I just got an e-mail from Barclays stating that beginning April 30th, each US Airways Mastercard cardmember can check 1 bag for free for themselves and up to 4 companions. This will only be available on US Airways operated flights, so until the merger is complete, you won’t get a free checked bag on American Airlines flights.
First Checked Bag Free with US Airways Mastercard
This matches the benefit given to American Airlines flyers by the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card, which also gives 1 free bag for the cardholder and up to 4 companions. The popular Citi Executive card also gives 1 free bag for the cardholder and up to 8 companions.
What’s also interesting in the e-mail is the notice that once US Airways and American Airlines merge the Dividend Miles and AAdvantage programs, Barclaycard will still issue an American Airlines AAdvantage Mastercard.
If you don’t have the card, Gary recently wrote about his opinion on how long the card should stick around, given the merger with American Airlines. For what it’s worth, Barclays doesn’t like churners and has pretty much not allowed me to get a card in a year, despite putting much of my spending as an authorized user on a relative’s Barclay Arrivals card.
Below are the terms and conditions:
¹Free Checked Bag: For benefit to apply, the US Airways MasterCard account must be open 7 days prior to air travel AND the reservation must include the Primary Cardmember’s US Airways Dividend Miles number. If your credit card account is closed for any reason, these benefits will be cancelled. Eligible US Airways MasterCard primary cardmembers may check one bag free of charge when traveling to domestic destinations or travel originating with US Airways or a US Airways Express carrier. Cardmembers must check in at the US Airways kiosk or check-in counter to qualify for this benefit. These benefits will be available for travel on domestic codeshare flights if the originating flight is operated by US Airways or a US Airways Express carrier. Waiver does not apply to overweight or oversized bags. If the first bag is overweight or oversized on a domestic flight, $25 of the bag fee will be waived. For the US Airways MasterCard, up to four customers traveling with the eligible primary cardmember will also get their first checked bag free of charge if they are listed in the same reservation. This benefit cannot be combined with any existing US Airways Preferred program benefits, including any waiver of baggage charges. Please see usairways.com/baggage for baggage weight and size restrictions. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions may apply. Applicable terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.
