when is southwest charging for checked bags
Southwest started charging for most checked bags on bookings made on or after May 28, 2025.
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When Is Southwest Charging for Checked Bags? Latest Scoop & Forum Buzz
Quick Answer
- Southwest’s famous “bags fly free” perk changed for many travelers starting with flights booked May 28, 2025 or later.
- For those new bookings, the first checked bag is $35 and the second is $45 on most fares.
- Some loyal or premium customers still get free checked bags under specific conditions.
Key Dates: When the Fees Kick In
- Cutoff date:
- If you booked on or before May 27, 2025 , you keep the old deal of two free checked bags , as long as you don’t change the reservation.
* If you **booked on May 28, 2025 or later** , the new bag fees apply to most fares.
- Got an older booking?
- Southwest has said tickets bought before the change keep their original baggage terms, but changing those tickets (like rebooking) can trigger the new fee rules.
How Much Are Southwest’s New Checked Bag Fees?
For most travelers, the new standard is:
- First checked bag: $35.
- Second checked bag: $45.
- Usual weight and size limits still apply (go over, and you’ll pay extra like on other airlines).
These prices line up with what other major U.S. airlines charge, which is part of why this move is a big symbolic change rather than a surprise on the numbers.
Who Still Gets Free Checked Bags?
Southwest didn’t completely kill free bags—just narrowed who qualifies.
- Still gets two free checked bags:
- Business Select / Business Select‑type higher fare classes.
* **A‑List Preferred** top‑tier frequent flyers.
- Gets one free checked bag:
- A‑List members (mid‑tier status).
* Many **Southwest co‑branded credit card holders** , often including companions on the same reservation.
- Everyone else:
- On fares like Basic , Wanna Get Away , Wanna Get Away Plus , and Anytime , most regular travelers now pay the $35/$45 fees.
Fare Types vs Bag Fees (Simple Table)
| Fare / Customer Type | Checked Bag Policy (New) |
|---|---|
| Bookings made on or before May 27, 2025 | Up to 2 free checked bags if ticket unchanged. | [5][1][3][9]
| Basic / “Basic economy” style | $35 first bag, $45 second bag. | [7][1][3]
| Wanna Get Away / Wanna Get Away Plus | Generally charged $35 / $45 for first and second checked bag. | [1][3]
| Anytime | Also subject to $35 / $45 bag fees in the new structure. | [1]
| Business Select (top paid fares) | Up to 2 free checked bags. | [3][9][1]
| A‑List Preferred | Up to 2 free checked bags. | [9][3][1]
| A‑List | 1 free checked bag. | [3][9][1]
| Southwest co‑branded credit card holders | Typically 1 free checked bag for cardholder and some companions. | [9][3]
What People on Forums Are Saying
On travel and airline‑focused forums, the announcement instantly became a hot topic:
- Many long‑time Southwest flyers are disappointed , saying the airline is “just like everyone else now” after decades of marketing around free bags.
- Some users on travel‑hacking and Southwest‑specific communities point out that this was “inevitable” given financial pressures and activist investors pushing for higher revenue.
- Others discuss strategies like:
- Traveling with only a carry‑on to dodge the fee, since carry‑ons remain free.
* **Using a Southwest credit card** or earning **status** to keep one or two free checked bags.
You can also see threads where people are joking that ticket prices won’t actually drop despite the new fees, echoing a common frustration with airline surcharges.
“Southwest Airlines officially ends its free checked bag policy… $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for a second one.” – popular travel‑hacks forum post, reacting in real time to the change.
Why Did Southwest Change Its Bag Policy?
Several factors show up in reporting and analysis:
- Revenue pressure: Bag fees are a big moneymaker for other airlines, and Southwest was leaving a lot of money on the table compared to competitors.
- Investor push: An activist investor group took a major stake and pressed Southwest to rethink its long‑standing customer‑friendly perks, including free checked bags.
- Broader overhaul: The shift to basic fares , ending open seating , and changing flight credit rules all rolled out as part of a bigger strategy change.
This means the bag fees aren’t a one‑off tweak—they’re part of Southwest reshaping its entire business model.
Practical Tips If You’re Booking Now
If your main question is “what do I do about this?” here are some straightforward moves:
- Check your booking date carefully.
- Booked before or on May 27, 2025 and didn’t modify the ticket? You may still get the old two‑bag perk.
- Consider whether status or a card makes sense.
- If you fly Southwest a lot, the value of an A‑List tier or a Southwest credit card just went up because of the bag benefit.
- Pack to avoid checked bags when possible.
- Since carry‑ons are still free, a good personal item + carry‑on combo can save you the $35–$45 each way.
- Compare fares across airlines.
- With Southwest now charging typical bag fees for many tickets, it’s more important to compare total trip cost (fare + seat + bags), not just the base price.
TL;DR
- Southwest is now charging bag fees for most travelers on tickets booked May 28, 2025 or later.
- Standard prices: $35 for the first checked bag, $45 for the second , with some elite, premium, and cardholder exceptions.
- Old bookings (before the cutoff) keep two free bags if unchanged.
- Free carry‑ons remain, so light packers still win.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.