This past year, Southwest Airlines has undergone quite the transformation. Weather or not the transformation will pay out is yet to be determined. The airline is removing open seating, adding red eye flights and is patterning with international airline operators. In a rather surprising move, Southwest Airlines will begin charging for checked luggage on flights on or after May 28, 2025.
Bag Fees And Changes To Flight Credits
Southwest Airlines has not disclosed what the exact charge for checking bags will be. The good news is that there are avenues to get “free bags.” Southwest Airlines most loyal rapid rewards tier; A-List Preferred will get two free checked bags. If booking a business select ticket, you will still have to free checked bags. If holding a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit card you will be credited for the bag fees. The chart below outlines the updated fare and bag fee structure. Southwest CEO Bob Jordan had this to say about the changes; “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.” Another tidbit from todays announced involved the changes to flight credits. After May 28, 2025 flight credits will expire one year from the time the credit was issued, a stark change from Southwest’s rather liberal flight credit policy. If one thing is for certain, Southwest Airlines is evolving rather quickly. The old Southwest seems to be going away, free bags and open seating were what set them apart. Time will tell if these changes will be for better or for worse.
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