Several airlines have been in the news lately for increasing
the prices they charge for checked baggage aboard their flights.
However, did you know that many airlines offer military service members
free checked bags when they’re flying both on order and for leisure? See
below for how some of the major airlines handle baggage fees for
military service members.
Delta Air Lines
Delta offers five free bags up
to 100 pounds each for service members traveling on official orders,
regardless of class of service. Additionally, Delta offers two free bags
up to 50 pounds each for personal travel when flying basic economy,
economy, or Delta Comfort+. If travelers are flying Delta Premium
Select, passengers can check three free bags up to 50 pounds each, while
those in Delta One or First Class can check three free bags up to 70
pounds each.
United Airlines
On United,
military service members traveling on official orders or relocating may
check two bags free of charge, weighing up to 100 pounds per bag.
Service members flying United for personal travel are allowed two free
bags up to 75 pounds each.
American Airlines
On American,
military service members traveling on official orders may check up to
five bags weighing no more than 100 pounds each. If traveling on
personal leave, service members can check up to three bags for free
weighing no more than 50 pounds each. Military dependents are also
eligible if they are traveling on their dependent’s orders and present a
copy of their orders or military dependent ID.
Southwest
One of Southwest's big
selling points is their promise of two free bags for every passenger.
Military customers traveling on active duty on Southwest are exempt from
the two-piece baggage limit and are not subject to excess, oversize, or
overweight baggage charges, provided that all bags are under 100
pounds.
JetBlue
For official travel, service members flying on JetBlue may
check five free bags up to 99 pounds each. Dependents traveling on the
same itinerary are also eligible. For personal travel, service members
and their dependents may check up to two bags for no charge.
Frontier Airlines
Active-duty military personnel on either official or personal travel flying on Frontier
are permitted to bring one free personal item, one free carry-on bag,
and two free checked bags. Oversize and overweight bag fees are waived
for the first two free checked bags for active service members. These
benefits do not extend to dependents.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit allows active-duty
military personnel two free checked bags along with a free carry-on plus
one free personal item for both personal and official travel. Like
Frontier, the free bags are for service members only. Bags must be added
in advance online or on the Spirit app and cannot be done processed
airport ticket counter.