After more than 50 years of letting every passenger check two bags for free, Southwest ended that policy in May 2025 — and raised those fees again in April 2026. If you flew Southwest even two years ago, the rules are completely different now. Here is exactly what to expect, who still gets free bags, and what the smarter moves are depending on your situation.
Southwest’s baggage rules changed dramatically and then changed again. If your information is even slightly out of date, you could be planning your trip around policies that no longer exist. These are the answers most people actually need first.
- 1 How much does Southwest charge to check a bag right now? $45 for the first bag, $55 for the second on Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares — for reservations booked on or after April 9, 2026. This was a $10 increase from the earlier fees of $35 and $45 that took effect when Southwest first ended free bags in May 2025. The fee is based on when you book your ticket, not when you fly — so if you booked before April 9, you pay the lower rates that applied at the time of booking.
- 2 Are carry-on bags still free on Southwest? Yes — completely free for every passenger on every fare. One carry-on bag (up to 24″ × 16″ × 10″ including wheels and handles) and one personal item (purse, laptop bag, compact backpack — must fit under the seat) travel at no charge regardless of which ticket you bought. Southwest’s carry-on allowance is actually larger than what American, Delta, United, and JetBlue permit, which means strategic packing can help many travelers avoid checked bag fees entirely.
- 3 Who still gets free checked bags on Southwest? Several groups still fly with free checked bags: A-List Preferred members get two free bags; A-List members get one free bag; Rapid Rewards credit cardholders get the first bag free (and that benefit extends to up to eight companions on the same reservation); passengers on Business Select fares get two free bags; passengers on Choice Extra fares get two free bags; and active-duty military with valid ID pay nothing for checked baggage regardless of quantity.
- 4 Why did Southwest raise fees again in April 2026 — wasn’t the policy change recent? Southwest ended its long-standing “Bags Fly Free” policy in May 2025 and charged $35/$45 for the first two bags. Then in April 2026, along with several other carriers, Southwest raised fees by $10 per bag — citing rising jet fuel costs tied to global oil market conditions. The fee increase applies to reservations booked or voluntarily changed on or after April 9, 2026. If you had already purchased your ticket before that date, you are locked in at the lower rate that applied when you booked.
- 5 What happens to baggage fees if my flight gets canceled? If Southwest cancels your flight, any baggage fees you paid are refunded. Southwest still has no cancellation fees, meaning if you cancel voluntarily, you receive full travel credit — including any bag fees already paid. This is one of the few traveler-friendly policies Southwest has maintained. Keep any receipts or confirmation emails showing your bag payment so refunds can be processed without confusion.
- 6 Can I prepay for checked bags online to save money or lock in a rate? No — Southwest does not allow advance payment for checked baggage. Unlike some carriers that let you prepay bags at a discount during the booking flow, Southwest collects bag fees at the airport — at the ticket counter, the kiosk, or curbside check-in. There is no way to lock in a lower rate or pay online ahead of time. This means the fee you pay reflects the rate in effect based on your original booking date, collected when you actually check in.
- 7 Does the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card free bag benefit cover my travel companions? Yes — and this is one of the most valuable parts of the benefit. The primary cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same reservation each get the first checked bag free. For a family of four checking one bag each, that’s $180 in savings per round trip at current rates. The cardholder must have their Rapid Rewards number attached to the reservation, but they do not need to pay for the flight with the Southwest card — the number just needs to be in the booking.
- 8 What are the weight and size limits for a standard checked bag? A standard checked bag must weigh 50 pounds or less and measure 62 linear inches or less (length + width + height combined). If your bag is 51–70 lbs, add $100 to whatever your standard bag fee is. If it’s 71–100 lbs, add $200. Bags over 100 lbs are simply not accepted. An oversized bag between 63 and 80 linear inches adds $200 on top of the standard fee. If a bag is both oversize and overweight, you pay only one surcharge — the higher one, not both.
Southwest’s fee structure has more layers than it looks at first glance. Here is every charge spelled out clearly so you know exactly what you’re walking into before you reach the airport.
These are the fees that apply to the majority of passengers who book one of the three most common fare types. The third bag and any additional bags jump sharply to $150 each — that’s a noticeable penalty for families with lots of luggage. If you’re bringing more than two bags, it becomes worth thinking seriously about shipping items ahead via a service like FedEx or UPS, especially for longer trips.
Booking date matters, not travel date. If you booked your ticket before April 9, 2026, the original $35/$45 rates apply to your trip regardless of when you actually fly. If you later make a voluntary change to your reservation after April 9, 2026, the new higher fees may apply to your updated booking.
