Alaska Air is one of the biggest airlines in North America, flying to numerous destinations across the globe. Before you board your flight with Alaska Air, familiarize yourself with the airline’s strict allowances for check-in and cabin baggage. Furthermore, the airline has specifications for what items can and can’t board the flight.
Everyone who flies Alaska Air is entitled to one free personal item and one free carry-on bag. Your personal item must fit completely under the seat in front of you, and the carry-on must fit securely in the overhead bin. If you wish to check your bag, fees and policies are specific to the aircraft in which you are flying and your membership status.
We will discuss Alaska Air’s policies for carry-on, check-in baggage, and all precautions customers should take before flying with this airline.
Alaska Air Cabin Baggage
Alaska Air has a few exceptions to their cabin baggage policies, so careful consideration is required. If you are flying with this airline, you are entitled to one free personal item and one free carry-on bag on most flights.
Alaska Air does not allow carry-on baggage on flights departing from Cold Bay (CDB) airport in Cold Bay, Alaska. Due to TSA limitations, your carry-on baggage will be checked for free when you arrive at the check-in counter. You may carry a personal item onto the flight, and store it under the seat in front of you.
Personal items include purses, computer bags, briefcases, and camera bags. Carry-on baggage is either a small suitcase, backpack, duffle bag, or similar item.
You must store your free personal item under the seat in front of you, and store the carry-on bag in the overhead bin. Both items must fit safely and securely. To ensure that your item meets requirements, measure your bag and ensure that it does not exceed the following measurements: 91 x 35 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 inches), including the wheels and handles.
Alaska Air flights Horizon Air or SkyWest (Bombardier Q400 or CRJ aircraft), have smaller compartments on board; therefore, passengers are limited to carry-on bags that do not exceed these measurements: 23 x 36 x 56 cm (9 x 14 x 22 inches).
Alaska Air Check-In Baggage
Alaska Air’s check-in baggage policies are straightforward.
- First Check-In Bag: $30
- Second Check-In Bag: $40
- Third Check-In Bag and More: $100
Your bag must not surpass 23 kg (50 lbs) or 157 linear centimeters (62 linear inches).
You may not bring more than two check-in bags during peak season on several routes. If you are flying from January 1 – December 31, June 1 – August 31, or November 15 – March 1, verify with your booking confirmation that you are allowed to bring three or more check-in bags on your route. You can view a full list of Alaska Air’s seasonal restrictions here.
You are exempt from baggage fees if you meet the following requirements: You are an Alaska Airlines credit card holder, an Elite Level Mileage Plan member, or US military personnel. You also qualify for the exemption, if you are traveling with any of the following items: pineapples from Hawaii, strollers and car seats, or mobility aids and medical assistive devices.
Different baggage fees apply if you are on an Alaska Air flight 5000-5499 (operated by Qantas) or 8001-8100 (operated by American) flight. Review the baggage policies listed below for a more accurate representation of your baggage fees.
Alaska Air Check-In Baggage Fee Exemptions
Customers meeting these requirements are exempt from standard baggage fees, and can check in one bag for free. Second check-in baggage fees ($40) still apply.
Alaska Air reserves the right to alert its baggage policies and fees at any time, without notice. Therefore, always review the information on your confirmation email and flight ticket.
Free First Check-In Bag
- First-Class Customers
- Customers flying within Alaska
- Active duty US military Personnel
- Active duty US military Dependents
- Alaska Airlines Visa cardholders
- Alaska Airlines Visa Business card holders
- Alaska Airlines World Elite Mastercard cardholders
- VP and MVP Gold level Mileage Plan / Oneworld Ruby and Sapphire members
- MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100k level Mileage Plan / Oneworld Emerald members
- Club 49 members
Free First and Second Check-In Bag
- First-Class Customers
- Customers flying within Alaska
- Active duty US military Personnel
- Active duty US military Dependents
- MVP and MVP Gold level Mileage Plan / Oneworld Ruby and Sapphire members
- MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100k level Mileage Plan / Oneworld Emerald members
- Club 49® members
If you want to ensure that your first and/or second bag will qualify as complimentary, review Alaska Air’s full policy on luggage fee exemptions.
