Alaska Airlines is a major US airline flying throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and to four Hawaiian Islands. It is also the parent airline of Horizon Air.
Alaska Airlines charges for all checked baggage including the first bag ($30 for 1st checked bag, $40 for 2nd bag) for all Saver and Standard Fare passengers. If you are a resident of Alaska, consider joining their "Club 49" membership which offers a baggage allowance of 2 checked bags free of charge. Another option to avoid these checked bag fees is to apply for the Alaska Airlines credit card, which will waive the 1st checked bag fee, and also give you their famous "companion fare" offer.
Please note that Alaska Airlines is increasing it's baggage fees for all flights booked on/after June 30th 2023. The 1st and 2nd checked bag fees remain unchanged ($30 and $40), but extra bags (3rd bag + ) will now cost $150 each, up from the previous $100. The Oversize baggage fee is also going up to $150 (from $100), but the Overweight baggage fee will remain the same at $100.
Alaska Airlines is one of our favorite airlines for flying with sports equipment, with many types of sporting equipment allowed to fly in place of a regular suitcase, simply for their standard checked bag fee of $30/$40 without any additional overweight, oversize, or special handling fees. In the last years, Delta Airlines and American Airlines have followed Alaska's lead and also removed most of their additional sports equipment fees. However, Alaska Airlines offers a more generous weight allowance in most cases, so if you are planning to fly with sports equipment, Alaska Airlines will often be your best choice. Please note, if your sports equipment is your 3rd piece of checked luggage, the 3rd piece baggage fee of $150 will be charged (previously $100).
Carry-On Allowance | 9 / 10 |
Checked Bag Allowance | 4 / 10 |
Excess Baggage Fees | 7 / 10 |
Overall Grade | 6.7 / 10 |
Be sure to check out our sister-site, Airline-Pet-Policies.com, for information about flying with your cat, dog, or other pet.
Take a a look at all the information regarding flying with infants (0-2 years old) and kids on Alaska Airlines:
Flying with a Baby or Child on Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines Baby and Child Baggage Allowance 2023
Do Babies Under 2 Years Old Fly Free on Alaska Airlines
Car Seats and Strollers on Alaska Airlines 2023
Do Babies Under 2 Years Old Fly Free?
Bringing Breastmilk, Baby Food, and Formula Through Security
With Alaska Airlines, you are permitted one carry-on bag plus one personal item free of charge. Additional carry-on items will need to be gate checked for a $30 fee.
Maximum dimensions, including wheels and handles, for your carry-on bag with Alaska Airlines are as follows:
Length - 22"
Width - 14"
Height - 9"
The following items may be brought onboard without counting toward your carry-on limit:
- Coats, hats, umbrellas (compact size that easily fits into an overhead bin, under the seat or in a suitcase)
- A pillow for personal use
- Food for immediate consumption
- Reasonable amount of reading material
- FAA approved child/infant restraint seats to be occupied by a child, strollers (based on space availability; space guaranteed only with the purchase of a ticket for the infant)
- Service Animals, including properly documented emotional support animals
- Mobility/Medical assistive devices such as wheelchairs, canes, crutches, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, approved portable oxygen concentrators (POC) etc.
- Prescription medications and any medical devices needed to administer them (for example: syringes, auto- injections) as long as they comply with applicable safety, security, and hazardous materials rules.
Note: To qualify as an exception to the carry-on limit, only medication and medical devices may be placed in the bag.
Carry-On Bags on Horizon Air and SkyWest flights
Due to the smaller dimensions of overhead storage and underseat space on aircraft operated by Horizon Air or SkyWest (Alaska Airlines flights 2000-2999 and flights 3450-3499), larger carry-on items will be placed on a planeside cart before boarding. These items will be specially tagged and returned to the cart for retrieval at a designated area on the ramp or jetbridge as you deplane.
Carry-on Baggage Exceptions
The following items may count as your "one" carry-on bag and may exceed the carry-on dimensions as long as they can be safely accommodated in a proper stowage compartment in the cabin of the aircraft.
Human organs
Art/Advertising portfolios
Paintings
Delicate scientific equipment
Fishing poles
Small Musical Instruments
Cabin Seat Baggage
Any item that is too large for stowage under the seat or in the overhead bin (e.g., a large musical instrument), but which must be carried into the cabin, may be accepted as cargo in the cabin.
The item will be transported in a seat next to you and will be considered "cabin seat baggage".
Cabin Seat Baggage must be prearranged to ensure a sufficient number of seatbelt extensions will be loaded on the appropriate aircraft. Advance notice of 24 hours or more is required for groups of 5 or more with cargo in the cabin.
Cabin Seat Baggage cannot be booked online. Please call a Reservations Agent at 1-800-252-7522 (TTY: Dial 711 for Relay Services) for assistance. Our standard ticketing fee will be waived.
Cabin Seat Baggage is charged 100% of the applicable adult base fare plus 6.25% cargo tax.