These surcharges stack on top of your standard bag fee — they are not the total cost. So if you check a bag that weighs 60 lbs on a standard fare, you pay $45 (standard) + $100 (overweight) = $145 for that one bag. If your bag is 60 lbs and also 70 linear inches, you still pay just $145 — the oversize fee doesn’t stack on top of the overweight fee when both apply to the same bag.
Bags over 100 lbs are not accepted at all as standard checked baggage — they must be shipped as cargo through Southwest Cargo. The same applies to bags exceeding 80 linear inches. A good kitchen scale before you leave the house can save $100 or more; airline bag scales at the counter are not negotiable.
Southwest maintains a separate, lower fee schedule specifically for interisland Hawaii travel. Hawaii residents — verified by a valid Hawaii mailing address (not a P.O. box) in their Rapid Rewards account — still receive the first two checked bags free between the islands. Surfboards also continue to fly free on interisland routes for residents, regardless of size. Non-residents pay reduced interisland rates that are still lower than mainland fees, and the overweight/oversize surcharges on these routes are also lower than on the mainland schedule.
The end of “Bags Fly Free” doesn’t mean nobody gets free bags anymore. Several groups still travel with one or two free checked bags — and understanding the rules can save you significant money, especially on family trips.
Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members get two free checked bags on every Southwest flight, and that benefit extends to up to eight companions booked on the same reservation. A-List Preferred status requires earning 40 qualifying flights or 70,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year — it’s a tier most frequent business travelers reach, not casual flyers. Once you have it, the bag savings are substantial: at current rates, two bags saved on a round trip equals $200 back in your pocket compared to a standard-fare passenger.
A-List members (25 qualifying flights or 35,000 tier qualifying points per year) receive the first checked bag free, with that benefit also extending to companions on the same reservation. A-List members pay $55 for the second checked bag at current rates. The companion extension is often overlooked — a single A-List member traveling with a partner who doesn’t have status still gets the first bag free for both of them, as long as they’re on the same booking.
Any Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card (issued by Chase) qualifies the primary cardholder for one free first checked bag — and this benefit covers up to eight additional passengers traveling on the same reservation. You don’t need to pay for the flight with your Southwest card to get this benefit. You simply need your Rapid Rewards number attached to the reservation. The card doesn’t need to be used for the actual ticket purchase. For families traveling together, this is the single most valuable way to avoid bag fees — one cardholder can save $45 per bag for the whole group on the first bag.
Passengers who purchase a Business Select fare receive two free checked bags as part of that fare’s benefits. Business Select is Southwest’s premium ticket tier and includes priority boarding, maximum frequent flyer points, and other perks in addition to the bag allowance. It’s the right fare for frequent travelers who need flexibility and the highest level of service, but for occasional flyers it’s worth comparing the ticket price difference against the $100 in bag fee savings to decide whether upgrading the fare makes financial sense.
The Choice Extra fare sits one tier above the standard Choice fare and includes two free checked bags as part of its benefits. For passengers who would otherwise be checking two bags at $45 + $55 = $100, upgrading from a Choice fare to Choice Extra may cost less than the bag fees alone — worth checking the price difference before simply accepting the bag charges. Choice Extra also includes other benefits like priority boarding in Group 1 and same-day standby.
Active-duty military personnel presenting a valid military ID at check-in receive a complete waiver on all baggage fees — no limit on number of bags, no overweight charges, no oversized fees — provided bags don’t exceed the absolute maximum of 100 lbs or 80 linear inches. This applies on every Southwest route. The fee waiver does not extend to traveling companions or family members unless they are also active-duty military with their own valid ID.
Use this table to find your exact situation quickly. Green means free bags, amber means partial benefit, red means full fees apply.
| Passenger Type / Fare | 1st Bag | 2nd Bag | 3rd Bag | Benefit Extends to Companions? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Fare (no status) | $45 Pay | $55 | $150 | No |
| Choice Fare (no status) | $45 | $55 | $150 | No |
| Choice Preferred (no status) | $45 | $55 | $150 | No |
| Choice Extra Fare | Free ✓ Free | Free ✓ | $150 | No |
| Business Select Fare | Free ✓ Free | Free ✓ | $150 | No |
| A-List Member | Free ✓ Free | $55 | $150 | Yes — up to 8 companions |
| A-List Preferred Member | Free ✓ Free | Free ✓ | $150 | Yes — up to 8 companions |
| Rapid Rewards Credit Card | Free ✓ Free | $55 | $150 | Yes — up to 8 companions |
| Active-Duty Military | Free ✓ Free | Free ✓ | Free ✓ | Military ID holder only |
| Hawaii Residents (interisland) | Free ✓ Free | Free ✓ | $50 | Hawaii address required per person |
| Carry-On (ALL passengers) | Always Free ✓ Free | +1 Personal Item Free ✓ | — | Every ticket, every fare |
Fees apply per bag, per flight (one direction). A round trip doubles these costs. Fees current for bookings on/after April 9, 2026. Always verify at southwest.com before travel.
