You may have already figured this out. If you are traveling and can check some bags for free either because the airline offers free checked bags like JetBlue or Southwest or you have an airline credit card that offers free checked bags, divvy up the bags amongst all the people traveling under your reservation, like your family!
Many airlines and cards offer only the first checked bag for free, so make sure everyone in your family is “assigned” one of your bags at check in. Nobody should check 2 bags and another passenger check zero! Even a baby. If they are flying on a paid fare, they check a bag too! 🙂