Southwest Airlines is raising checked bag fees amid higher jet fuel costs [View all]

Source: The Associated Press

Southwest Airlines is raising checked baggage fees by $10, less than a year after ending its “bags fly free” perk that long set it apart, as jet fuel costs have jumped since the start of the Iran war.

Customers checking one bag will pay $45 starting on Thursday, while a second will now cost $55, according to Southwest. Some travelers will still receive a free first checked bag, including certain loyalty-tier members, eligible co-branded credit card holders and active-duty military members.

The move was made “as part of an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop,” the Texas-based carrier said in a statement.

Southwest ended its generous, decades-old policy of allowing passengers to check two bags for free in May 2025, a move that marked a major shift for the carrier after years of marketing the perk as a key differentiator.

Read more: https://www.1011now.com/2026/04/08/southwest-airlines-is-raising-checked-bag-fees-amid-higher-jet-fuel-costs/

---

Some airlines, including Delta and Southwest, announced it would be increasing checked baggage fees.
Published: Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:50 PM EDT
Updated: 6 hours ago