Not long ago if you flew to Europe or Israel you got 2 free checked bags.
Then most of the major airlines started charging $100 each way for a 2nd checked bag.
In addition to flights via Moscow being cheap, Aeroflot and Transaero offered 2 free bags, adding another $200 in round-trip savings for heavy packers. Or for people like me who like to bring back parve kosher goodies from Israel that can’t be easily found back home (I’m looking at you Bugles (Apropo in Israel), Doritos Chamutz Charif, and Smirnoff Ice Lemon made with Vodka. Still need to figure out how to bring back some Ben & Jerrys Cholov Yisroel Chunky Monkey, not easy to find dry ice in Jerusalem!)
Alas Transaero has gone under and it didn’t take Aeroflot long to eliminate their 2nd free bag with their competition out of the way. Effective for tickets purchased on or after 10/12, for flights on or after 11/01, Aeroflot will charge $50 each way for a 2nd checked bag.
That leaves highly rated Azerbaijan and Turkish, and not very highly-rated Ukraine, as some of the only remaining airlines that provide 2 free checked bags from the US to Europe and Israel.
You and a companion can get 2 free checked bags with United if you have the $450/year United Club card (click on the club tab after clicking apply now). That card also gives 1.5 miles per dollar spent everywhere, waived award close-in fees, elite checkin, security, boarding, and baggage handling, a full United club membership with guest privileges, Hyatt Platinum status, and Hertz President’s Circle status.
Know of other airlines that provide 2 free checked bags to non-elite passengers flying in coach between the US and Europe or Israel? Hit the comments!
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45 Comments On "Aeroflot Eliminates 2nd Free Checked Bag; 3 Remaining Airlines With 2 Free Checked Bags To Israel"
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Lot polish
@Dan
Don’t know about paid fares, but I just sent my son to Yeshiva using BA Avios on Airberlin and the allowance was 2 bags. Also of note, Berlin seems to be a super cheap destination, at least where it comes to public transportation. 2 EUR for a bus/train ride that takes 20 minutes from TXL to Chabad of Berlin for Mikva, Shul and Kosher Restaurant!
@Jack:
Their website says 1 piece.
@ExGingi:
Avios are an interesting case. They also gives extra bags on AA sometimes and they give priority access for reasons unknown.
But on regular paid fares Air Berlin appears to be 1 free bag.
Good data point though, thanks.
On there web site Air Berlin appears to be 1 free bag Evan when using Avios
I believe Azerbaijan only gives 2 bags on the Baku-JFK flight or vice versa so if you are traveling from or going through to TLV, i’m not sure what the deal is. I flew in Business so it was 2 bags anyway.
@jr:
You get 2 free 50 pound bags between JFK and anywhere on Azerbaijan.
In business it’s 2 free 70 pound bags.
united explorer card wont get you 2 free bags ?
If the ticket was already booked with the 2 free bags allowed, will I still be allowed the 2 free bags on my flight?
@mia flyer:
No.
@Me:
Tickets purchased on 10/11 or earlier get 2 free bags regardless of the travel date.
“Effective for tickets purchased on or after 10/12, for flights on or after 11/01”
Is that an “and” or an “or” relationship between those 2 criteria? I bought my tickets before 10/12, for a flight after 11/01. I assume it’s an “and” relationship, in which I get 2 bags, but for something like this I’d like a bit more confidence 🙂
Sorry, now that I submitted my question the page reloaded and I see you already responded (in the affirmative) to “Me” that indeed it’s an “and” relationship between those criteria.
Norwegian arilines allows two 20 kg suitcases.
@yandmk:
Not for free on their site at least.
” Or for people like me who like to bring back parve kosher goodies from Israel that can’t be easily found back home”
And I do it the other direction 😉
@Miri:
The grass is always greener 😀
BA premium economy offers two 70 pound bags free
@j:
As do others, but this post is only referring to regular economy.
