United Explorer Card
Whether you’re flying to your bachelor party, destination wedding or much-anticipated honeymoon, the ideal seat is anything not in economy. While The Plunge can’t promise an upgrade to business or first, we can at least help you avoid forking over extra cash for annoying add-ons like checked baggage and extra legroom.
It doesn’t matter if you’re flying to Vegas or Venice—thanks to basic economy fares, now international itineraries (in addition to domestic) may not always include a free checked bag, so you might have to pay even more to check your luggage when traveling abroad.
But we’ve dug up the workarounds. Here are some of the ways you can score free baggage, priority seating or maybe even an upgrade—without dipping into your wedding budget.
1. Fly Southwest
This airline is the only major US carrier that doesn’t charge for checked bags (you can check two for free) or assign seats. If you want to ensure you’re first to board in order to select your preferred seat alongside your travel companions, plan to pay extra during the booking process.
Or, do it for free; check in online exactly 24 hours before flying to get a higher boarding position so you’re one of the first to board and can snag a good seat.
2. Hold Elite Status
Elite status can be difficult to obtain, but the perks are often worth it. Here’s what’s offered for baggage and preferred seating, by each of the major airlines:
- Alaska Airlines: All three elite status tiers (MVP, MVP Gold, MVP 75K) include two free checked bags and access to preferred seats. Depending on fare class, you may also get access to Premium seats at booking/48-hours in advance for MVP, at booking/72-hours in advance for MVP Gold or at booking for MVP 75K. Note that those booking Saver fares (basic economy) won’t have access to these seating perks regardless of elite status.
- American Airlines: You can check one bag for free with Gold status, two bags with Platinum or Platinum Pro status, and three bags with Executive Platinum status (this applies to all those on the reservation). Those with Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum status have access to preferred seating and can select Main Cabin Extra seats free of charge for themselves—and up to eight people on the same reservation—so if you’re traveling as a group, make sure the reservation goes under whoever holds elite status (bachelor parties, here’s looking at you). Those holding Gold status gain access to these seats 24 hours before departure, while all other status levels have access at booking. Note that Main Cabin Extra seats won’t be free on basic economy fares even for the highest level elites, so if it’s important for you to sit in style, well, don’t be basic.
- Delta Airlines: You can check one bag for free as a Silver, Gold or Platinum or Diamond Medallion. And every member on your reservation can check a bag if you hold status. All Medallions have access to preferred seats. Silver Medallions have access to Delta Comfort seats 24 hours in advance, whereas Gold has access 72 hours in advance and Platinum and Diamond members just after ticketing. (Note that Delta Comfort seats aren’t available for free regardless of elite status on E fares—Delta’s basic economy.)
- JetBlue: You (and all travel companions on your reservation) can check two bags for free as a Mosaic member. If your group is made of heavy packers (destination wedding attendees, take note), this is the airline you should fly with. You can use your points towards Even More Space seats, and reduced rates are offered for Mosaic members.
- Spirit: The Free Spirit loyalty program has three tiers: Somebody, Elite and VIP. Unfortunately, elite members don’t receive perks such as checked bags or preferred seats, though you can use your hard-earned points to pay for some of these extras. While Spirit may suffice to herd you to Atlantic City for your bachelor extravaganza, we highly recommend not flying them on your honeymoon—why ruin the marriage before it’s even begun?
- United: You can check one bag with Premier Silver, two bags with Premier Gold and three bags with Platinum and 1K. Silver members (plus one companion traveling on the same reservation) get complimentary access to Economy Plus seats at check-in (plus one companion), while Gold elites (plus one companion traveling on the same reservation) can access these seats during booking. Platinum and 1K have access during booking along with up to eight other travel companion on the same reservation — but not on basic economy tickets.
3. Buy a Premium Ticket (this is where points and miles come in handy)
As you can see, checked baggage and preferred seating don’t come with most economy seats—even in regular economy (we’re not even gonna mention basic economy). You can either pay more to add these services on your ticket or simply opt to purchase business class or premium economy fare.
Remember, in many cases, you can use points/miles to upgrade or to buy your business class ticket outright, especially for an important trip like a honeymoon.
