Long story short: Starting on May 28, if you book a flight on Southwest, you're probably going to have to pay to check your bags. (If you book on May 27 or earlier, the old bag policy still applies.)
With Southwest's reputation for low-cost, no-frills travel, the addition of baggage fees could significantly affect its customer base. At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, a major Southwest hub, passengers shared their thoughts on the change.
For one man heading to Las Vegas on his first-ever Southwest flight, it was the first he'd heard of the new bag policy.
"I actually chose Southwest because of the free bags," he said. "That was a huge perk for me. I'm definitely going to think twice about where I book my next flight."
Other travelers, however, took a more measured approach. Two women who were heading home to California said that they didn't love the idea of paying for checked bags but wouldn't be swapping airlines unless the price difference became too significant.
"If the fare is similar, we'll stick with Southwest," one said. "But we will definitely pack differently. We're going to be mindful about the baggage fees now and make sure we're not overpacking."
Meanwhile, a Texas woman, also returning home, said she'll consider switching airlines in the future.
"For personal travel, yeah, I'll probably look at other airlines if the price difference is too high," she admitted. "I usually fly Southwest for sports, and my company covers any extra costs there, but for personal trips, I would use other airlines if it's going to cost more for this one."
Though folks at Sky Harbor seemed to take the news with equanimity, people on the internet weren't so sanguine about getting jobbed yet again by a big corporation.
In particular, the Southwest Airlines subreddit has been losing its mind for the past two days, with dozens of posts expressing feelings of disappointment, betrayal and obscenity-laced anger.
Comment
byu/Dangerous_Bottle_773 from discussion
inSouthwestAirlines
13 years of loyalty, poof, gone
byu/AncientJellyfish9350 inSouthwestAirlines
The free checked bag policy "was really the main reason I stayed with southwest. No reason to stay with them now," wrote u/joshs_wildlife.
U/Intelligent_Age_6284 was even more fired up: "Fuck southwest fuck everyone in management fuck them all I hope that [expletive] fucking company gets driven so far into the depths of hell and never recovers. Thanks for coming to my rant."
The free checked bags aren't going away for everyone, just us peasants. Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and those traveling on Business Select fares will still enjoy two free checked bags. A-List Members and other select customers will receive one free checked bag.
Southwest's decision to introduce baggage fees comes as part of a broader strategy to refine its Rapid Rewards loyalty program. Under the new system, customers will earn more points on Business Select fares and fewer points on Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares. Additionally, the airline will introduce variable redemption rates on flights, with higher-demand flights costing more points to redeem. Southwest has also created a Basic fare for its lowest-priced tickets, which will include the new baggage fees but will also start offering assigned seating and extra legroom options.
As Southwest Airlines moves forward with these changes, the airline may have to weigh how much its loyal customers are willing to pay for the perks that once made it stand out from the competition. For now, it's clear that many travelers are paying close attention, and they won't forget what they're asked to pay for next.
