Here’s the Answer to a Great Question About Airline Credit Cards and Free First Checked Bag Benefits

One of our readers posed an excellent question regarding airline credit cards and a common benefit: the first checked bag being free.

(All information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® cards below was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided by nor reviewed by the card issuer. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.)

First Checked Bag Free

Most (if not all) airline credit cards allow members to check their first piece of luggage for free when flying that particular airline. The benefit usually extends to others on the same confirmation number as the cardholder. With most cards, up to eight more passengers on the same confirmation number as the cardholder can check their first bag free. For example, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card members and up to eight passengers (e.g., family members, friends, business colleagues) on their reservation can check their first bags free when flying a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. (The same applies for Delta Connection.)

That’s using a Delta Amex as our example but the same practice applies to most other airline cards.

Do You Need to Pay for Your Trip with the Airline Card?

Reader Dario checked out our post titled “Which Credit Cards Give You Free Checked Bags on Southwest Airlines?” (You may know that Southwest now charges for checked luggage on tickets issued May 28 or later.) He asked:

Do I have to book the flight using my Southwest card or can I pay with any card and they can see I have the Southwest card?

Here’s the short answer: You usually do not have to pay with your airline’s card. 

As some readers pointed out in the comment section, United and JetBlue’s cards state that you must pay for your ticket with their cards. So, check your card’s terms and conditions.

Regardless, the eligible credit card should be a payment method in your airline loyalty program account. For example, my Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is one of my Southwest account’s payment methods.

Make sure your frequent flyer account has your credit card on file and your reservation includes your frequent flyer number. That said, I always bring my airline credit card with me when I travel just in case something goes sideways. For example, I’ll bring my Southwest Priority Card the next time I fly Southwest. My Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is always on me when I travel on Delta.

Also worth mentioning: authorized users on your account do not get the first checked bag free benefit as part of their card. In other words, if they travel on their own, they won’t have the first checked bag free.

Which Card Should You Use to Buy Your Airfares?

Do the airlines want you to use their cobranded card when purchasing their airfares? Of course. Heck, they want all of your spending on their credit cards.

So, which credit card should you use to purchase airline tickets?

Assuming you have a choice, I’ll give a controversial answer: whatever makes you happy. You do you. If using a SeaWorld credit card to buy a United Airlines trip is somehow in your best interest, knock yourself out. Maybe you need a few more points to get a free day pass. Send Shamu my regards. The United card is probably better in this example — especially because there’s no such thing as a SeaWorld card! — because the points are theoretically more valuable.

I generally use my Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has great trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance benefits when you pay even a portion of the trip on your card. The Amex Platinum card earns 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year). It also has travel insurance benefits but the entire airfare must be paid on your card. (Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)

Final Approach

You do not need to pay for your airline ticket using an airline credit card in order to enjoy the first free checked bag benefit. The airlines want you but use whatever card is best for your goals, preferences, and budget.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.