It's rare to find U.S. airlines with free checked baggage. Southwest Airlines is the only airline without any bag fees. For other airlines, you'll need to earn elite status or book your tickets with an airline credit card.

In the current landscape of commercial aviation, Southwest Airlines remains the industry's most famous exception, continuing its legendary "Bags Fly Free" policy. Every passenger on Southwest is entitled to two checked bags for free, provided they meet weight and size requirements. This unique selling point has allowed Southwest to maintain a fiercely loyal customer base despite the rise of "unbundled" ultra-low-cost carriers. Outside of Southwest, most "legacy" carriers like Delta, United, and American have moved to a model where only those with elite status, specific co-branded credit cards, or "Premium Economy" and higher tickets get free bags. However, some international carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines still include a generous checked baggage allowance even in their lowest economy tiers, reflecting their "full-service" branding. For domestic travelers in the U.S., if you don't fly Southwest, your best bet for avoiding fees is to carry on a small suitcase (though even "Basic Economy" on some airlines now prohibits this) or to utilize the baggage benefits provided by travel credit cards, which effectively "pay" for your bags in exchange for your annual membership fee.