Alaska Air Overweight Baggage
If your check-in bag exceeds 23 kg (50 lbs) or 157 cm (62 linear inches), the airline will charge overweight baggage fees.
- Bags that weigh 24- 45 kg (51-100 lbs): $100
- Bags with linear dimension of 160 – 291 linear cm (63-115 linear inches) $100
If your check-in weighs more than 45 kg (100lb), excluding musical instruments, contact Alaska Air’s cargo department (1-800-225-2752) for further assistance. Musical instruments are exempt from the 45 kg limitation. Alaska Air’s full policy on travel with musical instruments can be found here.
Alaska Airlines flights 5000-5499 (operated by Qantas) or 8001-8100 (operated by American)
If you are flying on an Alaska Airlines flight 5000-5499 or 8001-8100 bound for New Zealand or Australia, these fees and restrictions apply to you. You are entitled to up to seven bags of no more than 158 linear centimeters (62 linear inches). Strollers and car seats, mobility aids, and medical assistive devices are exempt from fees.
- First Check-In Bag: $0
- Second Check-In Bag: $0
- Third or More Check-In Bag: $185
- Overweight Baggage: $85
If you are bound for or traveling from Europe, these fees and restrictions apply. Note that you are entitled to ten bags and each bag must not exceed 32 kg (70 lbs) or 320 linear centimeters (126 linear inches). Strollers and car seats, mobility aids, and medical assistive devices are exempt from fees.
- First Check-In Bag: $0, excluding Basic cabin passengers ($75)
- Second Check-In Bag: $0, excluding Basic ($100) and Main ($100) cabin passengers
- Third or More Check-In Bag: $200, excluding First Class passengers ($0)
- Overweight Baggage: $200
Finally, customers traveling to the Middle East on a 5000-54999 or 8001-8100 flight are entitled to two free check-in bags and additional bags for $250, regardless of fare type. If your bag is overweight, the standard fee is $250.
- First Check-In Bag: $0
- Second Check-In Bag: $0
- Third or More Check-In Bag: $250
- Overweight Baggage: $250
Alaska Air Prohibited and Restricted Items
As with most airlines, you are encouraged to keep personal, valuable, and irreplaceable items on your person during the flight. Alaska Air has a free printable luggage ID tag to assist customers with keeping track of their baggage.
As Alaska Air is an American airline, all passengers must comply with TSA’s rules for air travel. You are not allowed to bring any hazardous, explosive, or flammable objects on their aircraft.
As of 2018, customers bound for Canada, Costa Rica, or Mexico on an Alaska Air flight are prohibited from bringing any powder-like substances in containers larger than 350 milliliters.
Additional Restrictions apply for several items. This list is not exclusive and Alaska Air has the right to change its policies at a moment’s notice. Stay up to date on Alaska Air’s policies. In addition to the items banned by TSA, you may not bring any of these items onto the aircraft in either check-in or cabin baggage.
- Camping Equipment
- Household Cleaning Products
- Marijuana
- Motors or Car Engines
- Pool Chemicals
Conclusion
Review your ticket before checking in for your Alaska Air flight. The airline has separate baggage fees and policies for flights operated by Qantas or American, and baggage restrictions during the holiday seasons; therefore, it is of the utmost importance that passengers review their confirmation emails and tickets to ensure they are complying with Alaska Air’s policies.
Properly weigh your bag to ensure it meets the weight and dimension requirements or prepares to pay overweight baggage fees at the check-in counter.
Pack your bags carefully, leaving prohibited items at home, and pack restricted items carefully in your carry-on or checked baggage. Review Alaska Air and TSA’s extensive list of banned and restricted items to stay up to date on any changes to policies before your flight.
