Southwest Airlines Checked Baggage Fees

All fees below are per bag, per direction. A round trip with one checked bag costs double the figures shown. Fees apply to reservations booked or voluntarily changed on or after April 9, 2026.

The most-searched questions about Southwest bags, each answered directly — no hedging, no padding.

• 1
  How much does Southwest charge for checked bags? $45 for the first bag · $55 for the second · $150 for a third · Fees are per bag, per direction · Effective April 9, 2026 for all new or voluntarily changed bookings

  The current fee schedule is $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second on Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares — raised from $35 and $45 on April 9, 2026. These fees apply per direction, meaning a round-trip with one checked bag costs $90 total. A third bag costs $150 per direction. Bags must weigh 50 pounds or less and measure no more than 62 linear inches to avoid overweight and oversize surcharges on top of these base fees. If your booking predates May 28, 2025 and you haven’t voluntarily changed it, the old bags-fly-free policy still applies to that specific reservation — but any change voids that protection.
• 2
  Can you take a carry-on bag on Southwest — and is it still free? Yes — carry-on is free on every fare including Basic · Size limit: 24″ × 16″ × 10″ including wheels and handles · No weight limit · Plus one personal item up to 16.25″ × 13.5″ × 8″ free · Southwest’s carry-on size allowance is larger than most competitors

  Carry-on luggage remains completely free at Southwest, and this hasn’t changed. You’re entitled to one carry-on bag in the overhead bin (up to 24″ × 16″ × 10″ including wheels and handles) and one personal item under the seat in front (up to 16.25″ × 13.5″ × 8″). Both are free regardless of which fare type you purchased — even the least expensive Basic fare. There is no published weight limit on carry-on bags, only a size restriction. The practical limit is that you must be able to lift your bag into the overhead bin without assistance. Southwest’s 24-inch carry-on allowance is notably more generous than American, Delta, and United’s standard 22-inch limit — meaning roller bags that technically exceed other airlines’ limits will still fit within Southwest’s. That extra 2 inches is meaningful for anyone who packs a full-size 24-inch spinner.
• 3
  Why is Southwest charging for bags now — what happened to Bags Fly Free? Bags Fly Free ended May 28, 2025 after 50+ years · Activist investor pressure to improve finances drove the change · Southwest projected $1.5 billion in annual bag fee revenue · April 2026 fee increase blamed on jet fuel costs from Middle East conflict

  The “Bags Fly Free” policy was the single most distinctive feature of Southwest Airlines for over 50 years. It ended because the airline came under sustained pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which acquired a large stake in the company and pushed aggressively for financial improvement. Southwest projected the baggage fees would generate approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue — but also acknowledged the risk of losing $1.8 billion in business from loyal customers who chose Southwest specifically because of the free bag policy. The first fees launched May 28, 2025 at $35/$45. Less than 12 months later, those fees rose again to $45/$55 on April 9, 2026, this time attributed to jet fuel prices that nearly doubled due to geopolitical disruption near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. airlines collected nearly $5.5 billion in baggage fee revenue in 2025 alone according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics — a figure that makes clear why no major airline was willing to absorb the cost of free bags long-term.
• 4
  How do you avoid baggage fees on Southwest Airlines? Four real ways: (1) Book Choice Extra fare — includes two free bags · (2) Get a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card — first bag free for you + up to 8 companions · (3) Earn A-List or A-List Preferred status · (4) Be an active duty military member — bags always free

  The most practical option for frequent Southwest flyers is the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card. Even the entry-level Rapid Rewards Plus card at $99/year provides the first checked bag free for the primary cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same reservation. At $45 per direction, that benefit pays for the entire annual fee in just over one round-trip. The cardholder’s Rapid Rewards number must be included in the reservation at booking for the benefit to apply — it won’t apply retroactively. The second route is the Choice Extra fare tier, which includes two free checked bags and no change fee. On many routes, the fare upgrade from Choice to Choice Extra costs less than the separate bag fees would. The math at checkout is worth doing every time: compare the fare upgrade cost against 1-bag fee × number of passengers × 2 directions. The third route is A-List status (one free bag) or A-List Preferred status (two free bags), which you earn by flying 25 or 40 qualifying one-way flights per calendar year. Active duty military members flying on official orders receive unlimited free checked bags at all times.
• 5
  What is the weight limit for checked bags on Southwest? Standard limit: 50 lbs per bag · Overweight 51–70 lbs: $100 extra fee on top of bag fee · Overweight 71–100 lbs: $200 extra fee · Over 100 lbs: not accepted as checked luggage · Check at home with a luggage scale before leaving

