Southwest baggage charges and the way to keep away from paying them

Southwest Airways touts itself because the airline that “luvs” its prospects — nevertheless it’s had a change of coronary heart about its “luggage fly free” coverage.

Southwest has lengthy been the one home airline the place each passenger — no matter standing, fare class and even the bank cards of their pockets — can test two luggage without spending a dime. However the Dallas-based airline introduced Tuesday that starting Could 28, most passengers should pay for checked luggage after they fly Southwest.

That is the newest in a string of upcoming modifications that additionally consists of assigned seating (unhealthy), a brand new rewards incomes construction (unhealthy) and a global airline partnership (good). It is disappointing, to say the least, however there are nonetheless a couple of methods to keep away from paying for checked luggage while you fly Southwest.

This is what that you must know concerning the new coverage, together with the way to keep away from Southwest’s new checked bag charges.

Southwest’s checked bag coverage

For bookings made earlier than Could 28, your first two checked luggage will proceed to fly free in the event that they match throughout the allowed weight and measurement limits. This is applicable to all fare varieties.

Associated: Southwest baggage monitoring instrument is formally launched within the app

For bookings made on or after Could 28, most Southwest passengers should pay to test a bag. Underneath the brand new coverage, Southwest Fast Rewards A-Checklist members and Southwest Fast Rewards bank card holders will get one free checked bag, and Fast Rewards A-Checklist Most well-liked members and passengers who buy a Enterprise Choose fare will proceed to get their first two checked luggage free.

All different passengers should pay for checked luggage.

The best way to keep away from Southwest baggage charges

With these modifications, most Southwest passengers shall be required to pay for checked luggage. Listed below are a couple of ideas for lessening or avoiding that charge altogether.

Get a Southwest Fast Rewards bank card

Should you maintain considered one of Southwest’s cobranded bank cards, you possibly can nonetheless get your first checked bag free. This profit will lengthen to as much as eight company flying on the identical reservation.

Associated: Present Southwest card gives

Southwest gives a number of private and enterprise playing cards. Should you’re in search of a card with a low annual charge, the Southwest Fast Rewards® Plus Credit score Card has a $69 annual charge and comes with further perks like two free EarlyBird Verify-Ins yearly and a 3,000-point bonus on each cardmember anniversary.

Should you’re a frequent Southwest flyer, it’s possible you’ll get much more advantages from the Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card. This card has a $149 annual charge however comes with the next incomes charge on Southwest purchases, an annual $75 Southwest credit score, 4 upgraded boardings per yr and a 7,500-point bonus on every cardmember anniversary, amongst different perks.

Each playing cards will guarantee your first checked bag is free when flying with Southwest.

Earn Southwest A-Checklist or A-Checklist Most well-liked standing

Passengers with elite standing will nonetheless get no less than one free checked bag on Southwest. A-Checklist members will get their first checked bag free, and A-Checklist Most well-liked members will get two.

The excellent news for A-Checklist members is that lots of Southwest’s upcoming modifications reward elite standing holders. As soon as Southwest debuts assigned seating and premium seating, A-Checklist members will be capable of choose standard-legroom seats at reserving and extra-legroom seats inside 48 hours of departure for no further price. A-Checklist Most well-liked members will be capable of choose from all seats, together with extra-legroom seats, at reserving without spending a dime.

Associated: Southwest A-Checklist standing: What it’s and the way to earn it

To qualify, you could take a sure variety of Southwest flights or earn a sure variety of tier qualifying factors per yr. You’ll be able to earn TQPs on flights or by way of spending on considered one of Southwest’s cobranded bank cards.

This is the way to qualify for every degree:

• A-Checklist: 20 one-way qualifying flight segments or 35,000 tier qualifying factors
• A-Checklist Most well-liked: 40 one-way qualifying flight segments or 70,000 tier qualifying factors

A handful of Southwest’s cobranded bank cards may offer you a lift of 1,500 TQPs towards A-Checklist standing for each $5,000 spent yearly, with no restrict to the variety of TQPs you possibly can earn:

When mixed with frequent Southwest flights and/or bank card spending, this can provide you an honest head begin towards incomes A-Checklist standing.

The data for the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Pay in your baggage with a journey rewards card

Sure journey rewards bank cards can assist you cowl the price of travel-related bills, together with checked bag charges. Listed below are a couple of of our favorites:

Associated: The most effective bank cards with airline charge credit

Pack all the pieces in a carry-on

With Southwest’s carry-on tips, you’re allowed as much as one carry-on bag and one small, private merchandise — all for no additional charge. Southwest counts pet carriers as your private merchandise or carry-on, and you will additionally must pay an additional pet-in-cabin charge.

Your carry-on merchandise could be saved within the overhead compartment on the aircraft and should be no bigger than 24 inches lengthy by 16 inches extensive by 10 inches tall.

Private gadgets embody purses, briefcases, backpacks, digicam luggage, laptop computer luggage, blankets and pillows (excluding neck pillows). These smaller gadgets could be saved beneath the seat in entrance of you and must be no bigger than 16.25 inches lengthy by 13.5 inches extensive by 8 inches tall (as that’s the measurement of the area beneath Southwest seats).

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There are some gadgets that Southwest does not rely as private gadgets or carry-on gadgets. Along with your private and carry-on gadgets, you may also carry the next on board for no additional price:

• A toddler restraint system
• Assistive/mobility gadgets for people with a incapacity (there is no restrict to the variety of assistive/mobility gadgets you possibly can carry on board)
• Outer clothes or different wearable articles of clothes
• Meals in disposable packaging
• Strolling canes or umbrellas

Southwest checked bag measurement and weight limits

When flying Southwest, every checked bag ought to weigh 50 kilos or much less and be 62 inches in measurement (the sum of the bag’s size, width and peak) or smaller.

The airline does have particular tips for sporting tools and oversize or obese gadgets, however these will change Could 28. Listed below are the present tips:

Sporting tools

Southwest permits skis, golf luggage and even surfboards to fly as checked luggage so long as they don’t exceed the peak and weight necessities. For snow tools, you’re allowed one pair of skis or one snowboard, a set of poles, and one pair of ski/snowboard boots. You’ll be able to pack these into one or two luggage and it’ll nonetheless solely rely as one checked bag.

In case your sporting tools weighs greater than 50 kilos or is bigger than 62 inches, will probably be topic to Southwest’s obese and oversize baggage charges.

Chubby and oversize Southwest baggage charges

In case your bag is heavier or bigger than allowed, Southwest will cost you $150 per bag every manner for luggage between 51 and 70 kilos, and $200 per bag every manner for luggage between 71 and 100 kilos. Baggage between 63 and 80 inches in whole measurement will incur a charge of $200 per bag.

There are two occasions when Southwest will waive the obese or oversize baggage charge:

• You’re a member of the army touring on lively obligation or everlasting change of station orders.
• You might be checking giant media digicam tools.

Nevertheless, you could ship any bag weighing greater than 100 kilos or exceeding 80 inches (the sum of the bag’s size, width and peak) as cargo. Additionally, no passenger (together with active-duty army members) can test greater than 20 items of bags per flight.

Associated: Southwest’s new fare kind is right here. What to find out about ‘Wanna Get Away Plus’

Backside line

Since its inception, Southwest has had probably the greatest baggage insurance policies by far — till now. Starting Could 28, most vacationers shall be caught paying for checked luggage. However the following tips can assist alleviate the out-of-pocket price (and the emotional sting), and a few may even web you further journey perks.

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