Do any US airlines not charged for checked luggage in Y?

[casanovawa]

Ok I am arriving in the US from a Star Alliance J award, i will be wanting to take a few internal flights within the US... Haven't decided if i will use AA or US Airways etc but looking on their site both seem to charge $25 for one piece of checked luggage in Y... Do any US airlines not charge for one bit of checked luggage in Y???

I guess at least on AA one option might be (as i am thinking of visiting Cancun) that i have a flight to and from there to different US cities as it looks like it then qualifies as an international trip and you get one bit of luggage free... So ATL-CUN then CUN-MIA and just have to worry about a MIA-MSY and then MSY-ORF flights...

 

[Blackswan]

Ok I am arriving in the US from a Star Alliance J award, i will be wanting to take a few internal flights within the US... Haven't decided if i will use AA or US Airways etc but looking on their site both seem to charge $25 for one piece of checked luggage in Y... Do any US airlines not charge for one bit of checked luggage in Y???

I guess at least on AA one option might be (as i am thinking of visiting Cancun) that i have a flight to and from there to different US cities as it looks like it then qualifies as an international trip and you get one bit of luggage free... So ATL-CUN then CUN-MIA and just have to worry about a MIA-MSY and then MSY-ORF flights...

Jetblue gives you one checked bag for free - but limited network which seems to be focussed around the East Coast. You'll also get extra leg room, and free snacks.

Southwest gives you two checked bags for free. I'm fairly certain they won't take you to Cancun, but seem to have a pretty decent network otherwise. I know some people don't like Southwest, but I'm a fan. As long as you check in early - you get a good position in the boarding line which gives you a good seat. And, if you find a cheaper fare for the same trip after you've booked, you can cancel and rebook (and keep the difference in price as a credit for your next flight).

 

[Awesom Andy]

I think Southwest has the first 2 bags free.

Edit: beaten.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Southwest Airlines | Book Flights, Airline Tickets, Airfare, Bags fly free. and are happy with Australian credit cards.

And the youtube link. you are free to fly about the country.

 

[casanovawa]

Ok thanks, i will check them out to see if they go to the cities i am wanting and if the overall prices beat AA or US Air with luggage surcharge...

At least with AA if i have QP membership i can us the AC's, if i use US Air i can credit to their FFP... But if the others are cheaper will take that option...

 

[Bundy Bear]

Ok thanks, i will check them out to see if they go to the cities i am wanting and if the overall prices beat AA or US Air with luggage surcharge...

At least with AA if i have QP membership i can us the AC's, if i use US Air i can credit to their FFP... But if the others are cheaper will take that option...

Tell us your segments or cities, and everyone can check the best schedule and price for you, have a nice day. you know what I mean.

 

[casanovawa]

Well here is one itinerary i have come up with, when i searched a few weeks ago it was slightly different as some prices have gone up for some legs so i rearranged it to this... But these are the sort of cities anyway, not set in stone which order etc... I think from Flyertalk i could find some AA discount codes for some of these cities that might get me a 5% discount or maybe even a 7% on one or two... But then if each flight I have to add $25 for luggage it will bump it up a bit... If anyone can come up with any better ideas happy to hear them...

ATL-MIA Thurs 10[SUP]th[/SUP] May $111.80 – AA

MIA-CUN Mon 14[SUP]th[/SUP] May $119.08 - AA

CUN-MSY Fri 18th May $294.40 – AA (via MIA) This is the most expensive leg and I could use a classic partner award for 18000 QFF points and $47 on the 17th

MSY-ORF Wed 23rd May $148.10 – Continental (via IAH) $149.60 – AA (via DFW) $149.60 – South West (takes most of day as goes up to Chicago MWD but no luggage charge)

ORF-ATL Mon 28[SUP]th[/SUP] May $143 – US Air (via CLT)

$816.38 or with the award $568.98

 

[cove]

An alternative to dragging luggage around is to generously tip the hotel porter at your point of departure to hold your surplus bags. Why take bags you don't need all around the US when a $20 note could get about 4 heavy bags of shopping bargains into their storage?