@Dan:
Not according to Sabre:
1 DY4546U 15OCT Q TLVARN SS1 1240P 430P /DCDY /E
2 DY7005U 15OCT Q ARNJFK SS1 825P 1030P /DCDY /E.
WPNCB«
15OCT DEPARTURE DATE—–LAST DAY TO PURCHASE 14OCT/2359
BASE FARE TAXES/FEES/CHARGES TOTAL
1- USD702.00 110.15XT USD812.15ADT
XT 53.80YQ 17.70US 5.50YC 7.00XY
5.00XA 12.15IL 9.00YA
702.00 110.15 812.15TTL
ADT-01 UJIPPI WSRSE
TLV DY STO Q22.99 269.00DY NYC Q54.45 355.96NUC702.40
END ROE1.00
VALID ON DY/D8 ONLY/NONREF
VALIDATING CARRIER – DY
BAG ALLOWANCE -TLVJFK-02P/DY/EACH PIECE UP TO 44 POUNDS/20
KILOGRAMS
CARRY ON ALLOWANCE
TLVARN ARNJFK-01P/DY
CARRY ON CHARGES
TLVARN ARNJFK-DY-CARRY ON FEES UNKNOWN-CONTACT CARRIER
ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCES AND/OR DISCOUNTS MAY APPLY
1 DY4546U 15OCT Q TLVARN SS1 1240P 430P /DCDY /E ‡
@yandmk:
Copy-paste from DDF:
As well as Norweigian; (44lbs limit) (although sometimes if purchased on their site, its only 1)
@yandmk and you have Sabre? OMG
@yandmk @dan all DY GDS fares include 2 bags
CHECKED BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
————————-
MAX CHECKED BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE: 2 X 20KG
MAX WEIGHT: 32KG
MIN WEIGHT: 2KG
MAX DIMENSIONS: LENGTH 250CM X HEIGHT 79CM X WIDTH 112CM
MAX TOTAL CIRCUMFERENCE: 300 CM
2 PCS OF CHECKED BAGGAGE ARE INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL FARE FOR BOOKINGS
MADE IN AMADEUS.
(sorry for my prev post – mixed up something)
@yandmk:
@yandmk:
@chff:
@chff:
I’m not even seeing any Norwegian fares from JFK-TLV, so this seems to be a moot point.
@chff:
Yes. I’m a TA.
@Dan:
Flights originating in NY have ridiculous long layovers. Flights originating TLV have short stops. And they usually have decent fares on one-ways.
And they only fly the route a few times a week
i took ben & jerrys to london came in great condition but never tried usa yet
@yossi:
Where did you get dry ice from?
You can check in 2 bags for free with El Al if you are Matmid silver and higher.
@Odelia:
All airlines give their elites more free bags.
@Dan:
regular ice did it four times
Can I get a secondary h/t for the Club card Hyatt status sign up link? 😉
@dan where did you find chunky monkey that’s cholov yisroe (CY)l, i thought most were cholov nochri (CN) – really only get the coffee, cookies and cream or dulce (all CY) – all the other flavors ive seen are CN.
@Yitzi …and coffee and chocolate and vanilla are also Cholov Yisrael! But I also have not see CY Chunky Monkey.
@yossi:
Hmm, don’t think that would work for the US.
Still need to find a good dry ice source.
flavorsisrael@gmail.com is located in Jerusalem and sells CY B&J in 1L and 5L tubs:
coffee
strawberry
chocolate
vanilla
french vanilla
chunkey monkey
new york super
dulche deleche
pistachio
butter pecan
mint cookies and cream
cookies and cream
mint chocolate chunk
How about delta first free bag? Doesn’t work to Israel?
@Dan: I have flown Norwegian recently TLV>JFK with two free 20kg bags. (Booked with CheapoAir)
@Jack:
That’s 1, not 2.
@Jay:
Yup, but it’s cheaper when you book direct, though on their site you don’t get free bags.
Either way, they don’t offer JFK-TLV fares.
@Dan: I live near the Ben and Jerry Factory outlet in Yavne and have never seen some of these flavors like pistachio and mint
@dan delta first bag to israel is free anyway.. then second (first paid bag) should be free with gold delta card (confirmed it with amex customer service) worth the $95 if you fly more then once a year
@anonymous I also live near the Ben and Jerrys store in Yavne and Often buy mint but it isn’t ready to sell. They scoop it there. I don’t know what kind of milk they use however
I have flown Swiss a few times with 2 bags, I think it’s called a student ticket that allows for 2 free checked bags, not sure, my travel agent knew about it.
@jack levi: INCORRECT. Amex customer service doesn’t know Jack $#!+ about Delta’s baggage policies.
Red assured that the Delta card will NOT get you a second free bag, unless you happen to be lucky enough to get a Delta check-in agent who is as incredibly clueless as the Amex agent was.
sad… in the past 6 months i brought in 36 suitcases at 2 per ticket w/them
You forgot about Royal Jordanian – they still allow 2 free suitcases!
i bought tickets in august to fly in november, is there a way to get aeroflot to honour the 2 baggages that i was supposed to have with transearo after they took over the tickets?