AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
You’ve probably heard the saying “nobody rides for free.” That sentiment used to go against everything Southwest stood for when it came to checked bags, but those days are long gone. Unless you book an eligible fare, hold A-List or A-List Preferred status, or carry a Rapid Rewards credit card, your bags won’t ride for free anymore. You’ll have to pay. But how much, exactly?
Here’s what you can expect to pay the next time you check bags with Southwest and how to avoid those fees altogether.
Page Contents
What Does Southwest Airlines Charge for Checked Bags?
Southwest Airlines announced in March 2025 that it would begin charging for checked bags on flights booked starting May 28, 2025. What the airline didn’t disclose at the time was how much those bags would actually cost. Now that the end of “Bags Fly Free” has come, we finally have the full details.
On its “Optional Travel Charges” webpage, Southwest has posted updated tables outlining fees for checked bags, carry-on bags and personal items (still free for now), and just about everything else. Checked bag pricing varies depending on your destination, with separate tables for interisland Hawaii travel and all other routes.
Southwest bag fees for domestic and international travel
Here are Southwest’s one-way bag fees for both domestic and international flights:
| Checked Bags | First Checked Bag | Second Checked Bag | Third Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (formerly Wanna Get Away) | $35 | $45 | $150 |
| Choice (formerly Wanna Get Away Plus) | $35 | $45 | $150 |
| Choice Preferred (formerly Anytime) | $35 | $45 | $150 |
| Choice Extra (formerly Business Select) | Free | Free | $150 |
| A-List Members | Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation) | $35 | $150 |
| A-List Preferred Members | Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation) | Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation) | $150 |
| Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers | Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation; must include Rapid Rewards account number at time of booking) | $45 | $150 |
| Active-duty military | Free | Free | $150 |
Southwest bag fees for interisland Hawaii travel
And here are Southwest’s one-way bag fees for interisland Hawaii travel, which only apply to flights that both begin and end within Hawaii:
| Checked Bags | First Checked Bag | Second Checked Bag | Third Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii residents | Free | Free | $50 |
| Non-Hawaii residents | $15 | $20 | $50 |
| Non-Hawaii residents who are Rapid Rewards A-List Members | Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation) | $15 (price extends to member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation) | $50 |
| Non-Hawaii residents who are Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members | Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation) | Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation) | $50 |
| Active-duty military | Free | Free | Free |
How to pay for checked bags on Southwest
If you need to pay Southwest for a checked bag, you might wonder how to do it. While you'd think you could pay either online or at the airport, only one option works. For now, the only way to pay is at the airport.
This quirk was first flagged by Thrifty Traveler and later confirmed by AwardWallet through Southwest’s customer support team. That said, it’s unclear how long the policy will remain in effect, and it’s not mentioned anywhere on Southwest’s website.
How to Check Bags With Southwest for Free
There are four easy ways to avoid paying Southwest Airlines $35 (or more) to check a bag: book an eligible fare, carry a Rapid Rewards credit card, earn elite status, or use a travel or airline fee credit to cover the cost.
Carry a Southwest credit card
Southwest offers a variety of credit cards, and if you have one or are thinking about applying, you can leverage it to check a bag for free on your next flight.
Every Rapid Rewards credit card, from the $99 annual fee Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees) to the $299 annual fee Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), now comes with the same perk: one free checked bag for the primary cardholder plus up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
Depending on how often you fly and check bags, this benefit, along with other perks that vary by card, can easily justify the annual fee. Just keep in mind that this free checked bag perk only applies to the primary cardholder, not authorized users.
- Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
- Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Free Bags, Seats, and More: 3 New Southwest Card Benefits to Debut as Soon as May 2025
Earn A-List or A-List Preferred elite status
Whether you're a frequent flyer or just know how to stack tier-qualifying points, earning A-List or A-List Preferred status can unlock free checked bags on Southwest for you and those traveling with you. Here's a look at what each elite tier gets you:
- A-List
- Domestic and international flights: Check one bag for free for yourself and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
- Interisland Hawaii flights: Check one bag for free for yourself and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
- A-List Preferred
- Domestic and international flights: Check two bags for free for yourself and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
- Interisland Hawaii flights: Check two bags for free for yourself and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
If you hold either of these elite tiers and have a Companion Pass, the checked bag benefits also extend to your designated companion.
Book an eligible fare
The third way to get a “free” checked bag on Southwest is by booking an eligible fare. Southwest recently revamped and renamed its fare structure, and now one of its fare types, Choice Preferred (formerly Business Select), includes complimentary checked bags. If you book a Choice Preferred fare, you’ll be able to check two bags for free.
That said, Choice Preferred fares are typically much more expensive than Basic (most restrictive) or Choice (not as restrictive) fares. So if you’re thinking about paying up just for the perk of two checked bags, do the math first. In most cases, you’ll save more by booking a cheaper fare and just paying for the bags out of pocket.
Use a credit card travel credit or airline fee credit
If you fly Southwest a few times a year and regularly check bags — but don’t fly enough to earn elite status or justify a co-branded card — you might consider using a card with a travel credit or airline incidental fee credit to cover the cost. Plenty of cards include these perks.
One of the best options is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees). It comes with a $300 annual travel credit that reimburses travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. If you use it to pay for checked bags, you could save a bundle over time. It’s one of the most flexible travel credits out there.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
Another option comes via American Express Platinum Card®. If you enroll and select Southwest as your preferred airline, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees, including checked bags, when charged to your card.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Even better, these credits can also be used to cover extra legroom seat selection fees, which Southwest will also begin charging for this year.
Related: Best Credit Cards with Travel Credits and Airline Incidental Credits
Final Thoughts
It’s frustrating to start paying for something that used to be free, but c’est la vie. Thankfully, there are still a few ways to check a bag or two without paying, and some are rather affordable. If you’re sticking with Southwest, the best options are picking up a Rapid Rewards co-branded credit card or working your way toward A-List or A-List Preferred status. The former, at least, can pay for itself pretty quickly.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), and American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
