For more than five decades, "Bags Fly Free" was the closest thing U.S. air travel had to a universal promise. That era is over. Southwest began charging most passengers for checked bags in 2025, then raised the fees in April 2026. That means a family of four checking two bags apiece on a round trip
For more than five decades, "Bags Fly Free" was the closest thing U.S. air travel had to a universal promise. That era is over. Southwest began charging most passengers for checked bags in 2025, then raised the fees in April 2026. That means a family of four checking two bags apiece on a round trip could now face $800 in baggage charges on top of their fares.
That number explains why searches for Southwest baggage hacks have exploded and why so much of what ranks is bad advice: gate-check "loopholes," removable-wheel tricks and overpacking schemes. This guide takes the opposite approach — a clear, current breakdown of the Southwest airlines baggage rules: the up-to-date Southwest bag policy, every group that still qualifies for free checked bags, and the legitimate ways- fare math, loyalty and card benefits, smarter packing- to pay less. Nothing here depends on a gate agent's mood or bends Southwest or Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rules.
Quick answer:
Southwest Airlines no longer gives every passenger two free checked bags. For most U.S. mainland tickets booked on or after April 9, 2026, the first checked bag costs $45 and the second $55, each way. Travelers can still get one or two bags free through Choice Extra fares, A-List or A-List Preferred status, an eligible Rapid Rewards credit card, active-duty military ID or certain Hawaii and vacation-package bookings. The cabin side of the Southwest Airlines baggage allowance is unchanged: every ticketed passenger still gets one free carry-on and one free personal item. |
What Changed in the Southwest Baggage Policy
Southwest ended its universal two-free-checked-bags policy for tickets booked on or after May 28, 2025 — the biggest customer-facing change to the Southwest airlines luggage rules in the carrier's history. For U.S. mainland travel booked, ticketed or changed on or after April 9, 2026, the standard fees rose again.
The date on your ticket matters more than the date you fly: a reservation booked in March 2026 keeps the lower fees even for summer travel, while changing it after April 9 can move it to the higher schedule. Hawaii interisland flights and Getaways by Southwest vacation packages follow their own rules.
Date or booking condition | Applicable policy |
Booked before May 28, 2025 | Legacy "Bags Fly Free": two free checked bags for nearly all passengers |
Booked May 28, 2025–April 8, 2026 | First bag $35, second $45 for Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares |
Booked, ticketed or changed on or after April 9, 2026 | First bag $45, second $55 for Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares |
For the airline's broader policies that include check-in, seats, and cancellations, see our full Southwest Airlines guide.
Southwest Baggage Fees 2026 at a Glance
All fees are one-way, for U.S. mainland travel ticketed on or after April 9, 2026, as per Southwest's official optional travel charges page.
Passenger or fare type | First checked bag | Second checked bag | Carry-on + personal item | Key condition |
Basic fare | $45 | $55 | Free | Standard limits apply |
Choice fare | $45 | $55 | Free | Same as Basic |
Choice Preferred fare | $45 | $55 | Free | Same as Basic |
Choice Extra fare | Free | Free | Free | Two free bags built into the fare |
A-List Preferred | Free | Free | Free | Extends to up to 8 companions on the same reservation |
A-List | Free | $35 | Free | First-bag benefit and $35 second-bag rate extend to up to 8 companions |
Eligible Rapid Rewards credit cardmember | Free | $55 | Free | RR number required in booking; covers up to 8 companions; authorized users excluded |
Active-duty military | Free | Free | Free | Valid military ID required |
Hawaii residents, interisland | Free | Free | Free | Rapid Rewards number with a Hawaii mailing address; third bag $50 |
Non-residents, interisland | $30 | $40 | Free | Lower interisland fee schedule |
Getaways by Southwest bookings | Free | Free | Free | Two free bags for each person on the vacation booking |
Two details worth underlining: Companion Pass holders pass their bag benefits to their companion, and none of these free-bag benefits applies to flights booked with a partner carrier, an exception that matters most on international itineraries. To price your own party and fare in seconds, estimate your fees with the baggage fee calculator.
