What changed, and when
The short version, stated plainly.
Southwest built its brand on "bags fly free" for decades. As of 2026, that no longer applies across the board, checked bags cost a fee on most fares. This arrived alongside Southwest's move to assigned seating, part of a broader shift away from the airline's old point-to-point, no-frills model.
Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra, each with different rules for changes, refunds, seating and, now, checked bags. Which bundle you booked determines whether a checked bag is included or billed.
The carry-on and personal item are still free on every fare, with no status or add-on required. If your trip fits in cabin bags, the 2026 changes don't cost you anything at all.
Who still checks bags free
Free checked bags didn't disappear entirely, they narrowed to specific fares and loyalty tiers.
Southwest's top fare bundle includes two free checked bags on its own, no Rapid Rewards status required.
Southwest's top loyalty tier checks two bags free on any fare, including Basic.
Both check one bag free. If you hold a Southwest-branded credit card, confirm it's linked to your Rapid Rewards profile before you fly, since the benefit is tied to the card, not the ticket.
Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares with no A-List status, no A-List Preferred status and no linked Rapid Rewards card checked-bag benefit are billed for every checked bag.
Give us your confirmation number and Rapid Rewards number and we'll tell you exactly which of these applies to your ticket before you pack.
What a checked bag costs now
On fares and status levels that don't include a free bag.
The current rate is around $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second, on fares and bookings that don't already include one. The fee increased in April 2026, bookings made before that date may have been quoted a lower rate, but a fee booked today is billed at the current amount. Always confirm the exact figure at southwest.com, since Southwest can adjust it again.
Adding a checked bag on southwest.com before you travel is generally cheaper and faster than sorting it out at the airport counter on travel day.
A bag heavier or larger than the standard allowance carries an additional charge. Confirm the current overweight and oversize charges at southwest.com before you pack, since we don't publish a fare-by-fare fee table that could go stale.
We never publish a flat bag-fee matrix because the amount depends on fare, status and when Southwest last adjusted it, an agent confirms the current figure and can pre-pay your bags for you.
Carry-on and personal item, unchanged, and still generous
This is the part of Southwest's old model that survived the 2026 overhaul.
Free on every fare, including Basic, up to twenty-four inches long by sixteen inches wide by ten inches high. No fee, no status, no exceptions.
Also free on every fare, a purse, backpack or laptop bag that fits under the seat in front of you, in addition to the carry-on.
A checked bag can weigh up to fifty pounds and measure up to sixty-two linear inches (length, width and height added together) before overweight or oversize surcharges kick in, whether or not the bag itself is free.
Carry-on only vs. checking a bag
Pick the right approach before you get to the airport.
Carry-on + personal item
Still free on every fare
- Included on Basic too, the 2026 change didn't touch this
- Skips the bag-drop line entirely
- Liquids still follow the cabin 3-1-1 rule
- Must fit the 24 x 16 x 10 in sizer
Checked baggage
Free only with the right fare or status
- Free on Choice Extra and for A-List Preferred (2 bags)
- First bag free for A-List and Rapid Rewards cardmembers
- Otherwise billed on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred
- Prepaid online is cheaper than at the counter
Special & oversized items
These usually need advance arrangement, confirm before you fly rather than finding out at the counter.
- Sports gear (golf clubs, skis, surfboards), size and weight rules apply, and may count toward your checked-bag allowance
- Strollers & car seats, generally checked at the gate at no charge; ask us to confirm for your route
- Musical instruments, cabin (if it fits the sizer) or checked, with size limits either way
- Mobility devices, carried at no charge; arrange ahead so it's ready at the gate
Bag delayed or damaged? Report it at Southwest's baggage service office before you leave the airport and keep the file reference number. Then call us and we'll help you understand your rights and the next steps to get it back.
Frequently asked
Does Southwest still let bags fly free?+
Who still gets a free checked bag on Southwest?+
How much does a checked bag cost on Southwest now?+
Is the carry-on still free on Southwest's cheapest fare?+
What's the size and weight limit for a Southwest checked bag?+
Contact options
Reach Southwest directly, or let us confirm and add your bags.
Contact Southwest Airlines directly
The airline's own official channels, free.
More Southwest Airlines help
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