{"id":211288,"date":"2026-04-08T16:10:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T16:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=211288\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T17:18:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T17:18:53","slug":"southwest-baggage-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-baggage-fees\/","title":{"rendered":"Southwest Airlines Increases Checked Bag Fees: What They Cost Now and How to Avoid Paying"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve probably heard the saying \u201cnobody rides for free.\u201d That sentiment used to go against everything Southwest stood for when it came to checked bags, but those days are long gone.<\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, unless you book an eligible fare, hold A-List or A-List Preferred status, or carry a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Rapid Rewards credit card<\/a>, your bags won\u2019t ride free anymore. In fact, you\u2019ll soon be paying more, as Southwest is increasing checked bag fees effective April 9, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what it costs to check a bag on Southwest Airlines and how to avoid paying for bags altogether.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#What_Does_Southwest_Airlines_Charge_for_Checked_Bags\">What Does Southwest Airlines Charge for Checked Bags?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Southwest_bag_fees_for_domestic_and_international_travel\">Southwest bag fees for domestic and international travel<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Southwest_bag_fees_for_interisland_Hawaii_travel\">Southwest bag fees for interisland Hawaii travel<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_to_Check_Bags_With_Southwest_for_Free\">How to Check Bags With Southwest for Free<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Carry_a_Southwest_credit_card\">Carry a Southwest credit card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Earn_A-List_or_A-List_Preferred_elite_status\">Earn A-List or A-List Preferred elite status<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Book_an_eligible_fare\">Book an eligible fare<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Use_a_credit_card_travel_credit_or_airline_fee_credit\">Use a credit card travel credit or airline fee credit<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"What_Does_Southwest_Airlines_Charge_for_Checked_Bags\">What Does Southwest Airlines Charge for Checked Bags?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Southwest Airlines first <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-adds-basic-fares-bag-fees\/\" rel=\"noopener\">began charging for checked bags<\/a> on <strong>May 28, 2025<\/strong>. Less than a year after ending its longtime \u201cBags Fly Free\u201d policy, the airline is already raising the cost to check a bag.<\/p>\n<p>On its &#8220;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/html\/customer-service\/travel-fees.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Optional Travel Charges<\/a>&#8221; webpage, Southwest has posted updated tables outlining the increased fees for first and second checked bags on flights booked, ticketed, and or changed on or after <strong>April 9, 2026<\/strong>. Pricing varies by destination, with separate tables for interisland Hawaii travel and all other routes.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Southwest_bag_fees_for_domestic_and_international_travel\">Southwest bag fees for domestic and international travel<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Here are Southwest\u2019s one-way bag fees for both domestic and international flights:<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-1070\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-1070 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Checked Bags<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">First Checked Bag<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Second Checked Bag<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Third Checked Bag<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Basic (formerly Wanna Get Away)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$45<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">$55<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Choice (formerly Wanna Get Away Plus)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$45<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">$55<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Choice Preferred (formerly Anytime)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$45<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">$55<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Choice Extra (formerly Business Select)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Free<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">A-List Members<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">$35<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">A-List Preferred Members<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation; must include Rapid Rewards account number at time of booking)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">$55<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Southwest Groups Customers (For itineraries ticketed on or after April 18, 2026.)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$45<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">$55<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Active-duty military<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Free<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>To put the April 9, 2026, increases in perspective, Southwest raised the cost of checking a first and second bag by $10 almost across the board.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Southwest_bag_fees_for_interisland_Hawaii_travel\">Southwest bag fees for interisland Hawaii travel<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>And here are Southwest\u2019s one-way bag fees for interisland Hawaii travel, which only apply to flights that both begin and end within Hawaii:<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-1071\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-1071 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Checked Bags<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">First Checked Bag<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Second Checked Bag<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Third Checked Bag<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Hawaii residents<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Free<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Non-Hawaii residents<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$30<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">$40<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Non-Hawaii residents who are Rapid Rewards A-List Members<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">$15 (price extends to member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Non-Hawaii residents who are Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free (member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">$50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Active-duty military<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Free<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>Notably, the cost of checking a first and second bag for non-Hawaii residents traveling interisland doubled with the April 9, 2026, fee increases.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_Check_Bags_With_Southwest_for_Free\">How to Check Bags With Southwest for Free<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are four easy ways to avoid paying Southwest Airlines $45 (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.