Alaska Airlines will hike baggage fees from January 2, 2024, with standard bag fees for the first and second checked bag rising by 17% and 13%, respectively.
The new fees will apply to tickets bought on or after January 2, 2024, so if you buy your ticket before January 2, even if your flight is scheduled after that date, you’ll still only pay the lower fees.
How much does Alaska Airlines charge for checked luggage?
Since 2018, Alaska Airlines has charged $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second checked bag. But from January 2, 2024, the cost of checking the first bag will rise to $35, and the second checked bag will cost $45.
For passengers who want to check a third bag, the fee will remain at $150 per additional bag.
Exemptions to Alaska’s checked baggage fees
There are, of course, some exemptions to the bag fees, including for strollers and child car seats, as well as mobility aids and wheelchairs. Bizarrely, you can also check a box of pineapples for free when traveling within the United States on flights from Hawaii.
You can also avoid baggage fees by getting an Alaska Airline cobranded credit card, attaining elite status or simply by traveling in First Class.
- Holders of the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card and Alaska Airlines Visa Business credit card get their first checked bag for free, including for up to six travel companions.
- Customers traveling in First Class get both their first and second checked bags for free. The standard $150 fee applies for the third checked bag and any additional bags.
- MVP and MVP Gold level Mileage Plan members get their first and second checked bags for free but the standard $150 fee for any additional bag applies.
- MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K level Mileage Plan members get their first, second and third bags checked for free. Any additional bag will cost $150 per piece.
- Customers traveling only in the state of Alaska get their first three bags checked-in for free and elite members get their first four bags for free.
- Active duty US military personnel and dependents get their first five bags checked in for free.
Do OneWorld elite members have to pay baggage fees?
As a member of the OneWorld alliance, Alaska extends standard elite benefits, including free check baggage allowance.
- Ruby and Sapphire members get their first and second bags checked for free.
- Emerald members get their first, second and third bags checked for free.
Companions of OneWorld elites, however, must abide by Alaska’s standard checked bag fees.
How does Alaska compare with other airlines?
With the latest hike in baggage fees from Alaska, it will now be cheaper to fly with checked luggage on the Big Three U.S. airlines:
- American Airlines charges $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second checked bag for flights within the United States, as well as Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Delta Airlines also charges $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second checked bag on domestic itineraries.
- United Airlines also offers the same fees but only if you pre-pay at least 24 hours before departure. If you don’t pre-pay, the fee rises to $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second checked bag.
Of course, Southwest continues to be an outlier and still flies the first and second checked bags for free. A third or additional bag costs $125 each which is still cheaper than Alaska.
Will other airlines follow Alaska’s lead?
The last time that U.S. airlines raised checked baggage fees en masse in 2018 Alaska Airlines was the last carrier to follow suit, whereas this time, the Seattle-based carrier is leading the pack.
Alaska Airlines announced its new fees a couple of weeks ago, and so far, its rivals have held their nerve and resisted following Alaska. How long they can hold out, though, remains to be seen.
