April 07, 2026
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2 min read
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It’s been less than a year since Southwest Airlines ended its longtime “bags fly free” policy and began charging most customers to check luggage. Now the carrier is raising those prices.
Southwest announced the fee to check a bag will increase from $35 to $45 for tickets booked beginning Thursday, April 9 — a $10 hike, roughly 28%. The airline also raised the fee for a passenger’s second checked bag by $10.
The carrier said the change stems from “an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop.” The move follows recent baggage-fee increases by JetBlue and United, with Delta announcing a similar change the following week. U.S. carriers have often mirrored each other when raising luggage charges.
For many years Southwest avoided that trend by allowing all customers to check two bags free. That policy ended last May as part of broader changes to the airline, which also introduced assigned seating in January. In less than a year, Southwest has begun charging for checked bags and then raised those charges.
A-List members in the Rapid Rewards loyalty program will retain their baggage privileges, as will customers who hold a Southwest cobranded credit card.
As of Tuesday evening, three of the four largest U.S. carriers had increased checked-bag fees in the past week, with American Airlines — for now — the only major carrier not to do so.
Featured image by SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
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