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Carry_a_Southwest_credit_card\">Carry a Southwest credit card<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Southwest offers a variety of credit cards, and if you have one or are thinking about applying, you can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/credit-card-benefit-changes\/\" rel=\"noopener\">leverage it to check a bag for free on your next flight<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Every <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Rapid Rewards credit card<\/a>, from the $99 annual fee <a data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/SouthwestRapidRewardsPlusCreditCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Plus Credit Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005150&type=3&u1=996d748460dc2f74f9884f2ce3d1e9ed&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) to the $299 annual fee <a data-ccid=\"4048165\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseSouthwestPerformanceBusinessCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Performance Business Credit Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"4048165\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005149&type=3&u1=ffd7b19bc7fd414a0059ef1636676f76&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>), comes with the same perk: one free checked bag for the primary cardholder plus up to eight passengers on the same reservation.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"520080\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Plus Credit Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPlusCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Plus Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Plus Credit Card' data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/SouthwestRapidRewardsPlusCreditCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005150&type=3&u1=996d748460dc2f74f9884f2ce3d1e9ed&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Plus Credit Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$99<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Plus Credit Card is the most cost-effective option for enjoying Southwest benefits. Cardholders receive 25% back on inflight purchases, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points annually, all at a lower annual fee compared to other Southwest-branded cards. The card offers 3,000 anniversary points, and 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??>\n<html><body><ul><li>Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/li><li>3,000 anniversary points each year.<\/li><li>Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines&#xAE; purchases<\/li><li>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<\/li><li>Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.<\/li><li>Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.<\/li><li>Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.<\/li><li>No foreign transaction fees.<\/li><li>Member FDIC<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent on Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/SWPlus\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-5-25e9a7549b#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest Credit Cards: Get Bonus Miles, Travel Perks & a Fast-Track to the Companion Pass<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Earn_A-List_or_A-List_Preferred_elite_status\">Earn A-List or A-List Preferred elite status<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Whether you're a frequent flyer or just know how to stack tier-qualifying points, earning <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/a-list-elite-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">A-List or A-List Preferred status<\/a> 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:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A-List<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Domestic and international flights:<\/strong> Check one bag for free for yourself and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interisland Hawaii flights:<\/strong> Check one bag for free for yourself and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>A-List Preferred<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Domestic and international flights:<\/strong> Check two bags for free for yourself and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interisland Hawaii flights:<\/strong> Check two bags for free for yourself and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you hold either of these elite tiers and have a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-companion-pass\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Companion Pass<\/a>, the checked bag benefits also extend to your <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/change-southwest-companion-online\/\" rel=\"noopener\">designated companion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_121132\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-121132 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured.png\" alt=\"a Southwest heart-shaped logo inside the plane\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Lukas Souza\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Book_an_eligible_fare\">Book an eligible fare<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The third way to get a &#8220;free&#8221; 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 Extra, includes complimentary checked bags. If you book a Choice Extra fare, you\u2019ll be able to check two bags for free.<\/p>\n<p>That said, Choice Extra fares are typically much more expensive than Basic (most restrictive) or Choice (not as restrictive) fares. So if you\u2019re thinking about paying up just for the perk of two checked bags, do the math first. In most cases, you\u2019ll save more by booking a cheaper fare and just paying for the bags out of pocket.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Use_a_credit_card_travel_credit_or_airline_fee_credit\">Use a credit card travel credit or airline fee credit<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you fly Southwest a few times a year and regularly check bags \u2014 but don\u2019t fly enough to earn elite status or justify a co-branded card \u2014 you might consider using a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/cards-with-travel-statement-credit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">card with a travel credit or airline incidental fee credit<\/a> to cover the cost. Plenty of cards include these perks.<\/p>\n<p>One of the best options is the <a data-ccid=\"4048084\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseSapphireReserve\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Chase Sapphire Reserve<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"4048084\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1975477.10005148&type=3&subid=0b3776e90dfa3962e2c4aab660c7d2d68&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>). It comes with a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/sapphire-reserve-travel-credit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">$300 annual travel credit<\/a> 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\u2019s one of the most flexible travel credits out there.<\/p>\n<div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"4048084\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Chase Sapphire Reserve<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/565192b2-c5cc-4edc-89ae-b8bba7a63750.png\" width=\"150\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae' data-ccid=\"4048084\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseSapphireReserve\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048084\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1975477.10005148&type=3&subid=0b3776e90dfa3962e2c4aab660c7d2d68&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Chase Sapphire Reserve<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$795<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">Chase's flagship Ultimate Rewards card. You get a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access courtesy of a Priority Pass membership and industry-leading travel insurance benefits. New cardholders earn 150,000 bonus points bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??