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Southwest Airlines is increasing checked bag fees, becoming the latest US carrier to raise ancillary costs as industry-wide pricing pressures continue to mount. The new fees will apply to tickets booked on or after April 9th. This is the latest in a rapid wave of baggage fee hikes across major airlines like JetBlue, United, and Delta.
Under the updated policy, Southwest will increase the cost of both first and second checked bags by $10. The change is tied to the booking date rather than the travel date. This means customers who purchase tickets before April 9th can still avoid the higher fees. Other baggage charges remain unchanged. Fees for a third checked bag will stay at $150 and there are no changes to overweight or oversized bag pricing.
For decades, Southwest stood apart from competitors by allowing all passengers to check two bags for free (a defining feature of its brand). That policy ended in May 2025 and the latest fee increase further underscores the airline’s shift toward a more traditional pricing model that aligns with competitors.
Historically, when one airline adjusts baggage fees, others tend to follow, and the recent wave of increases reflects that pattern with Southwest being the latest. I expect American to increase bag fees any day now. The latest increase highlights how quickly airline pricing strategies are evolving. As more carriers rely on ancillary fees to offset rising costs, travelers are increasingly required to factor in baggage charges when comparing fares.
Despite the changes, some travelers can still avoid checked bag fees on Southwest. Passengers who book Choice Preferred fares receive two complimentary checked bags. Frequent flyers with A-List status are entitled to one free checked bag, while A-List Preferred members receive two free checked bags, with benefits extending to up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
Anthony’s Take: For Southwest, the shift represents a further departure from its long-standing identity while signaling a broader transformation in how the airline positions itself in a competitive and cost-sensitive market.
(Image Credits: Southwest Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
