Southwest Airlines to End Free Checked Bags Policy
Southwest Airlines just announced that for the first time in its 54-year history, it will be ending its free checked bags policy. This announcement comes roughly six months after Southwest CEO Bob Jordan reassured CBS News that bags will “absolutely” continue to fly for free.
For reservations booked or changed on or after May 28, 2025, new checked baggage fees will apply to the luggage of most passengers. Southwest’s Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members and passengers who book Business Select fares will receive two free checked bags. Frequent flyer A-List Members and Southwest credit card holders will be allowed one free checked bag.
While Southwest hasn’t announced the cost of its checked luggage yet, it’s expected to be comparable to the fees charged by other airlines.
In another blow to budget-minded travelers, Southwest is updating its frequent flyer program so that some passengers may find it more difficult to earn rewards and redeem their flight credits. These new changes will be implemented in the following phases:
- Phase 1 – Beginning this month, Southwest will increase the Rapid Rewards earn ratio on Business Select fares and lower the earn ratio on Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares. Southwest will also begin to use “dynamic pricing” to vary its redemption rates during high- and low-demand travel periods.
- Phase 2 – Beginning May 28, Southwest will launch a new Basic fare. This fare will be the airline’s lowest price point, but it will come with less flexibility than other fares. New expiration dates will also be applied to Southwest’s Flight Credits, which will vary based on the fare purchased.
The chart below shows the revised fare products that will take effect in May:
These changes are sure to evoke strong feelings from travelers who have come to expect more passenger-friendly policies from Southwest. How are you feeling about this news?
Please let us know what you think of this update in the comments below!
Not cool, Southwest. All of these changes take away the reasons we fly them instead of others. Fees for baggage, flight credit expiring, recent changes to boarding… are we going to start paying for our soda next?
😭😭😭
NOOOOO!!!
Southwest has taken the incentive out of using their airline. It’s sad.
Oh no! I loved the free baggage with Southwest! It was nice not to have to stress about having to carry a suitcase on the plane and then try to find room for it in the overhead bin! We could just check it! So sad!
I’m A-list and my partner is a 1K top tier member on United. I’ve actually declined becoming his lifetime companion on United because I was happy as a clam with Southwest’s open seating, priority boarding and two free bags and flexible cancellation fees. I wasn’t happy about killing the open seating but I could live with it if they kept the bags. I also require my employees to fly Southwest because of the bags and flexible cancellations… a policy I will end with this change. Disappointing.
I want to say; as being an A List, you still will get your 2 free. They also redid their travel credits again. You know how it went from 12 months to no expiration, well, they’re going to 12 months.
I just pulled up my email and it states A List preferred gets 2 and A List gets 1 free checkout bag, so I would take 1 as a carry on and check one. 🤷♀️
This is so disappointing. I always use Southwest because of the free bags and flexibility. I guess that will change. No reason to be loyal to them anymore. Not a smart move on their part. I would assume they will have less travelers now and that will effect their Bottomline. Glad I have already booked my trip for October with them.
This will affect you in October; as these changes start May 28.
Oops , I lied, ignore my message 🤦🏼♀️😂
The free bags is also I reason I always fly with them. So frustrating.
A lot of these changes have started after Herb (owner) passed away. My ex husband works for SWA and he told me to be expecting changes. Even employees are seeing changes on their end . It’s like they waited for old man Herb to pass away, then start implementing different changes. Will I still fly them, yes. I’m pretty loyal to this company. Business Select category still gets the 2 free bags, then it tiers down. I’m interested in what they will be charging.
I don’t even want to fly anymore with the FAA cutting staff, absolutely unsafe and unreasonable. Scary times
We fly almost exclusively Southwest, and I love being able to rebook and get the difference as a credit if the price goes down. That was a huge perk, especially when my entire household was flying. I booked a solo flight on Frontier for the first time last week and was laughing out loud as I clicked through all the screens about paying for bags and seats and talking to an agent at the airport. Ugh.
What… are you kidding.. the main reason I fly you’re taking it away.
Luckily I have a sw card so I should get 1 free bag, but boo!!!!
This is a main reason I exclusively fly SW. Pricing and flight times are pretty standard across airlines. The free checked bags was the perk to make me choose SW.
the whole reason I fly southwest is due to the free bag check. without that perk, there’s really no reason to continue to fly that airline.