Southwest Airlines to Start Charging $35 for First Checked Bag Under New Policy

Southwest Airlines has set its pricing baggage fees for customers flying on certain fares.

A Southwest Airlines plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on April 2, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Southwest Airlines will start charging $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for the second on select fares, ending its decades-long “bags fly free” policy.

Southwest confirmed the baggage fees in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, noting that they will apply to flights booked or voluntarily changed on or after May 28.

The checked baggage fees will apply to customers flying on Southwest’s Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, and Anytime fares, according to the airline’s updated policy page.

Customers traveling on Southwest’s Business Select fares and Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members will continue to receive two free checked bags, subject to weight and size limitations.

The airline also stated that A-List flyers will receive their first checked bag for free, while Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card holders will be credited for one checked bag.

Southwest first announced the policy change in March, saying that it aimed to “deepen and reward loyalty between Southwest and its most engaged customers.”

Aside from imposing baggage fees, the airline said it will also introduce “a new Basic fare” that will provide a lower-cost option with less flexibility for customers.

Southwest also revised how Rapid Rewards points are earned. Customers on Business Select fares will earn more points, while those on Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares will get fewer points.

This move is part of Southwest’s transition toward an assigned seating model, which it announced last year following extensive customer research indicating that a majority of travelers prefer seat assignments.

In addition to assigned seating, the airline also planned to introduce premium seating options, with a third of its seats offering up to five inches of additional legroom for a premium fare.

Southwest’s leadership has framed these changes as a necessary step to enhance revenue and improve its financial performance while maintaining customer satisfaction.

“We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect,” Bob Jordan, the airline’s president, said in the statement.

“We will do all this while remaining focused on what’s made us strong—our people and the authentic, friendly, and award-winning customer service only they can provide.”

Earlier this year, Southwest slashed 1,750 jobs—or 15 percent of its corporate workforce—marking an unprecedented move in its 53-year history. The airline said that it aimed “to create a leaner and more agile organization as part of the airline’s transformational plan.”

The job cuts targeted primarily “corporate overhead and leadership positions,” including senior leadership and director levels. Southwest stated that 11 senior leadership positions—representing 15 percent of its senior management committee—will be eliminated as part of the company’s restructuring.

Chase Smith and Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.