Southwest Baggage Fees Revealed; One Step Closer To Losing Identity
Featured image: John Crowley/Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 2.0 Generic
After 53 years, the days of “bags fly free” are over at Southwest Airlines.
According to their optional travel charges page, they will charge passengers $35 for their first checked bag, and $45 if they check a second bag.
Checked bag fees will be introduced on May 28, 2025, and will apply only to new bookings made on or after that date. If your flight was booked before May 28, you’ll still be eligible for two free checked bags. However, if you make any changes to your existing reservation on or after May 28, the new checked baggage fee will apply to your updated booking.
All is not lost though as there are a few exceptions to the policy. Travelers who purchase “Business Select” fares are entitled to two free checked bags as part of the package.
Elite status A-List Preferred members are entitled to two free checked bags, while regular A-List members will get their first bag checked for free. Southwest Rapid Rewards co-branded credit card holders are also entitled to one free checked bag.
How does this compare to other carriers?
For more than half a century, Southwest has differentiated itself from the rest of the herd by offering open seating, along with two free checked bags. Now it seems they are just like the rest, and can only compete on pricing and connectivity.
Here is breakdown of how Southwest compares to other U.S. carriers, most of which offer the same, or a similar checked bag pricing structure.
| First Checked Bag | Second Checked Bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | $35 | $45 |
| American Airlines | $40 ($35 if paid online) | $45 |
| Delta Air Lines | $35 | $45 |
| United Airlines | $35 | $45 |
| JetBlue | $35 (off-peak), $40 (peak) | $50 (off-peak), $60 (peak) |
| Alaska Airlines | $35 | $45 |
What else is changing?
Besides checked bag fees, Southwest is making a number of other changes including offering Basic Economy, and doing away with “Wanna Get Away” fares. Like other carriers, Basic fare customers will now be the last to board the aircraft, and will be restricted from making changes to their ticket. Also, their fare credits will last just six months (versus 12 on all higher tier tickets).
Southwest also plans to modify its cabin layout to offer premium seating with extra legroom at an additional cost. As a result of these two changes, open seating will be phased out in favor of assigned seating.
The carrier also started operating redeye flights in July 2024 after revising flight and cabin crew contracts.
The investor effect
Even though Southwest has managed to remain profitable post-pandemic, their stock price has tumbled from an April 2021 all-time high of $66.99, hovering in the $30s in the last 12 months.
Like other firms that are backed by investment capital, they have succumbed to the pressure of implementing cookie cutter profitability templates.
Activist investment firm, Elliott Investment Management, has been very instrumental behind the scenes, forcing Southwest to shuffle its leadership, along with having them introduce new profit-generating strategies similar to what most other North American airlines already have in place.
