Southwest Airline flyers listen up, a major change is coming next week!
Starting May 28th, new flights booked on the airline will no longer come with free checked bags.
That’s right, the airline will be ditching its longstanding and beloved baggage policy that allows travelers to bring two free checked bags with them onboard.
The policy got announced back in March, and it will officially be implemented next week after Memorial Day Weekend.
That means there’s still time to take advantage of the free bag deal though!
Any flights booked before the deadline (regardless of when the trip is) are still eligible for the free bag policy. Those booked after that day will fall into the new paid bag policy.
So how much will checked bags cost on Southwest after May 28th?
Southwest hasn’t officially announced how much checked bags will be priced at after the deadline, but travelers can expect a similar range of $25-$50 based on size and quantity.
How travelers can still get free checked bags after May 28th
Select Southwest customers will still be eligible for free checked baggage on certain conditions.
For example, Southwest credit card owners will still be eligble for one checked bag.
Plus, Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and passengers traveling in Top-tier fare class, formerly Business Select, will still have access to the two free checked bag park.
Another big change coming to Southwest
Alongside the change in baggage policy, the airline announced it’s also discontinuing its free-open seating protocol.
Starting in early 2026, open seating will no longer be offered to passengers and all seating arrangements will be assigned.
There will be three different tiers of seats: premium seating, preferred seating or a standard seating, that will vary in price.
A brand new “Basic Fare” option is set to debut as well, which will serve as Southwest’s cheapest option and will also be introduced on May 28th.