All Bags Will No Longer Fly Free on Southwest Airlines, Starting Tomorrow
The new fees of $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second will apply to Southwest's Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, and Anytime fares.
Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and customers traveling on Business Select or Choice Extra fares will still receive two free checked bags. Standard A-List Members and Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will get one free bag.
The change is one of a series Southwest has announced over the past year amid activist investor pressure.Southwest Airlines' (LUV) decades-long "two bags fly free" era is coming to an end tomorrow.
The carrier will begin charging certain customers $35 for their first checked bag and $45 for their second on flights booked starting Wednesday, a company spokesperson said in a statement.
The change—which brings Southwest in line with domestic competitors Delta Air Lines (DAL), United Airlines (UAL), and American Airlines (AAL)—comes amid pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management to raise revenue. In addition to the bag fees, Southwest on Wednesday is introducing a basic economy ticket option, which the airline describes as its lowest price point but least flexible tier.
The new bag fees apply to Southwest's Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, and Anytime fares. Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and customers traveling on Business Select or Choice Extra fares will still receive two free checked bags. Standard A-List Members and Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will get one free bag.
Southwest last summer announced it would be ending its famed open seating policy, later adding that "reservations for flights with assigned seats are expected to start in the second half of 2025 for flights operating in 2026."
Shares of Southwest rose 3% soon after markets opened Tuesday. The airline's stock has fallen about 5% in 2025.
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