Southwest's free wine perk
Southwest launched a “Sip and Ship” benefit that lets passengers check one case of wine for free on select routes connecting Sonoma County, Las Vegas, Denver and San Diego. (travelandtourworld.com) The perk was introduced alongside baggage fee changes and is described as a targeted customer benefit on those specific routes. (thetravel.com)
Southwest Airlines will let passengers check one case of wine for free starting April 24, but only on a small set of routes tied to its new Santa Rosa service. (swamedia.com) The airline announced the “Sip and Ship” program on April 7, the same day it began flying to Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California. Southwest said the perk applies when customers check one case of wine from select West Coast locations. (swamedia.com) Those Santa Rosa flights connect nonstop to San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver and Burbank. Southwest said San Diego and Las Vegas are operating daily, Burbank starts at five days a week, and Denver runs on Saturdays. (swamedia.com) The offer arrives after Southwest changed the bag policy that long set it apart from other United States airlines. For mainland trips booked or changed on or after April 9, 2026, the first checked bag costs $45 and the second costs $55 on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares. (southwest.com) Some travelers still get free checked bags, but the list is narrower than Southwest’s old blanket policy. Choice Extra fares include two free checked bags, while Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members get two free bags and A-List members plus Rapid Rewards credit cardholders get the first bag free. (southwest.com) Southwest framed the wine offer as a destination-specific add-on rather than a return to free baggage across the network. In its announcement, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson tied the perk directly to the carrier’s expansion into Sonoma County wine country. (swamedia.com) There are limits. Southwest said the wine must be packed in a standard wine shipping box or a wine suitcase, and checked bags still have to meet the airline’s regular size and weight rules of 62 inches total dimensions and 50 pounds. (swamedia.com) (southwest.com) Santa Rosa is Southwest’s 14th airport in California, according to the airline, and the carrier said the wine program is meant to give travelers a built-in souvenir on the way home. The message is narrow: bag fees are now standard on many fares, but a case of Sonoma wine can still fly free on these routes. (swamedia.com)