>\n<html><body><ul><li>Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/li><li>Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.<\/li><li>Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel&#x2120;, including The Edit&#x2120; and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases<\/li><li>$300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.<\/li><li>Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass&#x2122; Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge&#xAE; by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck&#xAE; every 4 years<\/li><li>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.<\/li><li>Count on Trip Cancellation\/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.<\/li><li>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 $288 annually<\/li><li>Member FDIC<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel\u2120<\/li>\r\n<li>4x points on flights and hotels booked directly<\/li>\r\n<li>3x points on dining worldwide<\/li>\r\n<li>1x points on all other purchases<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/SapphireReserve\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-5-25e9a7549b#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<p>Another option comes via <a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">American Express Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>. If you enroll and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/change-amex-airline-credit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">select Southwest as your preferred airline<\/a>, you can receive up to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-platinum-airline-credit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">$200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees<\/a>, including checked bags, when charged to your card.<\/p>\n<div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"4028089\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">American Express Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/e6901d88-1a35-4373-b3e1-9a2a445490a0.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"American Express Platinum Card\u00ae\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='American Express Platinum Card\u00ae' data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/platinum-card\/91101-10-0#offer-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><br>(Terms apply)<\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nAs High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">American Express Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nAs High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$895<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">Cardholders can access more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide, take advantage of up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, up to $209 in CLEAR+ credits, and TSA PreCheck<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> or Global Entry fee credits. The card also includes an annual hotel credit worth up to $600 on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> or The Hotel Collection bookings (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay), Hilton Honors\u2122 and Marriott Bonvoy<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Elite status, and a suite of benefits with Fine Hotels + Resorts<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. Additional perks include $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership credit (with applicable sales taxes and Plus Ups not include), up to $300 in annual digital entertainment credits, up to $300 Equinox credits, and up to $200 annual Uber Cash and $120 Uber One Credit. Enrollment required for select American Express benefits.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??>\n<html><body><ul><li>You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards&#xAE; points after you spend $12,000 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.<\/li><li>Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards&#xAE; points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel&#xAE;, including Fine Hotels + Resorts&#xAE; and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel&#xAE; on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.<\/li><li>With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection&#xAE;, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club&#xAE; 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.<\/li><li>$200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card&#xAE; you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card&#xAE; 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&#xAE; to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.<\/li><li>$300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card&#xAE; for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.<\/li><li>$600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts&#xAE; or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel&#xAE; using the Platinum Card&#xAE;. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.<\/li><li>$400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card&#xAE; to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. 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&#xAE;. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.<\/li><li>$209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card&#xAE;. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.<\/li><li>$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&#xAE; 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.<\/li><li>Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts&#xAE; through American Express Travel&#xAE;, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.<\/li><li>$300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card&#xAE; 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.<\/li><li>$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&#xAE;. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.<\/li><li>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.<\/li><li>$895 annual fee.<\/li><li>Terms Apply.<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>.<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn  5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and The Hotel Collection bookings.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/PlatinumCard\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-5-25e9a7549b#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/cards-with-travel-statement-credit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Best Credit Cards with Travel Credits and Airline Incidental Credits<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s frustrating to start paying for something that used to be free (and as of April 9, 2026, paying even more for it), but c\u2019est la vie.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, there are still a few ways to check a bag or two without paying, and some are relatively affordable. If you\u2019re sticking with Southwest Airlines, 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve probably heard the saying &#8220;nobody rides for free.&#8221; That sentiment used to go against everything Southwest stood for when it came to checked bags, but those days are long gone. Here\u2019s what you can expect to pay the next time you check bags with Southwest and how to avoid those fees altogether.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":192632,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12069],"tags":[12627,12674],"coauthors":[36432],"class_list":["post-211288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-fees-rules-and-policies","tag-southwest-airlines"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211288"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":257868,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211288\/revisions\/257868"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/192632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211288"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=211288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}