Southwest Airline New Bag Policy

So, you’ve heard the rumbling. Southwest Airlines is changing its bag policy. The airline that practically invented “bags fly free” is shifting gears. Grab your overstuffed duffel—let’s dive into the juicy, weird, and wonderful details.

The Big Twist: Two Bags No Longer Free?

Yes, you read that right. Starting May 28, 2025, the beloved “two checked bags free” perk is gone for most passengers. Only Rapid Rewards A-List preferred members, Business Select fare buyers, and Southwest credit card holders get to keep the golden ticket. Everyone else? You’ll pay for your first or second checked bag. Ouch, right?

But wait—carry-ons? Still free. Your personal item? Still free. So if you’re a master packer who can fit a week’s wardrobe into a backpack, you just dodged a bullet. High-five your tiny suitcase.

The Quirky Fun Part: Why This is Deliciously Weird

Southwest is not just any airline. It’s the one with the cowboy boots livery and flight attendants who tell jokes mid-air. Changing bag policy feels like a rebellion. “What’s next—no more peanuts?” you might whisper. Peanuts are still safe. For now.

Here’s the fun fact: Southwest once let you check two bags for free even if you didn’t fly with them—but that was a myth. Actually, they launched “bags fly free” in 1977 to differentiate from rivals. That gimmick built a cult following. Now? They’re betting you’ll still love the no change fees and sweet legroom. But bags? You’ll pay.

How to add bags to southwest flight - Travelnow.wiki

The Sneaky Math That Will Make You Laugh

Let’s crunch numbers like a bored passenger counting clouds. A checked bag now costs $35 for the first, $45 for the second. That’s $80 round-trip for a family of four! But you know what else is free? Seat selection. Southwest still lets you sit wherever—even late. So trade one free bag for the world’s most chaotic boarding process. Worth it? Debatable.

And here’s a punchline: If you have the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, Priority, or Performance credit card, you get four free checked bags per flight for you and two traveling companions. Yes, you read that right—four. That’s enough bags to smuggle a small llama. Don’t. Llamas don’t count as luggage.

Why You Should Care (Even If You Don’t Fly Southwest)

This policy shift is a cultural earthquake in airline land. Southwest was the last holdout of the budget “free everything” vibe. Now, with Delta, United, and American already charging for bags, the whole industry is monotonous. Boring. Like everyone wearing the same gray suit.

Bags No Longer Fly Free: All the Southwest Changes Coming in 2025

But here’s the playful twist: Southwest is testing this on you. If you rage-quit, they’ll revert faster than a toddler losing a toy. If you grin and pay, expect more airlines to nickel-and-dime you for everything—even the oxygen mask. Kidding. That’s still free. Probably.

The Flying Game: How to Outsmart the New Policy

You can cheat the system. Yes, I mean it. Book a Business Select fare? That includes two free bags—plus priority boarding and a drink coupon. If you’re flying to a wedding with a giant dress bag, it’s suddenly genius.

Or—get this—join the Rapid Rewards® program. It’s free. But to get free bags, you need A-List status. That takes 25 one-way flights or 35,000 tier points. For most of us? Lol. That’s a lot of trips to grandma’s house.

Southwest Airlines bag policy changes – WKRN News 2

Another hack: Book with a Southwest credit card. The points suck, but the bag benefit is real. Plus you get an anniversary bonus. You might even get a free bag out of it—literally. A tote bag, I mean. Not the poli-sci class.

The Final Fun Fact: Southwest’s History of Weirdness

Southwest once had a policy where if you didn’t use your bags, they’d donate them to charity. No, that’s not true—but they did have a “Cowboy Hat” policy in the 1970s: you could check a firearm in a cardboard box. Twangy. Now that’s banned, but the spirit lives on in their no fee change policy.

So here’s the takeaway: Southwest’s new bag policy is like a surprise pop quiz. It stinks, but it’s also hilarious. You’ll pay for bags, or you’ll outsmart them. Either way, you’re now part of a weird, collective airline experiment. Welcome to the chaos. Just don’t check your llama.