Southwest ends its trademark ‘bags fly free’ policy for many customers

 The bag charges will apply to flights booked on or after May 28. Customers with loyalty status will still be able to check one or two bags for free.

March 11, 2025 at 10:16 a.m. EDT

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Free checked bags has been a hallmark of Southwest Airlines for decades. (David Zalubowski/AP)

By Shannon Najmabadi

Southwest Airlines will stop offering two free checked bags to most customers.

The curtailment of one of the airline’s signature offerings — “Bags Fly Free” is listed as a company trademark — comes as it has faced investor pressure to boost profits. The carrier said in February it would lay off 15 percent of its workforce and last year abandoned the open-seating policy that helped establish its egalitarian identity.

The bag charges will apply to flights booked on or after May 28, the airline said in a Tuesday statement. Customers with loyalty status will continue to get some free bags; A-List members and some other customers will get one free checked bag while A-List Preferred members, and those booking business-select tickets will continue to get two, the airline said.