What baggage fees may apply on an itinerary with Southwest Airlines?

Southwest's current fee table distinguishes the fare product and loyalty, card or other traveler benefits. Match the exact ticketing or change date and trip context before deciding whether a checked-bag charge applies.

Important exceptions

  • A fare or traveler benefit must be current and applicable to the exact ticket; it is not automatic for every traveler.
  • Oversize, overweight or additional bags can follow a different charge than an ordinary checked bag.

What to do next

  1. Read the current fare product

    Use the fare shown on the reservation rather than a prior Southwest product.

  2. Check the controlling date

    Match the ticketing or change date to Southwest's current official fee table.

  3. Verify traveler benefits

    Confirm any loyalty, card or other benefit that actually applies to the ticket.

  4. Classify each bag

    Check bag count, size and weight before treating the ordinary charge as the final result.

More booking questions

Why does the Southwest fare product matter for baggage fees?

Southwest's reviewed fee table distinguishes the fare product, so the product on the current ticket is part of the answer.

What this depends on

  • Southwest's fee table distinguishes fare products and loyalty, card or other traveler benefits rather than publishing one universal checked-bag price.

Confirm before booking

  • The fare product on the current ticket.

Checked againstSouthwest optional travel chargesSouthwest checked baggage policy

Which date should I use when checking Southwest's fee table?

Use the ticketing or change date specified by the current official table, not the date a traveler first saw an older rule.

What this depends on

  • The current fee must be checked against the exact trip and the ticketing or change date shown in the current official table.

Confirm before booking

  • The ticketing or change date used by the current fee table.

Checked againstSouthwest optional travel chargesSouthwest checked baggage policy

Can a Southwest loyalty or card benefit change the charge?

A current loyalty or card benefit may change the result when it applies to the traveler and ticket. Confirm the benefit and the bag's count, size and weight before relying on it.

Confirm before booking

  • Any applicable loyalty, card or other traveler benefit.
  • The bag count, size and weight.

Checked againstSouthwest optional travel chargesSouthwest checked baggage policy

Sources and last checked