April 07, 2026 • 2 min read
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Less than a year after ending its longtime ‘bags fly free’ policy, Southwest Airlines is increasing checked-bag fees. The carrier says the fee for a first checked bag will rise from $35 to $45 for tickets booked beginning Thursday, April 9 — a $10 increase, roughly 28%. The fee for a passenger’s second checked bag is also being increased by $10.
Southwest attributed the change to “an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop.” The move follows recent baggage-fee increases by JetBlue and United; Delta announced a similar change the following week. U.S. carriers frequently mirror one another when adjusting luggage charges.
For many years Southwest stood apart by allowing two checked bags free for all customers. That policy ended last May amid broader changes to the airline, including the introduction of assigned seating in January. In under a year, the airline both began charging for checked bags and has now raised those charges.
A-List members in Southwest’s 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; American Airlines remained the only major carrier not to have done so.
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