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Alaska Airlines Check-In and Baggage Size & Fees


Category: Airline Check-In, Airline Baggage Fees, Carry On Luggage Size

Alaska Airlines is the seventh-largest airline in the United States as for passenger traffic.
Based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington, Alaska now operates three major hubs, as well as one secondary hub. Compared with any other airlines, Alaska Airlines delivers more passengers between the state of Alaska and the contiguous United States.

In the 2011 North American Airlines Satisfactions Study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, Alaska Airlines is ranking highest among traditional carriers when it comes to airline customer satisfaction. The high rating depends on several factors, including pet-friendly services, diverse check-in options and excellent baggage allowance policy.

I. How to Check In with Alaska Airlines?

Alaska Airlines boasts various check-in options for passengers. Whether you want to check in at the airport or use web check-in, it's your choice. Choose one of these options below at your convenience.

1) Web Check-In

Passengers choosing web check-in can get out of the check-in line at the airport and head straight to the gate. You're allowed to check in anywhere from 1 to 24 hours before the scheduled departure of your flight. Be sure to print your boarding pass and then you can board directly. Checking bags? That's easy. Before you get to the airport, pay the charges of your checked baggage online through a credit or debit card. Just bring your bag to the baggage-check location upon your arrival.

Web check-in also allows customers to change their seat assignment, print a receipt for their flight and get flight upgrades. Be aware that departure times and gate assignments of your flight can change in some cases. Therefore you need to check the flight information monitors at the airport so as not to miss your flight.

Please note that web check-in can be used for both domestic and international flights. But only when your trip starts with a flight operated by Alaska Airlines or its sister airline Horizon Air can you use web check-in. Still feel confused about how to use web check-in? Follow the steps below.

• Step 1: After you go to the website, enter your departure city. You can enter your Confirmation Code, e-ticket Number or Mileage Plan Number in order to find your reservation quickly.

• Step 2: Choose the name of the travelers that need to check in online. And then you should click "Continue".

• Step 3: You need to verify your itinerary. At the same time, please select the option that indicates how many bags each traveler has to check. Thereafter, click "Continue".

• Step 4: Print your boarding pass.

2) Mobile Check-In

Alaska Airlines also allows passengers to check in from their mobile device. You can check in 1 to 24 hours before your flight via the iPhone app or the mobile site. Two options are available.

• Airline Mobile Applications

Alaska Airlines' new travel app makes it possible for passengers to take off with all their travel information at the fingertips. Alaska provides several custom-made applications for your mobile device. You can either download the iPhone App or the Android App. Of course, some other devices, such as Blackberry and Windows Phone, also work.

The application not only lets you check in for your flight and access your mobile boarding pass. You can also track your trip details, view & change your seat assignments and check flight status & schedules and more.

• Mobile Site

With the mobile site of m.alaskaair.com, your travel experience is made to be easy. Visit the website from your mobile phone or web-enabled device and you can check in for your flight wherever you are. In addition to check-in, you can enjoy all the benefits of the mobile site, such as checking flight status and reviewing flight schedules.

After your check in from your mobile device, you'll receive a mobile boarding pass. You're required to present your boarding pass on your mobile device at three checkpoints.

• Checking Bags: When you have checked baggage, you'll need to display your mobile boarding pass to the Customer Service Agent at the baggage check location.

• Gate: Before boarding, your mobile boarding pass needs to be displayed at the boarding door.

• Security Checkpoint: When you go through the security checkpoint, please present your mobile boarding pass together with proper identification to the TSA agent.

3) Check-In Kiosk

If you prefer to check in at the airport, one simple way is to check by yourself through the Check-In Kiosks. The automated Check-In Kiosks are available at all of the airports throughout the Alaska Airlines system. The process differs slightly depending on your baggage.

• With Carry-On Baggage Only - When you do not have bags to check, just check in at the kiosks on the calendar day of your departure. The kiosks are available until 40 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Just like web check-in, this kind of check-in also allows you to get First Class upgrades, print travel receipts and change seat assignment. Passengers can go to the boarding gate directly once the kiosk prints their boarding pass.

• With Checked Baggage - You need to pay for the fees of your checked baggage at a Check-In Kiosk up to 4 hours before your flights. After your boarding pass is printed, you can go to the baggage-check location.

4) Ticket Counter Check-In

When you're traveling with a paper ticket, you may have to go through the traditional counter check-in. But the Customer Service Agents will be always available to give you any help with the check-in process. If you select ticket counter check-in, your checked baggage is only accepted within 4 hours of the scheduled departure time.

II. When to Arrive?

The proper arriving time depends on your check-in option and specific airport regulations. But typically, you're advised to get to the airport up to 2 hours before your flight's departure time. Thus you can have enough time for security processing and baggage handling. If you do not have bags and use web check-in or mobile check-in, sometimes you can arrive just 30 or 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure. For detailed info on when to arrive at the airport for your flight, you can review your flight schedule and check the airport's regulations.

