Personal Finance News
Southwest Airlines to Begin Charging for Checked Bags
A popular airline perk is largely being discontinued later this year.
About the changes:
Today, Southwest Airlines unveiled “changes to drive revenue growth and reward its most loyal customers.” This includes adding checked bag fees for most customers.
Starting May 28th, 2025, customers lacking Rapid Rewards A-List status, those without a Rapid Rewards Credit Card, or those who fly on the airline’s Business Select fares will be charged for the first and second checked bags. Note that this fee will apply for flights booked on or after the May 28th date and these fees will be waived for those traveling intineraries that have already been booked.
As for who will still get free checked bags, those with Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred and those who choose Business Select fares will enjoy two free checked bags. Meanwhile, those with Rapid Rewards A-List status or who hold one of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards co-branded credit cards will receive one free checked bag.
Currently, the fees for first and second checked bags have yet to be revealed.
What they’re saying:
Announcing this and some other changes for the airlines, Southwest Airlines president, CEO, and Vice Chairman Bob Jordan said, “We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future Customer needs, attract new Customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our Shareholders expect. We will do all this while remaining focused on what’s made us strong—our People and the authentic, friendly, and award-winning Customer Service only they can provide.”
My thoughts:
Perhaps I was naive to think that Southwest would try to keep its popular free checked luggage policy around. At the least, I wouldn’t have expected this update until after the rest of their overhaul had rolled out. But, alas, here we are.
Of course, this is a case where I care more about the principle of the matter than how it affects me personally since 1) I don’t fly Southwest often and 2) rarely check bags. Then again, this also impacts those like me who prefer carrying on, as bin space will surely be more in demand. In fact, that’s part of the point as this gives flyers more incentive to pony up for the airline’s other paid programs, such as Early Bird Check-In. It’s also worth noting that Southwest’s co-branded credit cards will now be getting a bump, although we’ll need to see if other adjustments or fee hikes arrive for those products as a result.
The bottom line is that, while this will surely cause upset among loyal Southwest fliers, it remains to be seen how many will actually flee. After all, even with the extra expense, it’s possible that Southwest flights still come out to be cheaper than other options. Still, it will be interesting to see how this change and the other major shifts Southwest has in the works will impact the airline in the long term.
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