Who Still Gets Two Free Checked Bags on Southwest?
Choice Extra customers. Southwest's top fare bundle includes two free checked bags, extra-legroom seating and the most flexible terms, the only way to buy into two free bags without status.
A-List Preferred members. The top Rapid Rewards tier keeps both bags free, extended to up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation; one A-List Preferred traveler can cover a whole family.
Active-duty military. Service members with current, valid military identification check bags free on any fare.
Hawaii residents flying interisland. Rapid Rewards members with a valid Hawaii mailing address get two free bags on flights beginning and ending within Hawaii; a third bag is $50.
Getaways by Southwest bookings. Vacation packages include two free checked bags for every person on the booking; a quietly significant perk if you were considering a package anyway.
In every case, size and weight limits still apply: free means free of the standard fee, not exempt from overweight or oversized charges.
How to Get One Free Checked Bag on Southwest
Southwest A-List Baggage Policy
A-List members get their first bag free, extended to up to eight companions on the same reservation; their second bag is $35, notably cheaper than the standard $55.
Eligible Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers get the first standard checked bag free for themselves and up to eight passengers on the same reservation. The conditions are specific: the primary cardmember's Rapid Rewards number must be in the reservation, the account must be open and in good standing, and the one that surprises people, authorized users don't get the benefit. New cardmembers should allow up to 14 days for status to register.
The same-reservation rule is the quiet multiplier. Both benefits cover companions only when everyone shares one reservation. A couple booked separately gets one free bag; the same couple booked together gets two.
The partner-carrier exception. None of these benefits apply to flights booked with Southwest's partner airlines, assume the partner's rules and fees govern, and verify before you pack.
Is Choice Extra Worth Buying for Two Free Checked Bags?
Run the math per itinerary. The reusable formula:
Total checked-bag fees for the trip = per-direction bag fee × number of bags × number of travel directions.
Here's how a real fare ladder tends to look on a short domestic hop. These numbers are illustrative. Southwest's fares change constantly, so run yours on live prices:
Fare (one-way, sample route) | Price | Checked bags included |
Basic | $159 | None |
Choice | $199 | None |
Choice Preferred | $269 | None |
Choice Extra | $314 | Two free |
At these prices, a traveler checking two bags should upgrade from Choice Preferred: the fare gap is $45, while two bags cost $45 + $55 = $100 that direction; Choice Extra wins by $55 each way, before counting its extra-legroom seat and Group 1 boarding. The same traveler checking no bags would overpay by $45 for the upgrade. And a Basic-fare shopper checking two bags faces a harder call: the $155 jump to Choice Extra still beats $100 in bag fees only if the seat and flexibility benefits are worth $55 to them.
The rule of thumb: Choice Extra wins whenever the fare gap is smaller than your real bag fees, and loses whenever it isn't. For a family of four where only two members check one bag each ($180 in total round-trip fees), upgrading all four tickets rarely pencils out. There's no universal answer, only your itinerary's numbers, which take two minutes to run.
Southwest Airlines Baggage Hacks That Actually Follow the Rules
Every strategy here is legal, ethical and consistent with Southwest and TSA rules.
Compare the total fare, not the lowest sticker price. A Basic fare plus $200 in round-trip bag fees can cost more than a higher fare with bags included. Only fails when you genuinely travel bag-free.
Price Choice Extra against your real bag count. Use the formula above. Doesn't help travelers checking zero or one bag.
Add the eligible Rapid Rewards number before travel. The cardmember first-bag benefit only fires if the number is in the reservation. Costs nothing; fails only if forgotten.
Keep qualifying companions on the same reservation. Status and card benefits extend to up to eight passengers, but only on one booking. Trade-off: changes then affect everyone together.
Use the full free cabin allowance. A carry-on up to 24 by 16 by 10 inches plus a personal item is real packing space, free on every fare.
Weigh checked bags at home. A bag at 52 pounds costs $100 more than one at 50; a $15 luggage scale pays for itself the first time.
