Want to delay paying checked bag fees on Southwest Airlines for so long as attainable? You could need to book a visit between now and Tuesday.
Starting May 28, the Dallas-based service will formally convey its much-maligned bag fees on-line. But this is the catch that might show useful for summer vacationers: The new fees will apply to journeys booked from May 28 onward.
That means vacationers who already booked a summer flight on Southwest will not owe any bag fees on that journey. It additionally means prospects who lock of their fares between now and the tip of the evening on Tuesday, May 27 would not owe fees on these journeys, both — no matter when their flight departs.
Yes, which means if you booked end-of-year vacation flights now, your baggage would fly free then, too. In reality, Southwest’s reserving channels at present supply flights all the way in which into mid-January, 2026.
Read extra: Cheaper flights and award pricing: Why summer 2025 may convey air journey bargains
Southwest Airlines bag fees
Southwest introduced its dramatic shift away from its longstanding coverage that provided prospects two free checked baggage on each fare sort again in March, citing a necessity to spice up its sagging earnings.
The transfer ended one of the crucial customer-friendly insurance policies nonetheless provided by a significant U.S. airline — and one which executives final 12 months insisted they’d maintain in place even because the airline underwent wholesale adjustments.
Beginning May 28, Southwest passengers should pay for all checked baggage when flying on the next fare courses:
- Basic, which can change the longstanding Wanna Get Away fare as of May 28
- Wanna Get Away Plus
- Anytime
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Read extra: Best Southwest Airlines bank cards
How a lot will checked baggage price on Southwest Airlines?
As I write this story, Southwest has not but mentioned how a lot it will cost passengers for his or her first (or second) checked bag — although it is price noting the biggest U.S. carriers every cost round $35 for the primary bag, topic to sure phrases on some airways.
Southwest did say its fees “will align with industry standards,” and we count on to listen to extra within the coming days.
How to get free baggage on Southwest
There are a few methods passengers will be capable to rating a free bag even after the fees launch.
- Business Select fares will nonetheless include two free baggage
- A-List Preferred elite standing members will get two free baggage
- A-List members will get one free bag
- All cobranded Southwest credit score cardholders will get one free bag, too
Notably, Southwest is not charging passengers to convey a full-size carry-on bag on board, one thing United Airlines does on its fundamental economic system fares.
Related: What you’ll get with every Southwest Airlines fare beginning May 28
More adjustments coming
This is not the final wave of adjustments on the airline. As I reported final month, Southwest later this 12 months will rename all of its fare merchandise and replace the advantages of every as soon as it begins promoting assigned seats for 2026.
In the meantime, although, if I had been considering of flying Southwest in some unspecified time in the future this 12 months, I’d think about reserving a flight between now and the tip of Tuesday. It may successfully delay the beginning of paid baggage — for you, no less than — till a lot later in 2025.
Remember: You can book with money or Rapid Rewards factors to lock in these bookings. And if you haven’t got a stash of Rapid Rewards factors, you can switch them from each Chase Ultimate Rewards and, as of this month, Bilt.
Just make certain your plans are set in stone: Southwest does be aware that fares modified after May 27 shall be topic to bag fees.
What if you need to cancel?
If you need to cancel a reserving made earlier than May 28, you’ll nonetheless be capable to declare full fare credit score with no expiration date. However, expiring flight credit are coming, ending one other lenient coverage.
If you make a reserving on or after May 28 after which need to cancel, the flight credit score you’ll get will include a one-year expiration date, or six months for fundamental fares.
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