Southwest Airlines is ending its long-standing “two bags fly free” policy, marking the end of an era for the airline beloved by American travelers for its value and flexibility. The announcement follows Southwest’s decision last year to end its open-seating policy, with the first assigned seat tickets going on sale later this year.
The Dallas-based carrier was the last remaining US airline to not charge for checked luggage. Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, American, United, Delta, and Hawaiian all raised their bag fees last year, citing inflationary pressures like higher fuel and labor costs.
Now, Southwest is following the pack as it faces shareholder pressure to boost profitability. Starting on May 28, 2025, customers will be charged for their first and second checked bag, with a few exceptions: Fliers who are A-List Preferred members of the carrier’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program or who are traveling in business class will continue to receive two free checked bags, and A-List members and holders of the Rapid Rewards Credit Card will receive one free checked bag.
Southwest gained a loyal brand following by differentiating itself from other budget and low-cost carriers in the US—which are known for charging pervasive add-on fees—with its customer-forward perks. Now, travel experts wonder if the shift will turn its frequent fliers away.
“Loyalist blowback is inevitable, but for some a combination of price and convenience will win out, and people may have no other option that fits with what they need to travel,” says Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for the Going travel app. “How Southwest plans to grow and compete against more profitable legacy carriers now that they’ve stripped off any distinguisher is hard to see. What we can see immediately is a lot of disappointed customers.”
The new Southwest Airlines checked baggage fees aren’t the only change fliers will soon face. The airline also announced it will be introducing expiration limits to its flight vouchers, a new basic economy fare class (replacing “Wanna Get Away”), and a “variable” redemption pricing model for Rapid Rewards award flights.
“As a Southwest loyal flyer for the past 20 years, having many negative changes coming at once is incredibly hard to digest,” says Jennifer Yellin, a senior editor at Points Path, a points and miles flight booking tool. “Southwest has always been my go-to airline due to its flexibility and fee-free model, but that is no longer the case. And with over 700,000 points in my account, they devalued overnight.”
The cost of the Southwest Airlines checked baggage fees has not yet been announced, but most US airlines currently charge between $35 and $40. Last year, JetBlue introduced a “peak” and “off peak” pricing structure for checked luggage that hikes up the fee during busy travel periods like summer vacation and major holidays. Some airlines, like JetBlue and United, also offer discounts if you pay for checked luggage online in advance of your departure versus at the airport.
Below are the current checked baggage fees for each major US airline in 2025.
2025 checked baggage fees
- Alaska Airlines: First checked bag $35; second checked bag $45
- American Airlines: First checked bag $35-$40; second checked bag $45
- Delta Air Lines: First checked bag $35; second checked bag $45
- Hawaiian Airlines: First checked bag $30-40; second checked bag $40-45
- JetBlue Airways: First checked bag $35-$50; second checked bag $50-70
- United Airlines: First checked bag $35-$40; second checked bag $45-50
- Southwest Airlines: New pricing structure to be released May 28, 2025
- Spirit Airlines: First checked bag $36-$50; second checked bag $46-60
- Frontier: First checked bag $49-70; second checked bag $69-89