Southwest Baggage Fees Soar: How to Avoid the Hikes

Less than a year after its controversial decision to end its famous "bags fly free" policy, Southwest Airlines is once again changing its baggage rules. The airline is increasing its fees for checked luggage, a move that follows similar price hikes from several other major U.S. carriers. For travelers who have grown accustomed to Southwest's historically customer-friendly policies, this change marks another significant shift.

The New Southwest Baggage Fees

For any tickets booked on or after Thursday, April 9, travelers will face higher costs for checking their luggage. The fee for the first checked bag will increase from $35 to $45, a substantial jump of nearly 28%. The Dallas-based carrier also confirmed that the price for a second checked bag will also increase by $10.

This price change is not retroactive, so if you booked your flight before April 9, you will still pay the old, lower rates. However, all new bookings will be subject to the higher airline baggage fees.

Part of an Industry-Wide Trend

While Southwest attributed the fee hike to "an ongoing analysis of the business," the change comes as airlines grapple with skyrocketing jet fuel costs. Southwest is not acting in isolation; its move is the latest in a series of similar announcements across the industry.

In just the past week, JetBlue, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines have all raised their own checked bag fees. Historically, U.S. airlines tend to follow one another when it comes to ancillary fees like baggage, and this latest round of increases is no exception.

How to Avoid Southwest's Baggage Fees

Even with these new, higher fees, there are still ways for savvy travelers to avoid paying to check a bag on Southwest. The key is to leverage the airline’s loyalty program and credit card partnerships. Your existing baggage perks are safe if you fall into one of these two categories:

• Elite Status: Fliers with A-List status in the Southwest Rapid Rewards loyalty program will continue to receive their complimentary checked bags.
• Cobranded Credit Cards: If you hold a Southwest cobranded credit card, your card benefits, which typically include free checked bags, will remain in effect.

These benefits have become significantly more valuable with this price increase, making elite status and airline credit cards a powerful tool for saving money on travel.

A New Era for Southwest

This latest fee increase is another step in a major transformation for Southwest. The airline, once known for its straightforward and inclusive pricing, ended its two-free-bags policy last May and also introduced assigned seating in January, breaking from its long-held open-seating model.

With this announcement, three of the four largest U.S. airlines have now raised bag fees in a very short period. For now, American Airlines is the only major carrier that has not yet followed suit, leaving travelers to wonder if and when it will make a similar move. For Southwest flyers, the message is clear: the days of universally free checked bags are firmly in the past, and loyalty has become the best way to keep travel costs down.