Southwest Bags Fly Free Policy Explained (2026)

Southwest Airlines is the only major US carrier that includes two free checked bags for all passengers on all fare types, with no membership tier or credit card required. This policy — marketed as "Bags Fly Free" — is one of the most significant differentiators in US airline pricing and affects whether Southwest is actually cheaper than its competitors once total costs are compared.

What Is Included

Every Southwest passenger receives:

• 2 free checked bags per person, up to 50 lbs (23 kg) each
• 1 free carry-on bag (must fit in overhead bin)
• 1 free personal item (must fit under the seat in front of you)

This allowance is the same regardless of which Southwest fare you book: Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away+, Anytime, or Business Select. There is no basic economy tier that strips bag benefits.

Why Southwest's Model Is Different

Most US airlines use a tiered fare model where the cheapest fares (basic economy) include no checked bags and sometimes no carry-on bins. Southwest's model is structurally different for two reasons.

No assigned seating. Southwest uses open seating, where passengers choose any available seat after boarding. This is tied to boarding position (A, B, or C group, numbered 1–60). Without assigned seats, there is less incentive to create fare classes that strip features — the entire boarding system is based on order, not fare tier.

Point-to-point routing. Southwest primarily flies direct routes rather than the hub-and-spoke model used by American, Delta, and United. This operational structure keeps costs lower in some areas, giving Southwest more pricing flexibility to include bag fees in the base fare without losing margin.

What Is NOT Free on Southwest

Despite the "Bags Fly Free" branding, several situations result in fees:

Overweight bags: Bags between 50–70 lbs (23–32 kg) are charged $75 per bag. Bags over 70 lbs are not accepted.

Oversized bags: Bags with combined dimensions (length + width + height) over 62 linear inches (157 cm) are charged $75 per bag.

Third and fourth checked bags: Only the first two checked bags per passenger are free. Additional bags are charged $75 each.

Sporting equipment: Some sporting equipment — surfboards, bikes, golf clubs — has specific rules and may be charged as oversized.

Expedited baggage delivery: If you request faster baggage delivery at the destination, this is a paid service at some airports.

Comparison With Other US Airlines

Airline	1st Checked Bag	2nd Checked Bag	Carry-On (Basic Economy)
Southwest	Free	Free	Free (all fares)
American	$35–$40	$45–$65	Not included (basic)
Delta	$35	$45	Not included (basic)
United	$35–$40	$45	Not included (basic)
Spirit	$69–$99+	$69–$99+	$79–$99+
Frontier	$49–$89+	$49–$89+	$49–$89+

Fees listed for American, Delta, and United apply to non-elite passengers without the carrier's co-branded credit card. With the right credit card, the first checked bag is often free on these carriers, narrowing the gap.

Spirit and Frontier charge for carry-on bags on their lowest fares, making their headline prices misleading compared to Southwest's all-in model.

Southwest vs American, Delta, United: The Real Cost Comparison

The "Southwest is cheaper" assumption requires a specific traveler profile to be true:

Southwest is likely cheaper for: Passengers checking 1–2 bags, families traveling together (bag savings multiply per person), travelers without elite status or airline credit cards on legacy carriers.

Legacy carriers may match or beat Southwest for: Carry-on-only travelers with an airline credit card who qualify for a free first checked bag anyway, elite status holders who already receive free bags, or routes where Southwest fares are priced significantly higher than legacy competitors.

The correct approach is to compare total trip cost: base fare plus any bag fees. Southwest's total cost is easy to calculate because there are no bag fees to add.

Rapid Rewards and Bags

Southwest's frequent flier program, Rapid Rewards, earns points on base fare spending. Since bags are free, there are no bag fees to earn points on — but you also never pay bag fees, which is the more valuable outcome for most travelers.

Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as you have qualifying activity every 24 months, which is one of the more generous expiration policies among US carriers.

Tips for Southwest Travelers

Board early to secure overhead bin space. Carrying on a bag still competes for overhead space, and Southwest's open seating means earlier boarding positions (A group) have better access to bins near their chosen seat. A-List status, Upgraded Boarding (paid at the gate), or holding the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card all move you toward the front.

Weigh checked bags before departure. The $75 overweight fee applies at 50 lbs, which is lower than many travelers expect. Pack to 45–47 lbs to leave buffer for scale variance at the airport.

Use the personal item allowance. Even with 2 free checked bags, bringing a personal item (a tote bag or small backpack that fits under the seat) on board gives you immediate access to items you need during the flight without retrieving from overhead bins.

Check the change policy. Southwest allows fare changes and cancellations with no change fee on most tickets — the value of the original ticket is applied as a travel credit. This makes Southwest lower-risk for bookings made in advance.