Southwest Airlines Baggage Fees (2026)
Quick summary
Southwest ended its decades-long 'Bags Fly Free' policy on May 28, 2025 and now charges for checked bags like every other major U.S. carrier. As of the April 9, 2026 increase, the first checked bag is $45 and the second is $55 (per direction), with a third and additional bags at $150 each. Carry-ons remain free on every fare. A-List Preferred members and Business/Choice Extra fares still get two free checked bags, while A-List members and Rapid Rewards cardholders get the first bag free.
The bottom line on Southwest Airlines baggage
Southwest Airlines is no longer the free-bag outlier it once was: it ended 'Bags Fly Free' in May 2025 and now charges $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second, per direction. The trap is habit — travelers who remember the old policy get caught paying $90 round trip for a single bag.
Your best move is to lean on the unusually generous free carry-on (24 x 16 x 10 in) and skip checking altogether, or to carry a Rapid Rewards credit card or hold A-List status, either of which brings the first checked bag back to free.
FlyRulebook Score
Our own 1–5 rating of Southwest Airlines's baggage policy, scored from the verified data on this page. See airline rankings → · How we score →
Hidden pitfalls most travelers miss
- Southwest ended 'Bags Fly Free' in May 2025, so the biggest trap is habit — checked-bag fees are charged per direction, meaning one bag is $90 round trip.
- Overweight (51–70 lb, +$100) and oversize (62–80 in, +$200) surcharges are added on top of the standard checked-bag fee, not instead of it.
- A Rapid Rewards co-branded credit card or A-List status brings the first checked bag back to free — worth having if you check a bag on a round trip.
Southwest Airlinesbaggage allowance & fees at a glance
| 🎒 Personal item | One free personal item (small bag, purse, or laptop bag) that fits under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin, on every fare. |
| 🧳 Carry-on allowance | One free carry-on bag on all fares. Max size 24 x 16 x 10 in (61 x 41 x 25 cm) — slightly more generous than most U.S. carriers. Carry-ons stay free even after the 2025/2026 checked-bag changes. |
| 🧳 First checked bag | $45 |
| 🧳 Second checked bag | $55 |
Southwest Airlines checked bag fees
| 1st checked bag | $45 |
| 2nd checked bag | $55 |
| 3rd+ checked bag | $150 |
| 1st bag – A-List Preferred / Business / Choice Extra | Free |
| 1st bag – A-List member / Rapid Rewards cardholder | Free |
Excess baggage cost calculator
Estimate what Southwest Airlines will actually charge for your bags — one way, typical domestic/regional route.
- Checked bag #1$45
Estimates only. Fees vary by route, fare type, and date — always confirm before booking.
Southwest Airlines vs JetBlue vs Alaska Airlines: baggage compared
Head-to-head on the fees that actually decide the cheaper airline for bags.
| Southwest Airlines | JetBlue | Alaska Airlines | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on included | ✅ Free | ✅ Free | ✅ Free |
| 1st checked bag | $45 | $45 | $45 |
| 2nd checked bag | $55 | $59 | $55 |
| Overweight surcharge | $100 | $150 | $100 |
| Weight limit | 23 kg | 23 kg | 23 kg |
Flying Southwest Airlines abroad?
Southwest Airlines is a low-cost carrier based in US — if this is an international trip, a travel eSIM means you land with data already working, with no roaming bill.
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🔁 Change & cancellation
Southwest never charges a change or cancellation fee. If you cancel, the funds are kept as transferable flight credit (or refunded to original form of payment on refundable Business Select/Anytime fares). All bookings also include the standard 24-hour risk-free cancellation for a full refund. Note: Southwest tightened its flight-credit and fare rules in 2025 alongside the bag-fee change.
Southwest Airlines flight delayed or cancelled?
Compensation rules follow the route, not the airline — a US-departing Southwest Airlines flight delayed 3+ hours can be worth up to €600. Checking costs nothing.
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Other common fees
| Overweight bag (51–70 lb) | $100 |
| Overweight bag (71–100 lb) | $200 |
| Oversize bag (62–80 linear in) | $200 |
| In-cabin pet (carrier) | $125 |
What stops you paying these fees on Southwest Airlines
- An overweight bag costs +$100 here over 23 kg, each way. A scale costs about $10 — the maths on that →
How to avoid extra fees
- Carry-ons are still free and Southwest's carry-on size limit is unusually generous (24 x 16 x 10 in), so many travelers can avoid checked-bag fees entirely.
- A Rapid Rewards co-branded credit card (e.g., Rapid Rewards Plus/Premier) gets you your first checked bag free — worth it if you check a bag on a round trip.
- A-List Preferred status includes two free checked bags; A-List includes one — useful for frequent Southwest flyers now that bags are no longer universally free.
- Active-duty military traveling on orders or for leisure still receive free checked bags with valid military ID.
- Keep each checked bag at or under 50 lb (23 kg) and 62 linear inches — a bag of 51–70 lb costs $100 (71–100 lb is $200) and one over 62 inches costs $200, on top of the standard bag fee.
Southwest Airlines baggage — FAQ
＋ − Does Southwest still offer free checked bags?
Not for everyone. Southwest ended its 'Bags Fly Free' policy on May 28, 2025. Most passengers now pay $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second. Free checked bags remain for A-List Preferred members, Business/Choice Extra fares, A-List members and Rapid Rewards cardholders (first bag), and active military.
＋ − How much does Southwest charge for checked bags now?
Following the April 9, 2026 increase, the first checked bag is $45 and the second is $55, charged per direction (so $90 round trip for one bag). A third and each additional bag is $150. Carry-ons remain free.
＋ − How much are Southwest's overweight and oversize bag fees?
A checked bag weighing 51–70 lb costs $100 and one weighing 71–100 lb costs $200. A bag over 62 but not more than 80 linear inches costs $200. These charges are per item, in addition to the standard checked-bag fee.
＋ − Does Southwest charge a cancellation fee?
No. Southwest does not charge change or cancellation fees on any fare. Cancelled non-refundable tickets become transferable flight credit, and there is also a standard 24-hour full-refund window.
Sources & official policy links
Independent guide — not affiliated with Southwest Airlines. Figures here reflect Southwest Airlines's published US fares as of 2026-07-12.