Southwest Airways has revealed how a lot checked luggage will value prospects, because the service’s new charges go into impact this week. It’s going to look fairly much like different airways.
Beginning Wednesday, Southwest will cost most passengers $35 for his or her first checked bag, an airline spokesperson confirmed to TPG early Tuesday.
That is in keeping with the bag charges at the moment assessed by many of the different massive U.S. carriers.
Passengers can pay $45 for his or her second checked bag on Southwest.
The brand new charges will apply to flights booked from Could 28 onward, which suggests vacationers who already booked a summer season journey will get to benefit from the airline’s “luggage fly free” coverage on that journey and on another present bookings. Plus, any bookings made by the tip of the day on Could 27 would even be eligible without cost luggage, so if you already know your journey plans for later this yr, and even the vacations, you may contemplate locking that flight in by the tip of the day Tuesday.
The way to get free luggage on Southwest
Past that, Southwest has laid out just a few new methods passengers will be capable of retain free luggage when flying with the airline:
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- Passengers who e book the service’s highest-level Enterprise Choose fare will get two free luggage. Later this yr, Enterprise Choose will turn into “Selection Further” when Southwest begins promoting assigned seating for 2026. This fare class will finally embody entry to the service’s new further legroom seats.
- Fast Rewards members who earn A-Listing Most well-liked elite standing will nonetheless get two free checked luggage.
- A-Listing members will get one free bag.
- All Southwest Fast Rewards cobranded Chase bank card holders will get one free checked bag.
Why is Southwest ending luggage fly free?
Southwest is essentially following within the footsteps of its prime opponents in setting the costs for its first-ever bag charges.
The “Large Three” community airways (American Airways, Delta Air Traces and United Airways) every cost $35 for the primary checked bag, although in some circumstances, it’s a must to meet sure standards to get that value, resembling paying in your bag forward of time.
It is the most recent instance of Southwest making a transfer to look much more like its opponents, from ditching its two-free-bags coverage that largely stood alone within the U.S. airline trade, to ending its hallmark open seating coverage and overhauling its one-of-a-kind boarding coverage.
In making the transfer, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan cited a necessity to spice up the airline’s income, which have been lackluster in recent times.
Final yr, executives stated Southwest’s free luggage coverage was among the many prime causes prospects selected to fly the airline over its opponents.
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