenty two pound limit on many international carriers. We hopped from Honolulu to Lihue with two backpacks full of snorkel gear and paid nothing extra.
Checked Baggage Charges
Checked bags start at thirty dollars for the first bag and forty for the second on domestic flights . Inter island flights sometimes run cheaper, so always check the route specific price. The carry on allowance alone makes Hawaiian a solid choice for quick island hops.
Delta American JetBlue Free Carry On but Not for Basic Economy
Free Carry On Except in Basic Economy
Delta, American, and JetBlue all include one carry on bag and one personal item in every fare except basic economy . If you are willing to pay a few dollars more to skip basic economy you get overhead space at no charge. We booked regular main cabin on American from Charlotte to Phoenix and flew with roller bags for free, while the basic economy line behind us paid fifty each way.
Checked Bag Fees Vary
Delta charges thirty dollars for the first checked bag on domestic routes, American and JetBlue do the same . The key is to compare the entire cost, not just the base fare. Sometimes the legacy carriers beat Spirit once you add baggage.
Frontier Spirit Free Bags Only in Bundles
Bundles That Include Bags
Frontier and Spirit do not offer free bags in the base fare, but they sell bundles that add carry on and checked bags at a discount . Frontier s Works bundle includes a carry on, a checked bag, seat selection, and refundability for a flat fee that changes by route. Spirit s Bundle It Plus does the same. On a Denver to Orlando route the bundle can save twenty dollars compared with buying each item separately, yet the final price is still higher than Southwest.
Credit Card Loophole
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard holders get two free checked bags on every flight, but the card costs ninety nine dollars a year . You need to fly Frontier at least four times with checked bags before the card pays for itself. We ran the numbers and decided to stick with Southwest instead.
Breeze Avelo Limited Routes, Gentler Fees
Smaller Networks, Smaller Charges
Breeze and Avelo are new carriers with smaller route maps but lower bag fees. Breeze includes a carry on in its Nicer fare for about forty dollars more than the base, which can beat Spirit once you add the extras . Avelo charges twenty five dollars for a carry on and twenty for a checked bag, still gentler than Spirit or Frontier . The trick is that both airlines fly only a handful of cities, so you have to live near their hubs to enjoy the savings.
Tips to Keep Baggage Free
Pack Like a Minimalist
Personal item only is the cheapest route on any airline. We use soft sided backpacks that fit under the seat and pack three days of clothes plus a Kindle. Maya rolls her clothes like burritos and I stuff socks inside shoes. We have never paid a bag fee on Southwest and rarely on Alaska.
Use Credit Cards Strategically
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card reimburses four upgraded boardings a year and gives an annual travel credit, but it does not waive bag fees because Southwest does not have any . Alaska Airlines Visa Signature gives the first checked bag free for the cardholder plus up to six companions, making it a steal for group travel . We keep the Alaska card and use it once a year to cover family holiday flights.
Weigh at Home
A bathroom scale and a tape measure prevent seventy five dollar surprises at the airport. We weigh bags the night before and repack if needed. One pair of shoes left at home once saved us fifty dollars in overweight fees on a different airline.
Conclusion
Southwest Airlines is the clear winner if you need checked bags and hate surprise fees. Alaska and Hawaiian give you free carry ons across all fares, while Delta, American, and JetBlue do the same as long as you avoid basic economy. Frontier and Spirit will give you bags only if you buy bundles or credit cards, and the math rarely beats Southwest. Pack light, read the fine print, and you can fly cheap without checking your wallet at the gate.