Southwest Airlines Will Make Most Passengers Pay For Checked Baggage Just Months After Saying its Beloved ‘Bags Fly Free’ Policy Was Here to Stay

Southwest Airlines has just announced a major change that is, perhaps, even bigger than its decision to abandon its iconic open-seating policy… From the end of May 2025, the airline will make most passengers pay for checked luggage.

The decision to abandon its much-beloved ‘Bags Fly Free’ policy which saw all passengers, regardless of loyalty status or ticket type, get to check two bags for free, comes just months after Chief Executive Bob Jordan promised the policy was here to stay.

In September 2024, Southwest unveiled a turnaround program to improve its financial performance, but at that time, Jordan said that “extensive research” by the airline had concluded that its Bags Fly Free policy was the “most important feature by far” for the airline and set it apart from its rivals.

Just a month later, however, Southwest reached a controversial deal with activist investor Elliott to place its pick of five directors on the airline’s board. Since then, Southwest has announced its first-ever corporate layoffs and even bigger changes to the airline’s traditional business practices have been widely touted.

On Tuesday, the Dallas-based carrier spelled out exactly what some of those changes are, including the demise of the ‘Bags Fly Free’ policy.

• Only elite members of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program with A-List Preferred status, as well as passengers traveling on Business Select fares will get two free checked bags.
• A-List Members will get one checked free bag, and holders of a co-brand Southwest credit card will be credited with just one free bag.
• The changes will take effect for flights booked on or after May 28, 2025, so even if you book a flight now for travel after May 28, you’ll still benefit from the Bags Fly Free offer.

“We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future Customer needs, attract new Customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our Shareholders expect,” commented Bob Jordan on Tuesday.

 “We will do all this while remaining focused on what’s made us strong—our People and the authentic, friendly, and award-winning Customer Service only they can provide,” Jordan continued.

In recent weeks, slashed the earning rate of Rapid Rewards points Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares, while variable redemption rates will also soon be introduced.

Jordan also announced a new ‘Basic’ fare, which will align with Southwest’s introduction of assigned seating later this year. Details remain scant, but presumably, Basic fares will limit the amount of hand luggage passengers can bring onboard and force passengers to accept randomly assigned seats.

When Southwest announced its turnaround program last September, Elliott was quick to criticize the airline for not going far enough and accusing Jordan and his management team of belatedly changing the company’s business strategy in response to investor pressure.

Southwest is expected to open assigned seating for sale later this year, although the transition from open seating won’t take place until mid-2026. At the same time, Southwest will introduce premium extra-legroom seats, with roughly one-third of seats offering up to five additional inches of pitch.

In February, the airline also started its first-ever red-eye flights (overnight flights so named because the late departure time can induce bloodshot eyes), and an expansion is expected throughout 2025.

Last month, the airline also announced a deal with online travel agent Expedia to start offering its flights on its platform, as well as sister sites such as Travelocity, Hotwire, Orbitz, and CheapTickets.

This is the first time that Southwest has opened up its inventory to third-party sites, whereby customers can book tickets without going directly through Southwest.