Southwest Airlines starts charging many flyers to check bags this week

Set your alarm. Southwest Airways clients have solely someday to go earlier than the corporate begins charging to verify luggage for the primary time in additional than half a century.

Beginning Wednesday, Southwest will finish its blanket “two luggage fly free” coverage.

It was a perk that was sacrosanct amongst clients and the airways’ longtime executives alike, setting the airline other than opponents. However baggage charges introduced in practically $7.3 billion for U.S. airways final 12 months, based on federal knowledge, and Southwest executives who’ve lengthy vowed to carry onto the coverage have been underneath strain to lift income.

The airline hasn’t but mentioned how a lot it’s going to cost to verify luggage, however rivals typically cost about $35 or $40 for a primary checked bag for home flights, although there are some exceptions.

Together with beginning to cost for checked luggage, Southwest has introduced main adjustments to its enterprise mannequin over the previous 12 months, like eliminating open seating. The service can also be debuting basic-economy tickets like these bought by Delta Air Traces, American Airways and United Airways on Wednesday.

This is what vacationers ought to know concerning the finish of free luggage on Southwest:

Southwest will not supply two free checked luggage with many tickets bought on or after Wednesday. For tickets bought earlier than then, a Southwest spokesman mentioned the service will honor the phrases of these fares, like the 2 free checked luggage.

The charges will apply to its no-frills Primary, its Wanna Get Away Plus and its Anytime fares.

Southwest introduced the coverage in March after months of strain from activist Elliott Funding Administration, which took a stake within the airline final 12 months and received 5 board seats, pushing for main adjustments on the firm like its free checked luggage, changeable tickets and open seating.

Sure. Vacationers with top-tier standing in Southwest’s Fast Rewards loyalty program will get two free checked luggage, as will clients within the highest-level Enterprise Choose fares.

Prospects with a Southwest Airways co-branded bank card and their journey companions booked along with the identical card will not get charged for his or her first customary checked bag.

A-Record frequent flyer members, the second-highest tier within the loyalty program, may even get their first bag checked freed from cost.

Southwest on Wednesday may even begin promoting basic-economy tickets.

With the brand new Primary fare, clients will not be capable to make adjustments to their tickets, they will be among the many final clients to board and their fare credit will expire in six months, in contrast with 12 months for different ticket courses.

In one other change, the airline is ending its Wanna Get Away fare, which was the bottom tier ticket earlier than the adjustments.

Southwest has been recognized for its open-seating mannequin for many years. Loyalists typically obsessively verify in a day earlier than their flight in hopes of scoring a good boarding slot.

However later this 12 months, Southwest says it’s going to begin promoting tickets for flights in 2026 that can have seat assignments. Additionally it is outfitting its planes with additional legroom seats, like a lot of its opponents, that fetch increased costs.

Southwest executives have advised employees that they anticipate passengers to hold on extra baggage (these insurance policies without spending a dime carry-ons aren’t altering) and have mentioned the airline is putting in bigger overhead bins on its Boeing fleet, which ought to assist with an inflow of carry-on luggage.

Executives have additionally mentioned employees will get cell bag-tag printers at gates and airport lobbies to help clients.

Southwest can hardly put up on social media — even about infants and puppies on board — with out getting indignant feedback concerning the modified baggage coverage.

However CEO Bob Jordan advised CNBC final month that the coverage change announcement the corporate made on March 11 hasn’t deterred clients.

“We have now seen no book-down on that day or after that day,” he mentioned on “Squawk on the Road” on April 24.