Southwest Airlines began charging for checked bags on May 28, 2025, for new or changed reservations.

Key details

  • The change applies to reservations that are booked, ticketed, or voluntarily changed on or after May 28, 2025.
  • If your reservation was made on May 27, 2025, or earlier and not modified , you can still check up to two bags for free.
  • Standard fees are $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second on most fares (Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime).
  • Certain travelers still get free bags:
    • Business Select or similar premium fares can have two free checked bags.
* Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members get two free checked bags.

* A-List members and Rapid Rewards credit card holders get one free checked bag.

Simple example

If you book a Southwest flight today (in 2026), you should expect to pay $35 for your first checked bag and $45 for your second , unless you’re in one of the exempt groups above.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.