The right approach to Southwest’s bag fees depends entirely on who you are and how often you fly. Here is plain guidance for the situations that come up most often.
A Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card is almost certainly worth it for a family. One adult cardholder covers the first bag for the entire group — up to nine people total including the cardholder. At $45 per bag for four people, that’s $180 saved on bags alone for one direction, $360 round trip. The entry-level Southwest Plus card has an annual fee significantly lower than what you’d otherwise spend on bags in a single family trip. Car seats and strollers check free and don’t count against your standard bag allowance, which is one genuinely family-friendly policy Southwest has kept. If your child has their own paid seat, they get the same carry-on allowance as an adult passenger.
If you fly Southwest more than 25 qualifying segments per year, pursuing A-List status is worth the effort — you’ll get the first bag free and priority boarding as standard perks. For the most frequent travelers clearing 40 flights per year, A-List Preferred unlocks two free bags per trip plus companion benefits. Pairing a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card with your work bookings accelerates points and tier-qualifying progress simultaneously. Business Select fares include two free bags, so if your employer books Business Select, the bag question is already answered before you get to the airport.
More than people expect. Southwest’s carry-on allowance is 24″ × 16″ × 10″ — meaningfully larger than what the major legacy carriers allow. Many carry-on suitcases marketed as “full-size” actually fit within these dimensions. Pair that with the personal item allowance (16.25″ × 13.5″ × 8″), and a solo traveler can bring a substantial amount of luggage for a week-long trip without checking anything. Packing cubes, compression bags, and wearing your heavier shoes and jacket on the plane are all practical tools. For longer trips or when you genuinely need to check something, the Rapid Rewards credit card’s free bag benefit is the cleanest solution — annual card fee versus multiple round trips with checked bags is usually a straightforward calculation.
Southwest handles sports equipment as standard checked bags with one very useful exception: the oversized fee is generally waived for accepted sports equipment even when it exceeds 62 linear inches — up to 115 linear inches. You still pay the standard checked bag fee and any overweight surcharge if the gear exceeds 50 lbs, but you won’t get hit with the $200 oversize charge. Golf bags and ski equipment (skis, poles, and boots together) each count as one bag. Compare that to United, which charges a separate $75+ sports equipment fee on top of bag fees — Southwest’s policy is noticeably more favorable for equipment travel. Surfboards are an exception and carry a flat $75 fee on mainland routes.
The fee that applies is the one in effect when your ticket was originally booked — not when you travel. If you booked before April 9, 2026, you pay $35/$45. If you booked on or after April 9, 2026, you pay $45/$55. If you make a voluntary change to your reservation, the new rate may apply depending on the change. Bags are paid at the airport when you check in — there is no online prepayment system. Keep your booking confirmation showing the original date as evidence of your rate if there’s ever a discrepancy at the counter.
If Southwest cancels your flight, bag fees are refunded alongside your ticket value. For delayed bags on domestic flights, you must report the delay at the Baggage Service Office within four hours of your flight’s arrival — not the next day, not when you get home. For damaged bags, you have 24 hours from your domestic flight arrival to report the damage. Do not leave the airport without reporting a lost or damaged bag — waiting longer can forfeit your claim. Southwest’s voluntary cancellation policy returns full travel credit including any bag fees paid, which is still one of the more generous cancellation terms in domestic air travel.
Medical equipment, instruments, baby gear, and pets all have their own rules that don’t follow the standard bag fee structure. Here is what actually applies.
Each ticketed passenger traveling with a child may check one stroller and one car seat free of charge, and these items do not count against the standard two-bag allowance. Breast pumps and breast milk containers may be brought onboard as carry-on items without counting toward the standard allowance — you may be asked about the contents at security but the items are permitted. Small strollers that fit in the overhead bin can also be brought onboard. Gate checking a stroller is allowed and free at the jet bridge.
Medical devices, wheelchairs, and other assistive equipment travel free regardless of size or quantity and do not count against the standard baggage allowance. Medication needed for a disability travels separately from ordinary personal belongings and does not count toward the carry-on limit. Mobility aids receive separate handling and protections. If you rely on specific medical equipment for your trip, notifying Southwest in advance helps ensure proper handling.
