Southwest raises bag fee
Southwest just increased its first checked-bag fee by $10, bringing the typical first-bag charge to $45, effectively erasing one of the airline’s last cost advantages. (apnews.com) The change follows similar $10 hikes from other carriers and is tied to higher jet fuel costs after Middle East supply disruptions — so if you’re packing for spring or summer trips, factor the new fee into fare comparisons now. (thehill.com)
Southwest built a brand around letting people check bags for free, then ended that perk in 2025, and now it has raised the first checked bag to $45 and the second to $55 for reservations ticketed or voluntarily changed on or after April 9, 2026. The fee increase is $10 per bag and lands less than a year after the airline first started charging many passengers for checked luggage. (swamedia.com) (apnews.com) That old free-bag promise was not a side detail. For decades, “Bags Fly Free” was one of the clearest reasons families and leisure travelers picked Southwest over rivals that advertised a low fare and then charged extra at checkout. (apnews.com) The airline already weakened that advantage on May 28, 2025, when it rolled out checked-bag charges on several fares. At that point, Southwest set the first checked bag at $35 and the second at $45 on many tickets, while keeping free bags for some higher-status customers and some premium fare types. (swamedia.com) The people still getting a break are a narrower group than before. Southwest says A-List Preferred members and Choice Extra customers still get two free checked bags, while A-List members, Rapid Rewards credit card holders, and active-duty military customers still qualify for at least one free checked bag in many cases. (swamedia.com) (apnews.com) Southwest is not moving alone. United Airlines and JetBlue Airways raised baggage fees last week, and Delta Air Lines raised its first and second checked-bag fees this week, putting four major United States carriers on the same path within days of each other. (thehill.com) (cnbc.com) The trigger is fuel. Airlines have said jet fuel costs jumped after the war involving Iran disrupted Middle East oil supply expectations, and baggage fees are one of the fastest levers carriers can pull because they can change them overnight without rewriting the whole fare structure. (thehill.com) (reuters.com) That changes the math on a cheap ticket. A round-trip booking for two people with one checked bag each now adds $90 in baggage charges on Southwest before any seat upgrades, early boarding, or fare differences, which can erase the gap between a low headline fare and a rival’s slightly higher base price. (swamedia.com) Southwest’s fee shift also lands during a broader remake of the airline. Over the past year, the company has moved away from several long-standing habits, including open seating and the universal free-bag promise, as it tries to lift revenue and satisfy investors pressing for higher returns. (apnews.com) (usatoday.com) For travelers booking spring and summer trips, the practical change is simple: the fare you see first is now less likely to be the fare you actually pay. On Southwest in April 2026, one checked bag on the outbound flight and one on the return now costs $90 total, so bag fees belong in the first comparison, not the last. (swamedia.com)
