Southwest Baggage Fees, Policies, & FAQs In 2023

[{"selector":"#anim-d5a6e9ef-64d0-4b81-b805-f7b28ae2a898","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9d8a3cd-8274-4898-81f6-c926d5e75ce1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9ac3299-1adb-4cfe-9d4e-9d7ee5eab08f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -428.79401%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":650,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Southwest Airlines has a unique baggage policy. Simple service is one reason Southwest Airlines has a cult following of passionate fans.

[{"selector":"#anim-3cea8d5d-1c8f-45a9-8e92-c7f01374575a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-549c9155-f85f-43f9-8c2e-ad0e831cc4d6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79acddd0-cbec-44b6-8ded-a45952ac1fb2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1fe4b90-3df4-4d7c-a026-5394c2cbba0b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -566.2803%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Southwest luggage costs are straightforward and affordable. Southwest Airlines' luggage cost is the lowest of all airlines.

[{"selector":"#anim-16dd858b-ee7b-4c1a-a56a-d2e42f4510fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2f6d453-e137-4eb7-963a-5155bdddb676","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9211088-27b7-414c-8019-f979cc1cf356","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4324edd-a658-426c-b789-7b1e6eea9001","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -566.2803%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

First two checked baggage are free in all fare classes. Extra costs cost $75 per item.

[{"selector":"#anim-f5d833b6-f0ab-49c1-9891-92e36fe2f86a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d12d361e-c4ad-4108-b26c-fdf0b83f854f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3fe92e4-0554-4ee0-be79-dc09e2c149a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7880a344-5b10-4e8a-bb69-edfd5258e2f3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -730.84946%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Many travelers wonder how Southwest tickets are so inexpensive and include free checked bags. Let's examine Southwest's checked and carry-on baggage fees.

[{"selector":"#anim-d9c32b12-a4a8-435b-b1f4-73bf357099d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2533c3e9-7b6d-4455-aefd-bcbd38b347d1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f297621-6859-4e0c-9ba6-1e599b7de150","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b145459-0352-42d1-89e4-3b403f27043a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -413.58028%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Southwest is the only airline offering two free checked baggage. Two baggage fly free with any fare.

[{"selector":"#anim-82bab737-4f50-4d87-802a-ee89d457a035","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60be52ea-1d81-4fb2-b84f-8c7819198c20","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-efdef0aa-ab36-49bf-a528-ff42400137aa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc1554d3-725c-4e3a-a73e-10f536d9ff2d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -566.2803%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

All checked luggage cannot exceed 50 lbs. All checked luggage cannot exceed 62 inches. Oversized and overweight checked bags cost extra.

[{"selector":"#anim-5b516db0-9ee4-4588-919f-8c33c6f2dbad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf3e6679-8e42-4b6c-b431-13eea7757502","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c16e6a55-5954-473e-a456-e95a4118a504","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73a94b8e-cd04-4ee8-9ebf-7e8ad5aa4e6b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -477.62122%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Checked Bags: Extra Costs Overweight fees: $75 Overcharge: $75 Avoid Baggage Fees with Two Tips

[{"selector":"#anim-a8881320-089e-4486-8119-e426b3a986c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4dbeef1f-32f4-447f-b25a-f186dffaa774","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7eb3172c-60ec-4401-b838-ff1494a2418c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-859a50f3-d655-4a4f-9b40-941719c387c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -566.2803%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Insider tip: Active duty and permanent change of station military do not pay extra checked luggage costs. Oversized and overweight bags are free.

[{"selector":"#anim-35ce44ad-c7a3-405e-a761-544dcb0812c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7004e7e4-89b4-4fe3-8a68-2b9779b9b5c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d624d970-5d86-4e81-819c-570529e6d399","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4061309a-eaea-4015-bd35-faf718bdc55f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -477.62122%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Southwest permits two free checked bags, but you may pay for others. These cards below offset the cost when it happens.

[{"selector":"#anim-e2c2ac3c-9c92-4fc1-8905-03822763e5d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a293e114-e070-4aa3-83ab-3f7704105a80","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92ec2b4b-7bf1-489b-b98c-de7e0748ca6e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcd7a6d5-34ca-4cde-a523-490a3b188b8c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -566.2803%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Southwest contains many exclusions and waivers. Oversize or overweight media camera equipment is free. Some sporting equipment can fly free

[{"selector":"#anim-488fd124-f3ec-4b0c-8620-2ebbc725f1c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4da886e-2e00-467a-afa0-2709bae8a028","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -345.29913%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09a3b449-1f24-4f25-a381-0be22e157da0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df3c4adb-c6e4-4847-9bb6-fe96afd523e9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -477.62122%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":475,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Swipe Up To See More Stories