How I got a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines

Everyone knows that when traveling, you want to ensure you get the best value for your money. Traveling is rich in opportunities for people to maximize their financial benefits, especially through credit cards, loyalty programs, and other perks that can be leveraged. As a seasoned traveler, I am always seeking opportunities to enhance my travel experience while minimizing expenses.

I recently flew Alaska Airlines from Boston to San Francisco for my summer internship. I was moments away from forking over $35 to pay for my checked bag, but I managed to get my bag checked for free—here’s how.

Booking the Flight

When I first booked my flight, I paid with Alaska Airlines miles, and I used my Ritz-Carlton card to cover the taxes and fees, ensuring I was protected by its extensive travel insurance benefits.

However, as I would later come to learn, this was a mistake that would complicate my process of getting a free checked bag. As defined on Alaska Airlines’ website, any Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®, Atmos™ Rewards Visa® Business, or Atmos™ Rewards Visa Infinite® cardholder who purchases airfare with their card and has an open account can receive one free checked bag for themselves and up to 6 guests traveling with them on the same reservation.

Since I had paid for the airfare with my Ritz-Carlton card, I wasn’t initially eligible for the free checked bag. However, this didn’t deter me, and my efforts ultimately paid off.

Getting the Atmos Rewards Card

Since cardholders of the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®, Atmos™ Rewards Visa® Business, or Atmos™ Rewards Visa Infinite® cards are covered for the free bag benefit, my next step was to obtain the Atmos card. Authorized users and joint cardholders of the Atmos card are also eligible for the free bag benefit, as long as the primary cardholder is an Atmos™ Rewards member. This is true even if the primary cardholder isn’t traveling on the reservation, which was my case.

I didn’t have my own Atmos card, but my parents had the card. They added me as an authorized user, which would allow me to utilize the free bag benefit. However, confirming that I could actually use the benefit was easier said than done.

Checking In for the Flight

Alaska Airlines indicates that the airfare for the flight must be purchased with the Atmos card in order to qualify for the free bag benefit. If you used your Atmos card to pay for your airfare, you’ll automatically be credited for the free checked bag when you check in online on the Alaska Airlines app, at a self-service kiosk in the airport, or at the agent desk.

Since I didn’t use my Atmos card, I thought about the solutions to resolve my situation, and I came up with three options:

1. Try to change my payment method
2. Cancel & rebook my flight with the Atmos card
3. Or try my luck at the agent desk.

Changing my payment method wasn’t possible, and I didn’t want to cancel my flight and rebook it, as the price had increased substantially from what I had paid when I first booked it. Therefore, I decided to go with the third option and try my luck in person at the airport.

At the Airport

When I arrived at the airport, I went straight to Alaska Airlines’ check-in desk and met with the desk agent. I told him that I wanted to check a bag, and he asked me how I’d like to pay for the $35 checked baggage fee. However, I was already holding my Atmos authorized user card in my hand, and I told the desk agent that I was a cardholder.

He simply printed the baggage tag for me and attached it to my suitcase, without asking to see my card or any other identification. The free checked bag is also subject to a weight limit of 50 pounds, but I saw on the scale that my bag was 54 pounds. Despite my bag exceeding the weight limit and not paying for the airfare with the Alaska card, I was still able to check my bag for free (albeit with some hiccups, as my bag was delayed by 24 hours).My bag ended up not making it on the plane with me, and I had to wait 24 hours in San Francisco for it to be delivered on the next flight from Boston to San Francisco. Since I had paid for my flight with my Ritz-Carlton card, I filed a baggage delay insurance claim with Chase, providing proof of the claim as given to me by Alaska Airlines. I was ultimately awarded $100 for my troubles.

The benefits that premium travel credit cards offer, such as the Ritz-Carlton card, are a major reason I prefer using them to book my flights. Coverage for the Ritz-Carlton card and other cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is especially extensive, and I will likely continue to use them to book my flights, knowing that I can still get a free checked bag using the methods I described.

If you’d like to learn more about the process of filing a baggage delay claim with your credit card company, and how I went about it with Chase, you can read our article here about my experience: https://nextcard.com/articles/delayed-checked-bag-reimbursement.

Final Remarks

Looking back, I was honestly just very lucky to get a kind and sympathetic desk agent who allowed me to check my bag. He definitely bent the rules for me, and I really appreciated that he made it easy for me to get my bag checked. However, when it comes to future Alaska Airlines flights, I might just use my Atmos card to pay for the airfare, ensuring I have a free checked bag.

Kindness goes a long way, so if you’re ever in a similar situation, make sure to always maintain a polite tone with the desk agent. However, it’s always best to come prepared, so make sure to pay for your flights with your Atmos card if you need a free checked bag.