Southwest to begin charging for checked bags on Wednesday
Wanna get away? Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, May 28, Southwest, the airline that popularized the phrase, will begin charging passengers for checked bags.
How much will it cost to check a bag?
Southwest’s long-standing “bags fly free” policy ends Tuesday, May 27. Beginning Wednesday, the airline will charge most passengers $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for a second bag.
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In 2024, Southwest Airlines collected $83 million in bag fees. Three major competitors, American, Delta and United, collected over $1 billion each.
According to CNBC, airlines generated $7.3 billion in baggage fees in 2024. Southwest had long held out and continued with its “bags fly free” policy. However, over the past year, Southwest announced changes to its business model.
Tickets purchased on or after Wednesday will no longer be eligible for the bag discount. Southwest said it will still honor the two-free bags perk for flights starting Wednesday if the passenger bought the ticket before then.
The new baggage fees apply to anyone who buys a ticket on Southwest’s Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime levels starting Wednesday.
Will there be any exceptions?
Yes. Flyers who have top-tier status in Southwest’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program and Business Select customers will still be allowed to check two bags for free.
A-List members, who are in the second-highest tier in Southwest’s rewards program, will receive one free checked bag.
In anticipation of more travelers opting to carry on luggage, Southwest is retrofitting its planes with larger overhead bins.
Despite the change, CEO Bob Jordan told CNBC he does not anticipate a drop in demand when the new policy starts.
“We have seen no book-down on that day or after that day,” Jordan said.
Why the change now ?
In a March 2025 press release, Southwest said the move reflects a broader effort to evolve the business, boost profitability, and attract new customer segments.
“We are evolving rapidly, implementing new initiatives that support business objectives and create value for current and future customers,” the company said.
Jordan echoed that, saying the airline needs to “return to levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect.”
In addition, Forbes reported that activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which has nearly a $2 billion stake in the company, criticized company management for being stubborn and unwilling to evolve.
What about assigned seating?
Also starting on Wednesday, the airline will begin offering a “basic” fare. Those ticket holders will board the plane last and, in the future, they will not receive an assigned seat until check-in.
Southwest said it will begin selling tickets in 2026 that have assigned seats. The well-known A, B and C group boarding and open-seating policy will remain in place until then.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
