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Like most carriers, United charges baggage fees that can get expensive — especially if you take several flights each year and don’t pack light. However, there are some ways around these charges.
Here’s how to get free checked bags on United flights:
1 checked bag is free for those with the United℠ Explorer Card or United℠ Business Card.
2 checked bags are free for those with the United Club℠ Infinite Card.
1-3 checked bags are free for United elite status tiers and Star Alliance Gold members, varying by domestic and international itineraries.
You can also get free checked bags by flying premium fare classes, flying to certain destinations and if you’re active military personnel.
How do I get a free checked bag on United Airlines?
A free checked bag on United can save you up to $70 per person on a round-trip flight, as this privilege usually costs up to $35 each way. The United℠ Explorer Card offers a free checked bag for you and one companion on each United-operated flight. You can also get 1 to 3 free checked bags per flight as a Premier member in United’s MileagePlus loyalty program.
Checked baggage can weigh a maximum of 50 pounds in economy and 70 pounds in premium fare classes. It can have maximum overall measurements of 62 inches.
Here are more details on how to get free checked baggage on flights operated by United and United Express:
Get a credit card with travel credits. With travel credits, you can charge baggage fees, in-flight purchases, seat upgrades and more to your card, then get reimbursed on your card bill.
Become a MileagePlus Premier member. United’s loyalty program, MileagePlus, has four elite tiers. Each offers one to three complimentary checked bags per flight, a benefit that extends to up to nine travel companions on your reservation. You’ll also enjoy a maximum baggage weight of 70 pounds each, up from the standard 50 pounds.
As active military personnel. If you’re an active US military member on personal travel, you and your dependents on the same reservation can each check three bags free. Maximum overall dimensions per bag are 62 inches and maximum weight per bag is 70 pounds.If you’re an active US military member on official business, you and your dependents on the same reservation can each check five bags free. Maximum overall dimensions per bag are 115 inches and maximum weight per bag is 100 pounds.
Fly a premium fare class. When you fly United First, United Business or United Polaris, you can check three bags free, up to 70 pounds each.
Reach Star Alliance Gold status. Star Alliance Gold lets you check an additional bag or get an additional 44 pounds of baggage weight free on eligible flights. Silver doesn’t come with these benefits. This can be a good way to waive baggage fees if you’re an elite with another Star Alliance carrier but not with United.
See more: Complimentary baggage allowance for MileagePlus Premier members
Premier Silver
Premier Gold
Premier Platinum
Premier 1K
Economy travel between US and:
Continental US
Alaska
Hawaii
Canada
Mexico
Caribbean
Central America
1 bag
2 bags
3 bags
3 bags
Economy travel between the US and:
South America
Asia
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
Middle East
Africa
2 bags
3 bags
3 bags
3 bags
All other Economy travel
1 bag in addition to included checked baggage allowance
1 bag in addition to included checked baggage allowance
1 bag in addition to included checked baggage allowance
1 bag in addition to included checked baggage allowance
Data obtained July 2020. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
How much does it usually cost to check a bag on United Airlines?
These rates apply to bags of up to 50 pounds with maximum linear dimensions of 62 inches. You’ll pay extra if your bags are oversized or overweight.
Baggage fees for flights within the United States
First bag
Second bag
Each additional bag
$30 or $35
$40 or $45
$150 or $200 for oversized bags
Data obtained July 2020. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
Use the United Airlines baggage fee calculator to see how much you’ll pay
United Airlines doesn’t publish an extensive table of baggage fees. But you can use its fee calculator to see how much you’ll pay. If you’ve already booked a flight, you can log in to your MileagePlus account or input your flight confirmation number. The calculator will show you baggage fees based on your route.
On the “Any flights” tab, you can see baggage fees on a route of your choice.
How to get a free checked bag with a United Airlines credit card
Four United Airlines cards offer free checked baggage on United- and United Express-operated flights.
To get the checked baggage benefit, purchase your flight with your United credit card and include your MileagePlus number in your reservation. One companion on the same reservation gets the baggage benefit as well.
Baggage fees with Delta credit cards vs. United credit cards
Almost every Delta credit card offers a checked baggage benefit. However, each card lets you check only one bag. Meanwhile, United’s premium credit card lets you check up to two bags.
To be fair, Delta’s higher-tier cards offer annual companion certificates, which could be worth hundreds of dollars a year. United’s cards don’t offer these perks.
Compare credit cards that offer free checked bags on United Airlines
United credit cards offer airline-specific benefits such as savings on inflight purchases, priority boarding and United Club access. But if you don’t fly with the carrier often, these perks might not be valuable.
You might like a general travel card, which could offer strong rewards on everyday purchases. If the card offers travel credits, you can use them for charges such as baggage fees and in-flight purchases.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
On domestic flights, you’ll pay $100 extra per bag that is 51 to 70 pounds. You’ll pay $200 extra per bag that is 71 to 100 pounds.
United doesn’t accept bags that exceed 100 pounds.
On domestic flights, you’ll pay $200 per oversized bag. United doesn’t accept bags that exceed 115 linear inches.
Yes. Checked baggage fees are standard across the industry. If you don’t want to pay these costs, consider Southwest Airlines: It waives fees on your first two checked bags per flight.
Kevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
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