Southwest Airlines’ New Bag Fee Costs And How To Avoid Them Completely

Southwest Airways has lengthy been acknowledged by vacationers for its beneficiant baggage coverage. Whereas different airways have traditionally charged for this, Southwest allowed passengers to verify two luggage free of charge so long as they met the load and dimension necessities.

Sadly, issues have already modified for a lot of frequent Southwest clients. The airline lately introduced that it’ll begin charging most passengers for his or her first and second checked luggage, marking the tip of the favored “luggage fly free” perk.

Southwest is not the one airline making modifications. Throughout the board, many others are elevating costs and eliminating perks to alleviate monetary pressures amid the excessive demand for journey. With the introduction of many new insurance policies, it is essential to learn the high quality print earlier than heading to the airport.

Should you’re a traveler on a price range, even the smallest extra prices can put a dent in your journey. Here is what you want to learn about Southwest Airways’ new bag charges and easy methods to keep away from paying them.

What New Bag Charges Did Southwest Airways Simply Introduce?

For over 50 years, Southwest Airways prided itself on its budget-friendly coverage of permitting vacationers two checked luggage free of charge. Whereas the coverage set the airline aside in an business the place most rivals cost for every suitcase, the airline announced in March that it would be getting rid of the perk. The unique two-bag rule technically nonetheless applies in some fare courses, however passengers flying on Primary, Wanna Get Away Plus®, or Anytime fares should now pay baggage charges.

The new changes apply to flights booked, ticketed, or voluntarily altered on or after Might 28, 2025. For these vacationers, the primary checked bag will price $35, whereas the second will price $45. This pricing construction is just like what most airways cost.

The updates don’t finish there. Obese luggage between 51 and 70 kilos will now price $100 plus the usual price, a slight lower from the earlier $150 price. The airline has additionally added a brand new class that mixes the charges for outsized and obese luggage. If a bag is over 51 kilos and over 63 inches, passengers can pay $200 plus the usual price.

These worth hikes may appear sudden, however they’re a part of a much bigger development. As prices proceed to rise, Southwest is following within the footsteps of different carriers by including baggage charges as a brand new income supply.

How To Keep away from Paying Southwest’s New Bag Charges

Luckily, not everybody might want to pay the brand new bag charges. Enterprise Choose passengers will nonetheless obtain two checked luggage free. The identical profit applies to Speedy Rewards® A-Checklist Most well-liked Members and Hawaii residents flying between islands. Moreover, Speedy Rewards® A-Checklist Members and Speedy Rewards® Credit score Card Members will obtain their first checked bag freed from cost.

Vacationers who do not fall into the above classes can keep away from the brand new bag charges by strategically packing. Southwest nonetheless permits one carry-on bag and one private merchandise free of charge. The carry-on should not exceed dimensions of 10x16x24 inches, and the private merchandise should match below the seat.

Moreover, whereas outsized charges are waived for sports activities gear, vacationers should nonetheless pay the usual baggage charges and relevant obese costs. Approved equipment types embody:

• Archery Gear
• Baseball and Softball Gear
• Bicycles
• Boogie Boards, Kneeboards, and Waterboards
• Bowling Gear
• Fencing Gear
• Fishing Deal with Field and Fishing Rod
• Golf Gear
• Hockey or Lacrosse Gear
• Parachutes
• SCUBA Gear
• Snow Ski Gear
• Skateboards and Scooters (non-motorized)
• Tennis Gear
• Water Ski Gear

One solution to keep away from paying further for transporting sports activities gear initially and finish of a visit is to contemplate renting it on the vacation spot. This permits vacationers to pay as soon as to make use of the gear with out worrying about it getting misplaced or broken in transit.

Why Is Southwest Charging These New Bag Charges?

Like different airways, Southwest has confronted monetary strain. Rising prices have compelled airways to hunt progressive methods to stay worthwhile. An enormous 10 percent tariff on virtually all imported planes and elements has already harmed the airline business.

Corporations like Southwest are additionally feeling the influence of ongoing provide chain issues. Delays from producers like Boeing have made it tougher for airways to accumulate new planes, and these setbacks are anticipated to persist by 2027. With demand for journey rising, not having sufficient plane readily available has made it tough and costly for carriers to maintain up.

Southwest’s choice to start charging bag charges may be as a consequence of its need to meet up with the remainder of the business. Based on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, airways in the US earned $7.27 billion in baggage charges in 2024. Southwest, which beforehand solely charged for the third checked bag in addition to obese and outsized luggage, made solely $83.1 million from baggage-related costs.

In distinction, Delta Air Strains introduced in $1.1 billion, and American Airways made $1.5 billion. These figures make it clear that the carriers which have traditionally charged for checked baggage earn exponentially greater than those who don’t. And with the potential for decreased income within the coming years, charging for checked baggage may very well be a straightforward win for Southwest.

Southwest Is Additionally Doing Away With Its Open Seating Boarding Coverage

Along with baggage modifications, Southwest is making ready to section out one other of its hottest perks. For years, passengers have boarded based mostly on group place numbers and chosen seats on a first-come, first-served foundation.

Beginning within the third quarter of 2025, Southwest would require seat assignments for flights scheduled in early 2026. This model will introduce four new fare options. Alternative Additional seats provide further legroom and are positioned in premium spots just like the entrance of the cabin or close to exit rows. It additionally permits two free checked luggage and entry to precedence and specific lanes.

The subsequent tier, Alternative Most well-liked, will embody customary legroom seats positioned towards the entrance of the aircraft. In the meantime, Alternative seats will provide the identical legroom however will probably be positioned within the rear. Probably the most primary choice, fittingly known as Primary, additionally offers a typical seat in direction of the again of the plane. Nonetheless, not like the three different tiers, which permit seat choice at reserving, Primary seats will probably be assigned at check-in.

From new baggage charges to the tip of open seating, Southwest is regularly eradicating a few of its hottest insurance policies. Though these updates will assist Southwest compete with different airways and enhance income, in addition they imply that passengers should plan extra rigorously to keep away from surprising costs.