Alaska Airlines allowance at a glance
| Bag | Maximum size | Maximum weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | 22x14x9 in56x36x23 cm | No stated limit | Alaska and Hawaiian now publish one joint baggage policy following their merger, and this size is the figure given on that shared page. Alaska blocks automated reading of its site, so the checked allowance and fees on this record are not yet confirmed against the carrier. |
Alaska Airlines checked bag fees
We have not verified this airline's baggage fees against the carrier yet. Rather than guess, we have left it blank — check the airline before you fly.
This page goes deeper on one part of the policy. The full record is at Alaska Airlines Baggage Rules.
Alaska Airlines blocks automated reading of its own fee pages. So this page does not print a first bag or second bag number that nobody here actually read today. That is unusual for this site, and it is worth saying plainly rather than borrowing a figure from a blog.
Every Alaska Airlines baggage fees question below points you to where the real number lives. Our main Alaska Airlines baggage rules record covers the carry-on box itself. Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines now run one merged baggage policy on a shared part of alaskaair.com, and that carry-on box is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, or 56 x 36 x 23 cm.
Why the fee table on this page is not filled in
This site has one standing rule. A fee only goes on the page if it was read off the carrier’s own site today. Otherwise it stays blank.
Several attempts to load Alaska’s checked baggage fee page failed today. So did the overview page. Even the homepage returned an error page instead of content, in a normal browser as well as an automated fetch.
That is a technical block on this end, not proof that Alaska changed its policy. The baggage section of alaskaair.com is still the place to read the current first, second and third bag charges before you fly.
What a checked bag fee schedule usually covers
On most major US carriers, the checked bag fee structure has the same shape even when the numbers differ. There is a price for the first bag and a higher price for the second.
A third bag usually costs much more again. Airlines also tend to charge less for a bag paid online in advance than for one paid at the airport counter or the gate.
Alaska’s own page is the only place to confirm whether that prepay gap applies right now and how large it is.
- First checked bag: price not verified today, check the carrier page above.
- Second checked bag: price not verified today, check the carrier page above.
- Prepaid online versus paid at the airport: Alaska’s page states the current gap; this page will not guess at it.
Want a live, working example of Alaska Airlines baggage fees done in full? JetBlue’s baggage record on this site was checked directly against jetblue.com.
Overweight and oversize bags
Every network carrier caps checked bag weight. Economy is usually capped around 50 lb, or 23 kg. Cross that line and a separate overweight fee applies.
A second, steeper fee applies once a bag crosses the linear size limit. That is length plus width plus height added together. Both fees catch travelers whose bag looks fine but tips a scale at the counter.
The exact pound and dollar cutoffs sit on the same shared baggage section linked above. This page will not print a number it did not read there today.
A cheap digital luggage scale removes the guesswork before you leave the house. The Etekcity digital luggage scale hooks onto a handle and reads the weight in a few seconds. That is the same test an airport counter runs anyway.
Our own guide to overweight and oversize baggage fees covers how airlines set those bands in general.
Prepaying and how much it can save
Prepaying a checked bag online is cheaper than paying at the airport on nearly every US carrier. That usually happens during booking or up to 24 hours before departure.
Alaska’s own baggage page states whether that discount currently applies and what it is worth. Add the bag during booking, or through the manage trip tool, rather than waiting for the counter.
Our guide to avoiding baggage fees covers tactics that hold across most airlines, prepaying included.
Credit cards and elite status that waive the first bag
Airline branded credit cards commonly waive the first checked bag fee for the cardholder. Many also waive it for a set number of companions on the same reservation.
Elite frequent flyer tiers usually carry the same waiver. It often starts at the lowest published tier.
Whether Alaska’s own branded card and its Mileage Plan tiers include that waiver today is stated on Alaska’s site, not here, since that page did not load today. Our roundup of credit cards that cover baggage fees explains how the benefit usually works, so you know what to look for on Alaska’s own terms page.
How Alaska Airlines baggage fees compare
Without a verified number for Alaska, a dollar for dollar comparison would just invent one half of the table. What can be said honestly is that Alaska has historically priced its bags close to Delta, American and United.
That puts it apart from the ultra low cost carriers that also charge for a carry-on bag. JetBlue is the closest live comparison on this site right now.
Its own record carries figures read directly from jetblue.com. Frontier and Allegiant charge for a carry-on as well as a checked bag, which is a different pricing model entirely.
Packing to avoid a second bag charge
The cheapest checked bag is the one you do not need. A set of BAGAIL 8 set packing cubes compresses clothing enough that many week long trips fit into one bag instead of two.
That is worth more than any prepay discount. Families traveling with an infant usually get an extra bag for infant supplies on top of the normal carry-on and personal item allowance, on most carriers.
Confirm that on Alaska’s own page rather than assuming it. Our guide to personal item versus carry-on explains where that extra allowance usually applies.
What to check before you fly Alaska
Read the current first, second and third bag price directly on Alaska’s baggage page before booking. Fares and fee schedules both change through the year.
Confirm the overweight and oversize cutoffs the same way. Check whether your fare class already includes a free checked bag.
If you hold Alaska Mileage Plan status or its branded credit card, check your account for the waiver. Do not assume it still applies at the level it once did.
Our baggage cost tool can estimate the total once you have the current per bag price in hand.
The bottom line
Alaska Airlines baggage fees follow a familiar shape. First bag cheaper than second, prepay cheaper than the airport, overweight and oversize priced on top.
The exact dollar figures need to come from Alaska’s own page on the day you book. A luggage scale and a set of packing cubes do more to keep the total down than guessing at a number this page will not print until it can confirm one.
Common questions
Does Alaska Airlines charge for a first checked bag?
Alaska charges for the first checked bag on most fares. The exact price lives on the carrier’s own baggage page and changes with fare and route.
How much does Alaska Airlines charge for an overweight bag?
Alaska applies a separate overweight fee above its weight cap, usually around 50 lb, but the exact cutoff and price are best confirmed on the carrier’s own baggage page.
Does prepaying a checked bag online save money on Alaska Airlines?
Most US carriers charge less for a bag paid online in advance than at the airport, and Alaska’s own baggage page states its current gap.
Does an Alaska Airlines credit card waive the first bag fee?
Airline branded credit cards commonly waive the first checked bag fee for the cardholder and some companions, and Alaska’s card terms page confirms whether that currently applies.
What is the checked bag weight limit on Alaska Airlines?
Economy checked bags are typically capped around 50 lb, or 23 kg, on major US carriers, with the exact Alaska figure on its baggage page.
Can I check an extra bag for an infant on Alaska Airlines?
Many carriers allow an extra bag for infant supplies beyond the normal allowance, and this is worth confirming on Alaska’s own page before you fly.
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