Measure including wheels and handles. Southwest counts everything attached to the bag; a "22-inch" suitcase can measure 24 with wheels.
Share checked luggage as a household — within the weight limit. One shared bag pays one fee instead of two. Exceeding 50 pounds erases the savings, so split by weight, not by wardrobe.
Put dense, permitted items in the cabin bags. Books and shoes push checked bags toward the overweight line; carry-ons have no published weight limit (you must be able to lift and stow the bag yourself). Restricted items like spare lithium batteries must ride in the cabin regardless.
Check sports-equipment rules before paying oversized fees. Listed equipment is charged as a standard bag with the oversized fee waived up to 115 linear inches; overweight fees still apply.
Verify partner-airline rules on international itineraries. Southwest's free-bag benefits stop where a partner carrier begins.
Handle bags through official channels before the airport. Add and pay for bags during online check-in via Southwest's site or app where offered; bags must still be presented by the cutoff.
Southwest Airline Carry-On Policy 2026: Size, Rules and Weight Limit
Every ticketed passenger gets one free carry-on bag and one free personal item, on every fare including Basic.
Item | Allowance | Maximum size | Where it goes |
Carry-on bag | One free | 24 x 16 x 10 in., including wheels and handles | Overhead bin |
Personal item | One free | Must fit under the seat in front of you | Under the seat |
Southwest publishes no carry-on weight limit; the practical limit is that you must be able to lift the bag into the bin yourself. A carry-on that exceeds the size limit at the gate will be checked, with applicable fees for your fare. If you fly with a pet, the carrier counts as your carry-on or personal item. For the full cabin-bag detail, see our Southwest carry-on rules guide or check your bag's dimensions with our carry-on size checker before you pack.
Can You Bring a Backpack and a Carry-On on Southwest?
Yes- if the backpack fits under the seat in front of you, it counts as your free personal item alongside a full-size carry-on overhead. Compliant: a 24 x 16 x 10 rolling bag overhead plus a daypack under the seat. Noncompliant: a rolling bag plus a large hiking pack that only fits overhead; that's two carry-ons, and one gets checked. The under-seat test settles it.
What Is Allowed in Carry-On Baggage on Southwest Airlines?
Two rulebooks apply at once: TSA security rules govern what passes the checkpoint, and Southwest's transportation rules govern what flies. Everyday essentials are fine in the cabin: clothing, electronics, prescription medication (always keep it with you), infant supplies, mobility and medical devices, and food that's solid or purchased after security. Liquids, gels and aerosols follow TSA's 3-1-1 rule, containers of 3.4 ounces or less in one quart-size bag-unless medically necessary.
Battery rules deserve special attention: spare lithium batteries, power banks and e-cigarettes must travel in the cabin, never checked; Southwest's own power-bank limits are covered next. For anything unusual, check TSA's official "What Can I Bring?" database before packing rather than gambling at the checkpoint.
Southwest's New Power-Bank Rule for 2026
Effective April 20, 2026, Southwest has the strictest portable-charger policy of any major U.S. airline:
One power bank per passenger, rated at 100 watt-hours or less (a standard 10,000 mAh bank is roughly 37 Wh, so most consumer chargers qualify).
Cabin only; power banks are prohibited in checked baggage, consistent with federal rules.
Not in the overhead bin: keep it on your person or in a bag under the seat, where the crew can reach it if it overheats.
Visible while in use, and you may not recharge the bank itself from in-seat power in flight; charging your phone from it is fine.
The rule follows a rise in lithium-battery incidents on U.S. flights; Southwest says its whole fleet will have in-seat power by mid-2027. Until then, pack the one charger you'd actually miss.
