Southwest Airlines, known for free bags and open seating, is overhauling policies, leaving loyalists questioning if it’s still the airline they loved.

Southwest Airlines has changed its “bags fly free” policy and will now begin charging most customers a fee for checked bags, marking another major policy reversal for the budget airline.

Southwest Airlines will be removing its free-check bag benefit from many fare classes. The airline will still provide free checked bags to its Business Select fare class, and other frequent flyer levels.

Southwest Airlines will start charging many customers for checked bags in late May, marking the end of a longtime perk for the airline.

Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines announced this week that it will be ending its long-standing policy that two bags fly free for every ticketholder.

Alford, who is planning to move to New York City later this year, said she would "definitely" consider taking another airline now. Southwest's customer-friendly policies have survived recessions, oil price spikes and even the Covid-19 pandemic,

For a number of reasons, airfare prices have gone up and amenities like luggage check-in have are no longer free. Don’t expect that to change soon because the problems facing airlines

Southwest Airlines announced on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, a significant shift by discontinuing its iconic “Bags Fly Free” policy for most customers, a move timed just before the airline transitions to assigned seating in 2025-2026.