The period of free baggage on Southwest Airways is over … sort of. The airline now fees bag charges for all flights, an unlucky change for Southwest and price range flyers who loved two free checked baggage on all flights.
In the event you test a bag as a rule and Southwest is your service of selection, we advocate making use of for one of many airline’s cobranded playing cards (which had been refreshed in July of 2025).
This fashion, you will get free checked baggage as a substitute of getting to pay $35 for the primary bag and $45 for a second one.
1 free checked bag with Southwest bank cards
Southwest overhauled its complete enterprise mannequin in 2025 by including bag charges, extra-legroom seats, new fare courses and seat choice.
These modifications make being a Southwest cardholder that rather more useful since cardmembers now obtain one checked bag freed from cost. This perk additionally applies to as much as eight companions touring with the primary cardholder on the identical reservation.
Eligible bank cards that provide a free checked bag for Southwest flights embody:
The data for the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
In the event you fly Southwest a few occasions a 12 months, the $99 annual price Southwest Plus card could also be sufficient for you. By checking a bag thrice a 12 months, you will fully offset the price of this card.
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Along with making it simple to test a bag on all Southwest flights with out paying a hefty annual price, the entry-level card additionally gives customary seat choice 48 hours earlier than departure (when out there).
If you’d like further advantages past a free checked bag — comparable to deciding on a most well-liked seat on the time of reserving — think about different playing cards just like the Southwest Precedence or the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise.
Elite standing
One other technique to get a free checked bag or two is with Southwest Fast Rewards elite standing. A-Checklist members will get one free checked bag, and A-Checklist Most well-liked members will nonetheless get two free checked baggage.
In the event you’re a frequent Southwest flyer, elite standing will repay by way of baggage allowance. Simply be certain so as to add your Fast Rewards loyalty quantity when making your reservation to make sure your tier-related advantages kick in.
The truth is, Southwest cardholders may use a distinct non-Southwest card to pay for a flight whereas nonetheless benefiting from the free checked bag perk by making certain their Fast Rewards quantity is hooked up to the reservation.
Backside line
The day is lastly upon us, and Southwest has joined the ranks of all the opposite legacy carriers in charging for checked baggage.
Do not let these modifications discourage you. Being a Southwest cardholder (or having the precise elite standing) can nonetheless get you free checked baggage.
In the end, when you’re dedicated to Southwest however aren’t a cardholder, it is best to use for a Southwest bank card. In the event you fly usually or as a household, a Southwest bank card will help you save lots of of {dollars} a 12 months.
Associated: Greatest Southwest Airways bank cards