 

[Bunty]

Jetblue gives you one checked bag for free - but limited network which seems to be focussed around the East Coast. You'll also get extra leg room, and free snacks.

Southwest gives you two checked bags for free. I'm fairly certain they won't take you to Cancun, but seem to have a pretty decent network otherwise. I know some people don't like Southwest, but I'm a fan. As long as you check in early - you get a good position in the boarding line which gives you a good seat. And, if you find a cheaper fare for the same trip after you've booked, you can cancel and rebook (and keep the difference in price as a credit for your next flight).

I flew JFK to Orlando and return on JetBlue July 2011 with the family. Absolutely no problems. Cheap tickets, 1 free luggage pp, snacks, drinks, TV/Video, nice leather seats with ample legroom and on-time! If they had a larger network, they would rock! Also, they have a frequent flyer program, though not affiliated with any larger groups. Easy on-line booking with free seat selection too.

 

[casanovawa]

Ok, yeah I'll have to check both of them out... I posted a question on the South West section on Flyertalk about whether they ever have discount/promo codes like AA seem to from time to time (5%-7%) but not sure if i will get an answer but if anyone here knows would be nice to hear...

 

[MANfroMELB]

All the "major" US airlines charge for baggage. I just flew South West Airlines (Hobby - Houston to LAX) which offer 2 free pieces at no extra charge. A bit like Jetstar. Great service and well worth the price and "free 2 pieces", which alone is worth $50 - oneway.
Thanks

 

[moa999]

Whilst not seemingly applicable to the OP,
If you have status you generally don't get charged.

On AA all you need is oneworld Ruby (Qantas Silver)
American Airlines Checked Baggage Charge Exceptions | AA.com

 

[casanovawa]

Ooooh, if only i was silver..

 

[harvyk]

You far off PS? This is one of the few times that going for PS might be worth it if your close. PS get AAccess (in otherwords express security checking) that alone at MIA is worth it... (As well as the free checked bags)

 

[ShaneN]

American Airlines Checked Baggage Charge Exceptions | AA.com[/URL]

On my experience at DFW in September 2011, you may need to fight for the exemption. Flying DFW to ORD as OW ruby in Y, the check in system asked me for payment of $25. I went to the service desk who stated that I was not exempt. It seems that the AA systems do not exempt OW Ruby from baggage charges, despite what the website states. I showed them the exemptions as quoted on the website above. After about 10 minutes of consultation on the phone and with colleagues I was excused the payment as a one off.

Facing the same issue later from MSY to DFW I gave in and paid the money.

 

[cove]

The way the Americans seem to do it for free is they struggle to the gate and because it won't fit in the overhead it makes its way into into the hold for nix.
Now i hate being behind w@nkers who do this so I try to board early.

 

[dfcatch]

On my experience at DFW in September 2011, you may need to fight for the exemption. Flying DFW to ORD as OW ruby in Y, the check in system asked me for payment of $25. I went to the service desk who stated that I was not exempt. It seems that the AA systems do not exempt OW Ruby from baggage charges, despite what the website states. I showed them the exemptions as quoted on the website above. After about 10 minutes of consultation on the phone and with colleagues I was excused the payment as a one off.

Facing the same issue later from MSY to DFW I gave in and paid the money.

When I was PS - the auto Checkin system automatically recognized my QF Silver (Ruby) and waived the charges.

I suspect that your QF status wasn't being recognized by the system properly. Was it attached to your booking?

 

[ShaneN]

When I was PS - the auto Checkin system automatically recognized my QF Silver (Ruby) and waived the charges.

I suspect that your QF status wasn't being recognized by the system properly. Was it attached to your booking?

QF status was attached. I was only NB at the time I made the booking, but PS when I flew. AA check in staff were adamant that only gold qualified for free bags.

 

[dfcatch]

QF status was attached. I was only NB at the time I made the booking, but PS when I flew. AA check in staff were adamant that only gold qualified for free bags.

Hmmm interesting....

Hope this was an anomaly.

 

[casanovawa]

Nope, got nada SCs... Reset at end of September and no flights since...