TSA - (USA): TSA Carry-On Regulations and TSA 3-1-1 Carry-On Liquids Rules
CATSA - (Canada): CATSA Carry-On Prohibited Items and CATSA Carry-On Liquids and Gel Restrictions
E-Cigarettes / Vape: TSA Rules for Flying with Electronic Cigarettes and Vape Pens 2023
Guns / Firearms: How to Fly with a Gun - TSA Rules 2023
Bluetooth Headphones: Using Bluetooth Headphones on an Airplane
Alaska Airlines charges for all checked baggage, unless you qualify for a special baggage exemption based on credit card, loyalty program, and on some special routes.
All bags are limited to a maximum weight of 50lbs/23kg, and size restrictions of 62 linear inches (length+width+height), otherwise additional charges may apply.
Alaska Airlines 1st Checked Bag Fee 2023: $30
Alaska Airlines 2nd Checked Bag Fee 2023: $40
Alaska Airlines 3rd + Checked Bag Fee 2023: $150 each
Please note that the 3rd, 4th, and Additional Bag fee has increased to $150 each bag for all Alaska Airlines flights bought on/after June 30th 2023. For flights purchased before June 30th 2023, 3rd and Additional Bags cost $100 each.
** Passengers upgraded after baggage has been accepted are not eligible for refund of baggage fees paid
Baggage Fee Waivers and Exceptions
Passengers on Alaska Airlines are exempt from the baggage fees on some routes or if they qualify for an exemption based on loyalty status or using special credit cards. The following baggage exemptions apply on Alaska Airlines flights:
1st Checked Bag Free:
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® consumer cardholders
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business cardholders
Customers traveling to or from Guadalajara
2 Free Checked Bags:
Customers traveling in First Class
Elite level Mileage Plan™ members
American AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum, and Gold Elite Level members
Club 49® members
3 Free Checked Bags
Customers ticketed for travel solely within the state of Alaska
5 Free Checked Bags
Active duty US military personnel with valid military ID
Active duty US military dependents with valid military ID and travel orders
Note: Bags may weigh up to 70 pounds and be up to 115" (linear) without incurring overweight or oversize fees.
Additional Checked Baggage Exemptions on Alaska Airlines
The following items will be taken free of charge, and not count toward your checked baggage allowance:
- Strollers and car seats - when traveling with infants or children
- Pineapple from Hawaii - one properly packaged box of pineapples when traveling within the United States from Honolulu (HNL), Kona (KOA), Maui (OGG), or Kauai (LIH)
- Mobility aids and medical assistive devices - visit our accessible services pages for more information
- Wine (Mileage Plan™ members only) - one suitably packaged (e.g. foam lined box) case of wine when traveling within the United States from Boise (BOI), Eugene/Springfield (EUG), Lewiston (LWS), Medford (MFR), Portland (PDX), Redmond/Bend (RDM), Pasco (PSC), San Luis Obispo (SBP), Santa Rosa (STS), Walla Walla (ALW) or Yakima (YKM) airports
Linear Dimensions: What are Linear Dimensions?
Piece vs Weight: What is Piece Concept vs Weight Concept
Packing List: Travel Packing Checklist 2023
Marijuana / Cannabis: Rules for Flying with Marijuana / Cannabis in 2023
Musical Instruments: Flying with Musical Instruments on Alaska Airlines
Wheelchairs: Flying with Wheelchairs on Alaska Airlines
Military Baggage: Military Baggage Allowances on Alaska Airlines
Delayed/Cancelled Flights: How to Claim Compensation for Flight Delays
Guns / Firearms: Flying with Guns / Firearms on Alaska Airlines
All baggage on Alaska Airlines (including baggage checked free of charge) which exceeds the size or weight allowance, is subject to additional fees
Alaska Airlines Additional Bag - 3rd bag or more - $150 Fee Each
Alaska Airlines Oversize Baggage - linear dimension of 63-115 inches - $150 Fee
Alaska Airlines Overweight Baggage - weighing between 51-100 lbs (23-45kg) - $100 Fee
Please note the new increased Additional Bag and Oversize Bag fees of $150 for 2023. These higher fees of $150 (previously $100) are in effect on all Alaska Airlines flights purchased on/after June 30 2023. For flights purchased before June 30 2023, the original $100 fee applies. The Overweight Baggage fee remains at $100.
No single piece of checked baggage may weigh more than 100 pounds and/or exceed 115" (linear). Contact Alaska Air Cargo at 1-800-225-2752 for assistance with any items that exceed the checked baggage limitation. Exception: Musical instruments.
SPORTING EQUIPMENT:
Alaska Airlines will accept sporting equipment as checked baggage provided each piece is properly packed in a soft or hard sided case designed specifically for the sporting equipment piece. Standard checked baggage fees ($30-$40 if within first 2 bags) apply for all sporting equipment, although Alaska Airlines will waive the oversize and overweight fees for the following pieces of sports equipment:
Archery
Bicycles
Boogie boards
Bowling
Golf Clubs
Skis/Snowboard
Fishing Equipment
Hockey/Lacrosse Equipment
Pole Vaults
Scuba Equipment
Skateboards
Surfboards/Paddleboards
Windsurfing Equipment