For further reading how to earn enough points and miles to purchase these premium seats, check out which credit cards are best to get for the honeymoon and which are best for wedding costs.
4. Just Ask
You may get a better seat (perhaps not an upgrade to business, but at least a window or next to your companions) if you politely ask at check in. Mentioning it’s your honeymoon or your wedding may help your game, as most people are usually thrilled to give a happy couple a little something extra.
Just make sure to always ask politely or simply mention it’s your honeymoon—and never act entitled. Giving the flight attendant a box of chocolates definitely wouldn’t hurt either.
5. Use the Right Credit Card
Ditch your debit card for a credit card that offers benefits like free checked bags. While most cards won’t typically give you priority seating, if they help you earn elite status or bonus points, this will open up your options for preferred seating too.
Just remember that saving on baggage fees won’t outweigh hefty interest rates, so make sure to pay off these cards in full each month in order to really enjoy the benefits and rewards.
See The Plunge’s top card picks below:
Card: The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card
Bonus Points: Get a 40,000-mile bonus and a $100 statement credit after spending $2,000 or more within the first 90 days of opening your account. Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Great for: Alaska flyers, those wanting a companion fare.
Fees: $75
APR: 15.99% to 23.99%
Pros: Get Alaska’s Companion Fare from $121 after hitting the spend threshold, free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation, receive 50% off Alaska Lounge day passes when you use your new card and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons: Only earn 1 mile per $1 spent on most purchases.
Card: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®
Bonus Points: Get 50,000-point bonus after spending $2,500 in the first 3 months of account opening. Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, gas stations and on American. Airlines purchases and 1 mile per $1 for all other purchases.
Great for: Group travel, AA flyers
Fees: $95 annual fee (waived the first year)
APR: 15.99% to 24.99%
Pros: First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 4 travel companions, preferred boarding and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons: No elite-qualifying miles included in the 50,000 bonus
Card: Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card
Bonus Points: Get a 35,000-mile bonus after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent when you use your card for Delta purchases.
Great for: Delta flyers
Fees: $99 (waived the first year)
APR: 15.74% to 24.74%
Pros: First checked bag free on Delta flights and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons: Earn only 1 point per dollar for non-Delta purchases.
Card: JetBlue Plus card
Bonus Points: Get a 40,000-point bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Earn 6 points per $1 spent on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants and grocery stores and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Earn 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary.
Great for: JetBlue flyers, those who need 0% APR to start
Fees: $99
APR: 0% introductory APR for the first twelve billing cycles, then 15.99% – to 24.99%.
Pros: Free checked bag for you and up to 3 companions on the same reservation and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons: Doesn’t include priority boarding.
Card: United Explorer
Bonus Points: Get a 40,000-mile bonus after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants and on hotel stays and 1 mile per $1 spent on everything else.
Great for: United flyers
Fees: $95 (waived the first year)
APR: 16.49% to 23.49%
Pros: First checked bag free for cardholder and one companion, $100 TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry credit, priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees and two United Club passes.
Cons: Must book directly with the hotel to get the bonus miles in the hotel category.
And the Winner is…
While the best credit card may depend largely on which airline you fly the most, the best overall card for baggage is the Alaska Visa Signature card. It allows you and six other travel companions on your reservation to check one bag each and a 50% discount on lounge access—ideal if you’re traveling with a group.
But the card that probably offers the most bang for your buck is the United Explorer card, as you earn more bonus miles on things like dining, get a $100 TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry credit, two lounge passes and a checked bag for both the cardholder and a companion (perfect for that honeymoon). Plus, the annual fee is waived the first year.
Biggest Mistake You Can Make
Don’t buy basic economy tickets if you want to have options for seat selection and checked baggage — unless you’d want to end up crying yourself to sleep in a middle seat of the last row of the plane.
Instead, splurge for that regular economy fare and let your elite benefits, credit cards and epic politeness towards airline staff earn you the extras: window, aisle or extra legroom seats, with your free checked bag safely tucked into the cargo hold be
