Southwest Airlines grounds free bag policy

Southwest Airlines, long favored by travelers for its free checked bags, is ending that popular policy.

Starting Wednesday, most Southwest passengers will pay $35 for their first checked bag and $45 for the second, the New York Times reported.

However, customers flying Business Select or those with high loyalty status will be spared the fees. And passengers with a Southwest Airlines co-branded credit card will be able to check one standard bag at no additional cost.

Southwest’s free bag policy has been in place since its inception in 1967, Forbes reported.

Up until now, it was the only major U.S. airline to allow checked baggage with no cost.

Southwest’s new baggage fees are in line with other major U.S. airlines, the Times reported, which typically charge between $35 and $45 for a first checked bag.

Each of those airlines earned a billion or more on checked bag fees in 2024, according to Forbes. American collected $1.5 billion, with United at $1.3 billion and Delta at $1 billion.

Southwest had two to three times as many checked bags as some of these airlines, CNN reported, which means that profits could surpass the above numbers. However, it’s likely that the airline will see fewer checked bags overall with the new fees, Forbes said.

The change was announced in March as a way to boost revenues and cut costs, according to the Times. The airline reported a net loss of $149 million in the first quarter.

The new fees will apply to tickets booked on or after May 28 for Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime fares, according to the Times.

The news follows Southwest’s July announcement of its intention to end the popular open seating policy starting in early 2026.