Southwest Checked Baggage: Free Allowances, Size and Fees

The old claim that every Southwest passenger gets two checked bags free is out of date. Southwest charges for checked bags on Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares unless an eligible benefit applies. Choice Extra fares and Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred include two free standard checked bags on eligible Southwest flights. A-List Members and eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers receive one free standard checked bag, subject to the program terms.

Check Southwest's fare information and Optional Travel Charges for the rules and charges tied to your reservation. Free-bag benefits do not necessarily apply on partner-carrier itineraries.

First and second bag: dated mainland example

For U.S. Mainland travel on Basic, Choice or Choice Preferred, without an eligible free-bag benefit, Southwest publishes these one-way USD amounts:

Source: Optional Travel Charges, the two U.S. Mainland tables. Interisland Hawaii, group bookings and benefit holders have separate rows. Use your reservation's conditions; the table is not a universal quote.

Standard checked-bag limits

These limits come from Southwest's checked-bag policy. For example, a 28 × 19 × 10 inch case totals 57 linear inches before any protruding wheels or handles are included.

A bag can be accepted but still incur overweight or oversized charges. Bags above the airline's acceptance limits may not travel as checked baggage. Check the current charge and acceptance details before packing a borderline bag.

Ordinary-bag acceptance and child equipment

Southwest's current contract, sections 7c and 7e excludes ordinary checked bags above 80 total inches or 100 lb. Sports equipment, musical instruments and assistive devices have separate exceptions; do not apply this ordinary-suitcase threshold to every special item. Fees below the acceptance ceiling still apply, and a destination embargo can impose a narrower limit.

Child strollers and restraints have separate free-carriage conditions. Gate-checked equipment normally goes to baggage claim at the final destination; request jet-bridge return from the agent when handing it over if needed. Portable/folding cribs and pack-and-plays count as ordinary checked bags. The infant and equipment pages differ on whether the free equipment count is per child or per ticketed customer, so confirm multiple sets. See the equipment policy.

When additional charges apply

• First and second bags: Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred normally have checked-bag fees. Fare, tier, and eligible card benefits can change the charge.
• Additional bags: Bags beyond a free allowance or beyond the first two can incur extra-bag charges.
• Overweight or oversized bags: Standard bag fees and additional charges can apply together. Southwest's fee schedule explains the applicable combination.
• Restricted destinations: Some routes have seasonal or year-round baggage embargoes that limit extra, oversized, or overweight baggage.

Do not use a single fee number from an older guide for every itinerary. Southwest's Optional Travel Charges page specifies booking conditions, and the price attached to your reservation is the relevant quote.

Sports equipment and instruments

Acceptance depends on the item. Southwest lists bicycles, golf clubs, skis, surfboards, and other items in its sports-equipment guidance. Listed equipment can be treated as a standard checked bag; oversized fees may be waived for qualifying items, while standard checked-bag, excess-bag, or overweight charges may still apply. Do not assume every sports item is free or that one flat surcharge covers all of them.

Musical instruments have separate rules, including a standard checked-bag charge and an oversized-fee waiver for qualifying instruments. Packaging and acceptance limits matter.

Before you leave

Measure the whole case, weigh it at home, and check the baggage allowance shown for each traveler and flight. You can check bags digitally after check-in where available; Southwest says overweight and oversized charges must be paid at the airport. See how online bag check works. If your itinerary includes a partner carrier, verify that carrier's rules too.

Would a cabin bag be enough?

If you can reduce what you pack, check your bag against Southwest’s cabin allowance. This is a size and cabin-entitlement check, not a checked-bag fee quote. Read the carry-on guide for the separate cabin rules, or compare every carrier on your trip.