Southwest Airlines Is Bringing Back Its Famous ‘Bags Fly Free’ Promotion… But Here’s The Catch

Southwest Airlines is bringing back its much-loved ‘Bags Fly Free’ policy just months after ending the decades-long promotion that had set the Dallas-based carrier apart from its rivals.

But don’t get too excited just yet. It appears that only applies to a new vacation package service that Southwest plans to launch later this month.

Southwest intends to reveal more details about its vacation package service, known as Getaways by Southwest, on August 19, and in the run-up to the official announcement, the airline has posted three teaser photos on its Instagram page.

One photo is the shadow of a Boeing 737 flying over a beach, another is of shadows in a pool, and the third is the shadow of a bag being pulled along. Each post has the words: “Coming soon” and “8.19.25”.

The posts quickly got the attention of Southwest passengers, who speculated that the airline might be bringing back its Bags Fly Free policy, and rather than ignoring these comments, Southwest replied with a winky face emoji and urged people to check back on August 19.

Southwest came to the unpopular decision to end its Bags Fly Free promotion just six months after reassuring travelers that, while the airline was planning to make lots of changes to its business model, it had no intention of scrapping its generous checked luggage policy.

In fact, last September, chief executive Bob 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.

That announcement, however, was made just a month before Southwest succumbed to pressure from activist investor Elliott and allowed it to place its choice of five directors on Southwest’s board.

Since May 28, only elite members of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program with A-List Preferred status, as well as passengers traveling on Business Select fares, have been allowed to check in two bags for free.

Meanwhile, A-List Members get one free checked bag, and holders of a co-brand Southwest credit card are also credited with just one free bag.

As part of Elliott’s involvement in Southwest, the airline is also scrapping its iconic open seating policy, launching partnerships with other airlines, and introducing extra legroom seats for an additional cost.

Finally, Southwest plans to launch Getaways by Southwest in the second half of 2025, with vacation packages available in more than 30 markets, including popular destinations like Las Vegas, Orlando, Hawaii, and Cancun.

While Southwest’s social media admins clearly didn’t want to ruin the surprise ahead of the official launch, the airline’s website already clearly spells out that anyone booking a Getaways by Southwest package will get the two checked bags for free.

Every customer on the booking will get two free checked bags, subject to size and weight limits, when they book a Southwest flight, and hotel accommodation, as part of a vacation package.

The immediate issue, of course, is that Getaways by Southwest will initially only be available in around 30 markets, meaning that many Southwest flyers won’t be able to book a vacation package even if they want to.