Southwest Airlines Will Begin Charging for Checked Bags This Spring
Take advantage of free bags while you can before this policy goes into place.
Starting this spring, for the first time ever, Southwest Airlines will begin charging for checked bags.
What’s Happening:
- Starting with bookings made on or after May 28, complimentary checked baggage will no longer be offered for many passengers on Southwest Airlines.
- However, those in the highest fare class will still be allowed free bags.
- Additionally, frequent flyers with A-List Preferred status will continue to be allowed two complimentary checked bags, while A-List members and Southwest credit card holders will be entitled to one checked bag at no cost.
- This change, along with several others, was promoted by the activist investment firm Elliott Investment Management, which purchased a stake in Southwest and obtained five board seats last year.
- Southwest Airlines could greatly boost its revenue by introducing baggage fees, similar to other U.S. airlines that collectively earn over $5 billion from these charges.
- The airline has not yet revealed the price of its checked baggage fee but in comparison, rivals like Delta, United, and American charge a minimum of $35 for one bag.
- The checked bag fee is part of a broader set of significant changes at Southwest Airlines, such as the upcoming elimination of the airline’s open boarding policy (moving to reserved seating instead).
What They're Saying:
- Bob Jordan, President, Chief Executive Officer, & Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at Southwest Airlines: “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."
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