Southwest Airlines Baggage Rules: Size, Weight and Extra Fees
The Southwest baggage weight limit for 2026 is 50 pounds per standard checked bag, which may also measure up to 62 linear inches (length + width + height), per Southwest's checked baggage policy. Beyond that, fees stack:
Condition | Fee (U.S. mainland) |
Third and each additional bag | $150 |
Overweight, 51–70 lbs. | $100 + standard fee |
Overweight, 71–100 lbs. | $200 + standard fee |
Oversized, 63–80 in. | $200 + standard fee |
Both oversized and overweight (max 100 lbs.) | Single $200 + standard fee |
Listed sports equipment, 63–115 in. | Oversized fee waived; standard and overweight fees apply |
Musical instruments, up to 150 in. | Oversized fee waived; standard and overweight fees apply |
Bags over 100 pounds aren't accepted, and the maximum is 20 checked pieces per customer. The takeaway: the gap between a 50-pound bag and a 51-pound bag is $100, which is why the home luggage scale earns its place.
Southwest Airlines Baggage Hacks for Economy Travelers
On Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares, where nothing is free beyond the cabin allowance, the levers are fewer but real. Run the upgrade math honestly: Choice Extra only wins when the fare gap is smaller than your real round-trip bag fees. Master carry-on-only packing for trips under a week. If anyone in your group holds an eligible Rapid Rewards credit card, put everyone on that reservation; one card can cover first bags for up to nine people. And watch the 50-pound line: an overweight bag turns a $45 charge into $145. What economy fares don't include is any free checked bag - no packing trick changes that, only the eligibility paths above.
Southwest Airlines Baggage Hacks for International Trips
Three situations look similar and behave differently. A Southwest-operated international flight (Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America) follows the fee schedule above, with one hard deadline: checked bags must be presented at least 60 minutes before scheduled international departure, and some destinations impose seasonal baggage embargoes worth checking.
A connecting itinerary with a partner airline changes the rules: Southwest's free-bag benefits don't apply to partner-booked flights, the operating carrier's policy may govern, and you should confirm whether bags are through-checked or must be reclaimed and rechecked.
A separately ticketed connection is the riskiest setup; two tickets mean two sets of bag fees, no through-checking and no protection if the first flight runs late. Whenever bags move between carriers, leave more connection time than feels necessary.
How to Reduce Your Luggage Without Sacrificing Essentials
The cheapest bag is the one you don't check. Build trips around a capsule wardrobe of coordinated pieces and pack complete outfits rather than options. Wear the heaviest shoes and outer layer on the plane. Decant toiletries into TSA-compliant 3.4-ounce containers, use lightweight packing cubes, and skip duplicate electronics- one multi-port charger replaces three.
On longer trips, a single hotel-laundry cycle doubles a small bag. Leave room for the return trip, and weigh the packed bag before leaving home. None of this requires hiding items or straining zippers; it just means deciding before the airport instead of at it.
Does Voluntary Gate-Checking Avoid Southwest Bag Fees?
No — not as a strategy. When overhead bins fill, gate agents sometimes ask for volunteers to check compliant carry-ons, typically without charge. But that offer is controlled entirely by the airline, depends on the specific flight, and may never come. Arriving with an intentionally oversized bag to force the outcome is different: a noncompliant carry-on is checked at the airline's discretion, with applicable fees for your fare.
Travel with compliant cabin baggage, treat a volunteer gate-check as occasional luck, and if you do surrender a bag at the gate, first remove medication, identification, power banks and spare batteries (required in the cabin), electronics and valuables.
How to Check Bags on Southwest Airlines
Check in online or in the Southwest app starting 24 hours before departure.
Add or confirm checked bags when the option appears and pay any fees.
Print bag tags at an airport kiosk where available, or see the counter.
Present bags by the Southwest baggage cutoff; at least 60 minutes before departure for international flights, per the posted airport cutoff for domestic.
Keep your baggage receipt and tracking information until bags are back in hand.
Southwest Airlines Baggage Policy Checklist Before You Fly
Confirm your fee schedule (booked before or after April 9, 2026 -changes can reset it).
Recheck current fees on Southwest's official site close to departure.
Verify free-bag eligibility: fare, status, card, military ID or route exception.
Make sure the qualifying Rapid Rewards number is in the reservation.
Keep companions on the same reservation if a benefit extends to them.
Measure the carry-on (24 x 16 x 10 inches including wheels); confirm the personal item fits under a seat.