III. What Are Check-In & Boarding Cut-Off Times?

Only knowing the best time to arrive is not enough yet. Alaska Airlines also has specific rules on the check-in and boarding cut-off times. Whether or not you have checked luggage will influence your decision.

1) Check-In with Bags

If you're checking bags on Alaska Airlines, your checked baggage must be processed during specified period to avoid rebooking on a later flight. That's what we call the cut-off times. International travelers taking Alaska flights have a 60-minute baggage cut-off time. Passengers taking domestic flights must present and process their checked baggage at least 40 minutes prior to departure.

2) Check-In Without Bags

If you're traveling without checked bags, the check-in cut-off time for international flights is 60 minutes before departure. For flights departing Atlanta, Denver and Las Vegas, passengers must check in at least 45 minutes in advance. The check-in cut-off time is 30 minutes for all other domestic flights. Passengers will be prohibited checking in for their flights after these cut-off times.

3) Boarding

In order to accommodate all travelers on a flight smoothly, all passengers are required to be checked in and available to board at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure for all flights. Otherwise, the reserved seats or even the entire reservation will be cancelled.

IV. What About the Carry-On Baggage Polices?

Alaska Airlines has a series of regulations on carry-on baggage.
Each passenger is only allowed to bring one carry-on bag, plus one personal item. Personal items can be a purse, laptop computer or briefcase. Your carry-on bag can measure up to 10" H x 17" W x 24" L, including wheels and handles. You'll need to pay $25 for any item exceeding the free carry-on allowance. These items will be tagged for delivery to baggage claim at your travel destination. Either your carry-on bag or personal item must be stowed under the seat in front of you.

Alaska Airlines makes every possible effort to accommodate your carry-on baggage in the passenger cabin. Acceptance of carry-on baggage is commonly based on the space availability of the aircraft when you board. When there's no enough space, Alaska Airlines will check your bag for free to baggage claim at your final destination.

V. How Much Do You Know about Alaska Airlines' Checked Baggage Allowance?

• Understand Size & Weight Allowance and Regular Baggage Fees

To avoid extra charges, each of your checked bags must weigh not more than 50 pounds. The maximum dimension for a checked bag is 62 linear inches (length + height + width). For regular travelers taking flights with Alaska Airlines, they need to pay $20 for first three checked bags within that limit. Then each additional checked bag will be charged $50.

Alaska Airlines also has special offers for military personnel. Both active duty U.S. military personnel with ID and U.S. military dependents with ID & travel orders can have five free checked bags for free. Then they need to pay $50 for each additional bag. Refer to the baggage charges outlined below and find out how much you need to pay for your checked baggage on your next flight.


 1st2nd3rd4th+ (each)
Confirmed in First Class at check-in or during bag checkFreeFree$20$50
Elite Level Mileage Plan membersFreeFree$20$50
Delta Air Lines Medallion Diamond, Platinum and Gold membersFreeFree$20$50
American AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum and Gold membersFreeFree$20$50
Club 49 membersFreeFree$20$50
To/From Guadalajara and Mexico City (Nov.15 - Jan.15)FreeFreeNot AcceptedNot Accepted
To/From Guadalajara and Mexico City (Jan.16 - Nov.14)FreeFree$20$50
Itinerary and ticket wholly within the State of AlaskaFreeFree$20$50


There're some exceptions to checked baggage charges. Strollers, car seats, wheelchairs and other assistive devices may be checked on Alaska Airlines flights without charge. Passengers who depart from Santa Rosa and Walla Walla airports can check one box of wine for free.

When it comes to the regular baggage charges, the fees can be paid when you check in at the ticket counter, at the airport check-in kiosk or even online via web check-in. If you're checking your bags, be sure to arrive at the airport earlier. Alaska Airlines only accept checked baggage up to 4 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight. This regulation aims to ensure that your checked bags can be loaded onto your flight.

• Are There Additional Fees for Overweight/Oversize Baggage?

Please notice that the baggage fees in the table above only applies to luggage items within the size and weight limits. All baggage exceeding the size or weight allowance will be charged additional fees. Checked bags weighing between 51 - 100lbs will be charged $50 for one-way travel. Alaska Airlines does not accept any checked baggage exceeding 100lbs. As for oversize baggage between 63 and 113 inches, passengers need to pay $50 for each additional bag. Baggage measuring more than 81 inches but less than 115 inches will be charged $75 one way. Any bag measuring more than 115 inches will NOT be accepted.

Extra bonus for U.S. Military personnel and dependents: They might be eligible for the U.S. Military baggage charge waiver. No overweight or oversize fees will be charged when they check bags weighing up to 70 pounds and up to 115 linear inches.

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