Southwest Airlines Introduces Checked Bag Fees: What You Need to Know

New Checked Bag Fees

• ✈️ Southwest Airlines will begin charging for checked bags on new tickets starting Wednesday.
• 💰 The fee will be $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second bag.

Impact on Travelers

• 😔 Travelers like Jennifer Sorrels, who previously valued Southwest for its free checked bags, are expressing disappointment.
• 📈 For passengers like Taj Von, who frequently travels with multiple bags, these new fees could significantly increase travel costs.

Exceptions to the Fees

• 🌟 Frequent flyers with status, holders of Southwest credit cards, and passengers on more expensive fares will continue to check bags for free.

Broader Southwest Changes

• 📉 These changes coincide with a period of declining earnings for Southwest.
• 🛠️ Other recent modifications include layoffs, changes to point earning, addition of redeye flights, and the upcoming removal of open seating.
• 🗣️ Passengers perceive these changes as the airline seeking additional revenue.