Weigh every checked bag at home; stay under 50 pounds.
Pack one power bank (100 Wh max) in the cabin, never checked.
International: confirm the 60-minute bag deadline and any partner-carrier rules.
Screen questionable items against TSA's "What Can I Bring?" database.
Final Takeaways on the Southwest Baggage Policy
Two free checked bags on Southwest are no longer a given - they're a benefit you qualify for through fare type, status, the card in the booking, military service or a few route and package exceptions. One carry-on and one personal item still fly free for everyone, and that allowance covers more trips than most travelers credit it for. The most useful habit: compare the complete trip cost- fare plus bags plus seats- not the base fare alone. And if your plans shift on travel day, our guide to same-day standby on Southwest covers how the waiting list works.
Before choosing a fare, compare the complete trip cost, including baggage and seat options. Camli is a flight search and travel savings booking platform that provides consolidator fares, allowing travelers to review flight options. Southwest and its competitors side by side before deciding which itinerary fits their plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southwest do free checked bags?
Not automatically. Southwest ended universal free checked bags in 2025. Two free bags still come with Choice Extra fares, A-List Preferred status, active-duty military ID, Getaways by Southwest packages and Hawaii-resident interisland travel. One free bag comes with A-List status or an eligible Rapid Rewards credit card, with the number in the booking. Size and weight limits still apply.
Does Southwest Airlines include a checked bag?
Not on its entry-level fares. Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred include no checked bag — the first is $45 and the second $55 each way on U.S. mainland travel ticketed on or after April 9, 2026. A checked bag is included only through Choice Extra (two bags), elite status, an eligible Rapid Rewards card, military ID, or certain Hawaii and vacation-package bookings. Every fare still includes one free carry-on and one personal item.
How many free bags can I take on Southwest Airlines?
Everyone gets a free carry-on (24 x 16 x 10 inches) and a free personal item. Checked bags: none on Basic, Choice or Choice Preferred; one with A-List status or a card benefit; two with Choice Extra, A-List Preferred, military ID or a Getaways booking.
How many bags can you check for free on Southwest?
It depends on fare, status and benefits. Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares include no free checked bags. You get one free checked bag with A-List status or an eligible Rapid Rewards credit card (number in the booking), and two free with Choice Extra, A-List Preferred, active-duty military ID, Getaways by Southwest packages, or Hawaii-resident interisland travel. Size and weight limits still apply.
What is Southwest's new baggage policy for 2026?
Tickets booked, ticketed or changed on or after April 9, 2026 pay $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares. Choice Extra includes two free bags, older tickets keep the $35/$45 rates, and the status, card and military exceptions continue.
How can I avoid paying for bags on Southwest?
Pack into the free carry-on and personal item, qualify through fare type, status, card benefit or military ID, and book companions on one reservation so benefits extend to them. Beyond that, there's no trick, a volunteer gate check is luck, not a plan.
Can I bring a backpack and a carry-on on Southwest?
Yes, a backpack that fits under the seat in front of you counts as your personal item, alongside a full-size carry-on overhead. One that only fits overhead becomes your carry-on instead, so something else gets checked.
What are Southwest's carry-on rules for 2026?
One carry-on up to 24 x 16 x 10 inches, wheels and handles included, plus one under-seat personal item; free on every fare. There's no published weight limit; you just have to be able to lift it yourself. Oversized bags get checked at the gate, with fees per your fare.
What is allowed in carry-on baggage on Southwest Airlines?
The everyday things: clothes, electronics, medication, infant supplies, solid food and 3.4-ounce liquids in one quart bag. Spare lithium batteries, e-cigarettes and your one power bank (100 watt-hours max) must stay in the cabin, never checked. Check TSA's "What Can I Bring?" tool for anything unusual.
Can I check a box as luggage on Southwest?
Yes. Southwest accepts a securely packed box as a checked bag as long as it stays within the standard limits- up to 50 pounds and 62 linear inches. Beyond that, the same overweight and oversized fees apply as for any bag, and the usual per-bag checked-bag fees apply based on your fare and benefits.