Alaska Airlines Baggage Policy: Fees, Limits & Free Bags 2026

Alaska Airlines is headquartered in Seattle and operates one of the most extensive networks across the US West Coast, Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, and Alaska. The airline is a member of the oneworld alliance and operates a robust frequent flyer program — Mileage Plan — that is consistently ranked among the best in North America for redemption value. Its baggage policy reflects its positioning as a full-service carrier: bags cost extra on most fares, but status and co-branded credit cards provide meaningful free-bag benefits.

Alaska Airlines Fare Types and Checked Bag Allowance

Fare	Overhead Bin	Checked Bag 1	Checked Bag 2
Saver	Not included	Not included	Not included
Main Cabin	Included	$35	$45
Alaska Plus	Included	Included	$45
Alaska Premium	Included	Included	Included
First Class	Included	Included	Included

Saver fare is Alaska's most restrictive product. Like JetBlue's Blue Basic and similar ultra-low-cost fares, Saver passengers are limited to a personal item that fits under the seat — overhead bin access is not included. Saver fares also come with additional restrictions on seat selection, flight changes, and upgrades.

Main Cabin is the standard fare for most Alaska passengers. You receive full carry-on access and seat selection, but checked bags are an additional $35 for the first and $45 for the second.

Alaska Plus and Alaska Premium fares bundle increasingly more checked bags and perks, making them worth comparing against Main Cabin plus bag fees on itineraries where you plan to check luggage.

Weight and Size Limits

Alaska Airlines' standard weight limit for checked bags is 50 lb (23 kg).

• Bags 51–100 lb (23–45 kg): $100 each way overweight fee
• Bags over 100 lb: Not accepted as checked baggage
• Linear size limit: Bags larger than 115 linear inches (length + width + height combined) are considered oversized — fees apply

Alaska's $100 overweight fee is slightly lower than JetBlue's $150, but still a significant cost. If you are checking a bag that could be close to 50 lb, weighing it at home before departure is strongly recommended.

Alaska MVP Status: Free Bags by Tier

Alaska Airlines' elite status program — Mileage Plan Elite — has three tiers, each offering progressively more checked bag benefits:

• MVP: One free checked bag per itinerary
• MVP Gold: Two free checked bags per itinerary
• MVP Gold 75K: Three free checked bags per itinerary

MVP status also extends some benefits to companions on the same reservation, though the exact companion bag benefits depend on the fare class booked and reservation structure. Confirming the current companion bag benefit with Alaska before booking is recommended for MVP members who regularly travel with others.

Alaska Airlines Credit Card (Bank of America)

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card (issued by Bank of America) is one of the strongest co-branded travel credit cards for checked bag savings, offering:

• First checked bag free for the primary cardholder
• First checked bag free for up to six companions on the same reservation

That means a family of four or a group of seven traveling together can all receive free first checked bags simply by having one person in the group hold the Alaska credit card and pay for the reservation with it.

At $35 per bag each way, the savings for a group round trip are substantial. For a family of four making two trips per year, the card's bag benefit alone covers the annual fee several times over.

Requirements for the benefit:

• Purchase the Alaska-operated flight with your Alaska Airlines Visa card
• All companions must be on the same reservation
• The benefit applies to Alaska-operated flights (not all codeshare partners)

Alaska vs. Southwest: The Free Bag Comparison

Alaska and Southwest are frequently compared by Pacific Northwest travelers because both are significant West Coast carriers. The key difference in baggage:

• Southwest: Two free checked bags for every passenger on every fare — no credit card required, no status required
• Alaska: Bags cost $35–$45 per bag unless you have MVP status, the Alaska credit card, or a bundled fare

Southwest's free bag policy is undeniably better for travelers who routinely check luggage. However, Alaska wins on other dimensions:

• Alaska's Mileage Plan has significantly better redemption value for international partner awards
• Alaska has broader international codeshare and oneworld alliance coverage
• Alaska First Class is a meaningfully better product than Southwest's equivalent

For travelers who check bags frequently but prioritize points and premium cabin access over raw bag savings, Alaska's overall proposition — especially with the credit card — can still come out ahead.

Alaska Mileage Plan: Bags as a Loyalty Perk

Mileage Plan is regularly cited as one of the top frequent flyer programs in North America. Its checked bag perks are an extension of a broader loyalty philosophy:

• Generous partner redemption rates with oneworld carriers (Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Finnair)
• Ability to earn miles on partner flights and credit card spend
• Elite qualifying thresholds that are achievable for moderate travelers

Free bags through MVP status serve as a practical reinforcement of loyalty — they remove friction on every trip, which is exactly the kind of benefit that keeps frequent travelers booking Alaska rather than switching to a competitor for marginally lower base fares.

Tips for Minimizing Alaska Baggage Costs

Get the Alaska credit card before your first trip. At $35 per bag each way, a single round trip for two people with one bag each costs $140 in bag fees — more than the card's annual fee. If you fly Alaska even twice a year with checked bags, the card pays for itself.

Compare Alaska Plus fares when checking bags. If you are buying Main Cabin and adding a $35 bag fee each way, check whether Alaska Plus is cheaper than the combined cost. On some routes the upgrade is $20–$30, saving money overall.

Pack under 50 lb. Alaska's $100 overweight fee is meaningful. Leave room in your checked bag when departing and consider shipping heavy items home rather than paying the overweight fee on the return.

Use Mileage Plan for oneworld partner awards. If you accumulate Alaska miles, the best redemptions are often on Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong, Asia), Finnair (Europe), and Japan Airlines. Bags on those redemptions follow the operating carrier's policy for the fare class booked.

Consider carry-on only on Saver fares. If you book Saver fare and can genuinely pack in a personal item only, the savings can be substantial. Just be realistic — Saver fare's personal item limit means your bag must fit under the seat in front of you.

The Bottom Line

Alaska Airlines is a strong choice for Pacific Northwest and West Coast travelers, especially those who value Mileage Plan's redemption flexibility with international partners. The baggage fees on Main Cabin are in line with the US airline industry standard. The Alaska credit card is one of the best ways to eliminate bag fees for the cardholder and a large travel group simultaneously. For travelers who can't justify the credit card, Southwest's free bag policy is genuinely better — but Alaska's overall loyalty ecosystem offers value that Southwest cannot match.

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Rules change — always verify with Alaska Airlines before you fly.