  Southwest’s standard weight limit is 50 pounds per checked bag. A bag weighing between 51 and 70 pounds triggers a $100 overweight surcharge on top of the regular bag fee — meaning a 65-pound bag on a Choice fare costs $45 (bag fee) + $100 (overweight) = $145 one way. A bag between 71 and 100 pounds adds $200 to the regular fee. Bags over 100 pounds will not be accepted at check-in regardless of what you’re willing to pay. The practical advice: buy a luggage scale — they cost $10–$15 at most stores — and weigh your bag at home before you leave. Airline scales at airports are precisely calibrated, and the 3–4 pounds that felt “probably fine” at home often isn’t. If your bag is borderline, wear your heaviest items on the plane instead of packing them. Moving even 5 pounds from your checked bag to your body is free, and the overweight fee you avoid is $100.
• 6
  What are the liquid rules for carry-on bags on Southwest? TSA 3-1-1 rule applies: each liquid must be in a 3.4 oz (100 ml) or smaller container · All containers must fit in one clear quart-sized bag · One quart bag per passenger · Checked bags can contain full-size liquids with no TSA volume restriction

  Southwest’s liquid rules in carry-on bags are set by the TSA, not Southwest itself — the same rules apply at every U.S. airport and every airline. Each liquid, gel, aerosol, cream, or paste in your carry-on must be in a container of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less. All of those containers must fit in a single clear, quart-sized, zip-top plastic bag. You’re allowed one quart bag per person, placed in a separate bin during security screening. There is no restriction on liquids in checked bags — your full-size shampoo, lotion, or wine bottles travel fine in a checked bag. Medications are exempt from the 3.4-ounce limit in carry-ons and must be declared at the security checkpoint. Baby formula, breast milk, and water for infant use are also exempt. Power banks and lithium batteries must go in your carry-on — they are prohibited in checked bags by FAA rule.
• 7
  What items are free to bring on Southwest that don’t count as a bag? Never count toward your bag allowance: wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, CPAP machines · One stroller + one car seat free per child · Coats, umbrellas, food/drinks bought at the airport · Medically necessary devices of any kind

  Southwest has a genuinely broad list of items that pass through free without counting as carry-on or checked bag allowances. Mobility and medical devices — wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, CPAP machines, portable oxygen concentrators — are always free, do not count toward any bag limit, and can be checked at the gate or brought into the cabin. Each ticketed child traveling with an adult may have one stroller and one car seat or child restraint system checked free at the ticket counter or gate — these do not reduce your checked bag allowance. Coats, jackets, umbrellas, and neck pillows board free as small personal items beyond your carry-on and personal item. Food and beverages purchased inside the airport security checkpoint board free. Breast pumps, diaper bags, and infant formula also travel free. For anyone concerned about fitting everything within the new fee structure, knowing these exemptions — especially the medical device and mobility aid categories — can significantly reduce the practical cost of traveling.
• 8
  Is Southwest still cheaper than other airlines when you factor in bag fees? It depends entirely on your fare class and bags · With two bags on a round trip, Southwest now costs $200 in fees — same as most major competitors · If you carry on only: Southwest still wins because carry-on is free on every fare including Basic · If you have the Southwest credit card: Southwest often wins with one free bag per direction

  The answer changed dramatically in 2025 and again in spring 2026. For passengers who only carry on: Southwest remains an excellent value because the carry-on is free even on the cheapest Basic fare, while many competitors now restrict overhead bin access on basic economy tickets. For passengers checking bags: the math is nearly identical to American, Delta, and United. American currently charges $35 prepaid online for the first bag — $10 less than Southwest’s $45 — making American slightly cheaper on per-bag cost for passengers without elite status or co-branded credit cards. Southwest’s remaining advantages over legacy carriers: no change fee on any fare (competitors charge $75–$200 to change basic economy), no fee for same-day flight changes when seats are available, and the Companion Pass — which lets a designated companion fly on every ticket you purchase for the rest of that calendar year for only taxes and fees — which has no equivalent at any other major airline.

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