United Co-Branded Amex Cards: Free First Checked Bag Benefit 2026
- United Airlines co-branded American Express credit cards provide a free first checked bag benefit for cardholders and their travel companions through 2026, according to JALC.
- The benefit allows eligible United co-branded American Express cardholders to waive the fee for their first checked bag.
- This specific perk is part of the broader value proposition for United's credit card partnerships with American Express, designed to incentivize loyalty and card usage among frequent flyers.
United Airlines co-branded American Express credit cards provide a free first checked bag benefit for cardholders and their travel companions through 2026, according to JALC. This benefit applies to eligible cardholders and their companions traveling on United flights, reducing the immediate cost of baggage for these specific account holders.
United American Express Baggage Benefit Details
The benefit allows eligible United co-branded American Express cardholders to waive the fee for their first checked bag. According to JALC, this waiver extends to the cardholder’s travel companions, provided they are on the same reservation.
This specific perk is part of the broader value proposition for United’s credit card partnerships with American Express, designed to incentivize loyalty and card usage among frequent flyers. The availability of this benefit is confirmed for the 2026 calendar year.
Conditions for Fee Waivers
To utilize the free checked bag benefit, the cardholder must be traveling on the flight. The waiver applies to the first bag only; additional bags are subject to United Airlines’ standard baggage pricing policies.
The benefit is tied to the specific co-branded status of the American Express account. Passengers who do not hold these specific cards or do not meet the eligibility criteria for the co-branded partnership must pay the standard checked baggage fees established by the airline.