What Airline Shake Things Up: What You Need to Know About Southwest Airlines baggage Fees & Fare Changes

Alright, y’all, if you’ve been riding with Southwest for a while, you know they’ve always had a few signature perks that set them apart—free checked bags and open seating were like their bread and butter. Well, last summer, they ditched the open seating policy, and now they’re making even more changes that might have you rethinking your next booking. Let’s break it down.

No More “Bags Fly Free” for Most Travelers

For years, Southwest has been the go-to airline for folks who didn’t want to play the “how much is my bag gonna cost me?” game. But as of May 28, they’re rolling out new Southwest Airlines baggage fees, and it’s looking a lot more like what we see with other airlines.

Here’s the new deal:

• If you’re a Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred member or book Business Select fares, you still get two free checked bags.

• If you’re a standard A-List member or have a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card, you get one free checked bag.

• Everybody else? You’re paying for both your first and second checked bags. Southwest hasn’t spilled the tea on exact pricing yet, but just know, those freebies...Gone!

This is a major shift, y’all. That “Bags Fly Free” perk wasn’t just a slogan—it was a big reason people stuck with Southwest, even when other airlines had lower base fares. Now, if you’re packing heavy, you might wanna crunch the numbers before booking.

Introducing Basic Economy: Cheaper Fares, Fewer Perks

Southwest is also jumping on the Basic Economy bandwagon. If you’re cool with no frills, you can grab a cheaper ticket, but here’s what that means:

🚫 No free checked bags

🚫 No seat selection

🚫 Fewer Rapid Rewards points earned

New Expiration Rules on Flight Credits & Points Shake-Up

Southwest is also switching things up with their flight credits. Before, your unused travel credits never expired—now, they’ll expire within a year of booking (or even sooner). So if you’re the type to cancel and hold onto those credits, you’ll need to use them up quicker.

And if you’re all about racking up Rapid Rewards points, listen up:

📈 Business Select fares will now earn more points.

📉 Basic Economy fares will earn fewer points than before.

Translation? The more you spend, the more you earn. Southwest is definitely rewarding premium travelers over bargain hunters.

But Whyyyyyyy???

In short, it’s all about the money. The CEO made it clear that these changes are about making Southwest more profitable...I mean as a business owner myself, I can understand that. They’ve been under pressure from investors to boost revenue, and that means cutting costs and restructuring.

Lastly, What Does the Southwest Airlines Baggage Fees Mean for You

If Southwest is your go-to airline because of the baggage policy, it might be time to compare your options. With checked bag fees now in the mix, other airlines might suddenly be more appealing. But if you’re already a frequent Southwest flyer with status or a credit card, you’ll still get some baggage perks. Either way, these changes mark the end of an era for Southwest.

What do you think? Will you still be flying Southwest, or are you ready to switch it up? Drop your thoughts below!