Major US airline to start charging for checked bags – What travellers need to know

Major US low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines Co. will begin charging for the first and second checked bags starting May 28 to boost investor earnings.

The NYSE-listed airline announced Tuesday that members of its A-List loyalty program or those travelling on a business fare would be exempt from the fees. Travellers with the airline’s next status level or those with a Southwest credit card are allowed one free checked bag. All other passengers should be prepared to pay. The airline has yet to reveal how much travellers must pay to check bags.  

To align with these changes, Southwest said it would also introduce a new, basic fare on its lowest-priced tickets purchased on or after May 28 before offering assigned seating and extra legroom options.

Moreover, flight credits will now also have an expiration date. The airline had eliminated expiration dates during the pandemic.

 “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,” Bob Jordan, President, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at Southwest Airlines said in a statement.

“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,” he said.

Southwest will continue to offer two free checked bags to its Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and Customers travelling on Business Select fares and one free checked bag to A-List Members and other select customers.

Passengers not qualifying for these free bag options will be charged for their first and second checked bags. Weight and size limitations apply, it said.

These changes add to the initiatives already underway at Southwest, including the forthcoming implementation of assigned seating and extra legroom options and an industry-standard airline partnership with Icelandair that began on February 13, the same day the carrier’s first-ever scheduled overnight redeye flights launched.

The “Bags fly free” policy was a key airline policy and formed a huge part of its appeal to passengers.

Free checked baggage is a big perk for budget-conscious travellers, often making the difference between choosing one airline over another. Several budget airlines attract customers by including a free checked bag in their fares, making them a more appealing choice than carriers charging for every extra service.

As airfare costs rise, travellers increasingly prioritise airlines that offer more value without hidden fees, and free checked baggage remains a key factor in that decision.

Full-service Gulf carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Saudia still maintain generous baggage policies in this region. At the same time, low-cost airlines in the Middle East have adopted the global trend of charging for checked luggage to keep base fares competitive.

Some airlines adopt a hybrid model. For example, Etihad Airways provides free checked baggage, but weight limits vary by ticket type. Air Arabia, flydubai, flynas, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and flyadeal charge for checked baggage on most fares.