Instruments that fit within Southwest’s carry-on size limits (24″ × 16″ × 10″) travel in the cabin at no charge. Larger instruments may be checked as standard checked baggage — subject to the standard fee — with the oversized charge generally waived for instruments up to approximately 150 linear inches. Overweight charges still apply above 50 lbs. If your instrument is fragile, a hard case and advance notification to Southwest is the safest approach.
Small pets may travel in the cabin in an approved carrier for a fee starting at $125 per flight. The carrier counts as either your carry-on bag or personal item — not in addition to them. The carrier must fit under the seat ahead of you and allow your pet to move freely. Only cats, dogs, and household birds are permitted in-cabin. Pets traveling as cargo are handled separately through Southwest Cargo.
This one matters and often surprises people: spare lithium batteries, power banks, and e-cigarettes must go in your carry-on, not your checked bag — this is an FAA safety rule that applies on every U.S. carrier, not just Southwest. A power bank left in your checked luggage may be confiscated or result in your bag being pulled and delayed. Sharp objects that must go in checked bags (pocket knives, tools over 7 inches, etc.) are the inverse situation — they’re prohibited in carry-on but fine checked. Know which items fall into which category before you get to security.
No — this is a frequently misunderstood point. You simply need your Rapid Rewards number attached to the reservation. The free first bag benefit activates when your card’s membership status is reflected in your Rapid Rewards account, which Southwest says can take up to 14 days after opening a new card. You can pay for your Southwest flight with any payment method and still receive the free bag benefit as long as your Rapid Rewards number is in the booking. This means a Southwest cardholder booking travel for friends or family and adding their RR number to the reservation extends the free first bag to the whole group.
No — Southwest does not offer online bag pre-payment. All bag fees are collected at check-in, either at the ticket counter, a self-service kiosk, or curbside check-in. Some other airlines let you prepay at a slight discount through their app; Southwest’s current system doesn’t work that way. You’ll need cash at some locations, but card payment is the more reliably accepted method at all Southwest check-in points.
At 52 lbs, your bag falls in the 51–70 lb range and incurs a $100 overweight surcharge on top of the standard bag fee. If you’re on a standard fare and this is your first bag: $45 (standard) + $100 (overweight) = $145 total for that one bag. If you have a free first bag through your credit card, you still pay the $100 overweight surcharge — free bag benefits waive the standard fee only, not overweight or oversize charges. Moving items between bags or wearing heavier clothes on the plane to bring that 52-lb bag under 50 lbs saves $100 right there.
Southwest’s domestic bag fees apply to Southwest-operated international routes as well. However, flights on partner carriers (like those connecting to international destinations through code-share arrangements) use the partner airline’s bag policy, not Southwest’s. The free bag benefit from Southwest’s credit card and status does not apply on partner-operated flights. If your itinerary involves a partner-operated segment, check the partner carrier’s own bag fee schedule separately — they may charge more, and your Southwest benefits won’t help there.
Yes — that is exactly how it works for Rapid Rewards credit cardholders and A-List members. The free first bag applies, and the second bag is charged at the standard $55 rate. So your total for two bags as a cardholder on a standard fare is $0 + $55 = $55, compared to $45 + $55 = $100 without the benefit. That’s still a meaningful saving on every round trip — $90 saved in total for two round-trip flights with one checked bag each, which covers entry-level card annual fees in a single trip for many travelers.
Prescription medications should ideally travel in your carry-on — both for safety in case your checked bag is delayed, and because TSA permits medications in quantities exceeding the standard 3.4-oz liquid rule when they are declared separately. Needles and syringes require a professional label from the pharmacy. Refrigerated medications that need to be kept cold are permitted in carry-on with appropriate cooling containers. Medical equipment traveling as checked baggage is generally handled without the standard fee limitations. If you’re uncertain about a specific item, contacting Southwest’s customer service before your travel date is the clearest path to an accurate answer for your exact situation.
This page is for general informational purposes and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Southwest Airlines. Baggage fees, policies, and eligibility rules can change without notice — always verify current fees and terms directly at southwest.com before you travel or pack. Fee amounts reflect rates for bookings on or after April 9, 2026, on U.S. mainland routes; Hawaii interisland, international, and partner-operated segments may differ. Status benefits and credit card perks described are subject to each program’s current terms and conditions. For delayed or damaged baggage claims, report directly to Southwest’s Baggage Service Office at your arrival airport.