Southwest Airlines has ended its long-standing free checked bag policy for most passengers. Starting Wednesday, travelers will need to pay $35 for their first checked bag and an additional $45 for the second. However, Business Select passengers and those with high loyalty status are exempt from these fees.
The airline’s decision was initially announced in March as a way to boost revenues and cut costs. Southwest reported a net loss of $149 million in the first quarter, which may be attributed to the change. Although the new fees are in line with other major US airlines, it is likely that fewer passengers will check bags due to the increased cost.
Some airlines have earned billions of dollars from checked bag fees last year, including American ($1.5 billion), United ($1.3 billion), and Delta ($1 billion). Southwest, however, had two to three times as many checked bags as these airlines, which could impact its revenue. The new policy change will apply to tickets booked on or after May 28 for specific fare types.
This move follows another significant change announced by Southwest in July – the end of its open seating policy starting in early 2026.
Source: https://triblive.com/news/world/southwest-airlines-grounds-free-bag-policy