Why get clever avoiding airline baggage fees when you can get paid to do it

The New York Times has an article about the lengths people will go to avoid paying baggage fees on airlines. Now, baggage fees are not a new thing — they’ve been around for decades. What’s new is charging for the first and second checked bags, which several years ago were free on most airlines.

The Times suggests things like…

• Driving further to an airport that serves Southwest Airlines, since Southwest doesn’t charge for checked bags. Well, sort of — after the first 2 you are hit with fees up to $110 per bag, and Southwest doesn’t always have the lowest cost flight
• Vacuum packing your clothes — this sounds absurd for most…especially when you consider the return trip without the equipment to vacuum seal
• Scottevest brand trench coats that let you haul items in your jacket pockets

It makes passing reference to what is probably the easiest solution — getting an airline mile credit card that offers free checked bags — but doesn’t mention which airlines offer them.

So to help out below is a list of basic, entry level airline mile credit cards that offer a checked bag fee waiver. A single roundtrip flight can save you $50 or more, $100 or more if you’re traveling with 2 people. And they all come with decent bonus mile offers so you’re effectively getting paid for that checked bag fee waiver upfront.

Entry level cards ($95 or less annual fee, most waived first year)

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express – 1st bag free for up to 9 people per reservation

United Mileage Plus Explorer – 1st bag free for up to 2 people per reservation

Premium Cards (include lounge access, $395+ annual fee)

American Airlines Citi Executive AAdvantage – 1st  bag free for up to 8 people per reservation

Delta Reserve American Express – 1st bag free for up to 9 people per reservation

Note that if you’re flying US Airways you’re out of luck. No credit cards offer a checked bag fee waiver for their flights.