If you haven’t flown Southwest in the last year or two, this is the one thing to unlearn before you pack: bags don’t fly free anymore, at least not for most people.
Quick Answer: Southwest still gives every passenger a free carry-on (24 x 16 x 10 in) and a free personal item on every fare. Checked bags are a different story now as of April 9, 2026, the first bag costs $45 and the second costs $55, unless you hold A-List status, book a Choice Extra fare, or carry a Southwest credit card.
Southwest Baggage Allowance at a Glance
| Item | Current Southwest Allowance |
|---|---|
| Carry-on | Free, 24 x 16 x 10 in |
| Personal item | Free, must fit under seat |
| 1st checked bag | $45 on applicable fares |
| 2nd checked bag | $55 |
| 3rd checked bag | $150 |
| Choice Extra fare | 2 checked bags free |
| A-List Preferred | 2 checked bags free |
| A-List | 1 checked bag free |
| Rapid Rewards credit card | 1 checked bag free |
| Active-duty military | Free, subject to Southwest’s military baggage allowance |
Southwest Carry-On Baggage policy
The carry-on allowance hasn’t changed, and it’s genuinely bigger than what you’ll get on Delta or United.
Southwest’s 24 x 16 x 10-inch carry-on allowance is larger than Delta’s 22 x 14 x 9-inch limit enough that a bag that gets gate-checked on Delta for being oversized might sail through on Southwest without a second look.
There’s no published weight limit, but the practical rule is simple: you need to lift the bag into the overhead bin yourself. Gate agents won’t weigh it, but they will watch you struggle with it.
Every passenger may bring one carry-on and one personal item onboard, subject to Southwest’s size requirements. That part of the old Southwest hasn’t gone anywhere.
Choosing a Carry-On for Southwest’s Larger Allowance
Because Southwest’s limit runs bigger than most competitors, a bag built to fit tighter airlines like Delta or United will have room to spare here but a bag maxed out for Southwest’s exact 24 x 16 x 10 inch limit may not clear other carriers if you fly multiple airlines.
If you’re a Southwest loyalist, that extra size is worth using: look for a carry-on close to the full 24-inch height rather than settling for a 22-inch “universal” size that under-uses the allowance.
If you split your flying between Southwest and airlines with tighter carry-on limits, a slightly smaller expandable bag can give you more flexibility without worrying about a gate check. For a side-by-side look at Southwest, Delta, United, American, and other major carriers, see our Carry-On Rules 2026: Airline Size Limits, TSA Security Rules & Fees guide.
Southwest Personal Item Policy
Southwest doesn’t publish a fixed personal-item dimension on its current baggage page. The actual requirement is functional: the item has to fit under the seat in front of you.
You’ll see 16.25 x 13.5 x 8 inches quoted as “the” personal item size across a lot of travel sites. Treat that as a commonly used practical guideline, not an official Southwest number it isn’t one. Underseat space also isn’t identical across Southwest’s all-737 fleet, and a slightly larger soft-sided bag often fits where a rigid one built to an exact number won’t.
Backpacks, laptop bags, and purses all qualify. A diaper bag counts as an additional item when you’re traveling with an infant, on top of your carry-on and personal item. For tested picks against the underseat rule, see our best under-seat bags guide.
Southwest Checked Baggage Policy: What Travelers Need to Know
Southwest’s checked baggage rules are fairly straightforward, but the details matter once you’re standing at the airport with a fully packed suitcase. The two measurements to check before leaving home are size and weight.
A standard checked bag can measure up to 62 linear inches adding the length, width, and height together and weigh up to 50 pounds. Southwest includes the bag’s wheels and handles when measuring its overall size.
Southwest Checked Bag Size Limit
The standard maximum size is:
- 62 linear inches (L + W + H)
- Wheels and handles count toward the measurement
For example, a suitcase measuring 28 × 20 × 14 inches comes to exactly 62 linear inches, so it fits within the standard size limit.
Traveler tip: Don’t measure only the suitcase body. If the wheels or handles extend beyond the main case, include them when checking the dimensions.
Southwest Checked Bag Weight Limit
The standard weight limit is:
- 50 pounds per checked bag
If your suitcase is close to 50 pounds, weigh it before leaving for the airport. A few extra items added at the last minute can push a bag over the limit and potentially result in an additional charge.
Southwest Checked Baggage Fees (2026)
| Bag | Fee | Since |
|---|---|---|
| 1st checked bag | $45 | April 9, 2026 |
| 2nd checked bag | $55 | April 9, 2026 |
| 3rd checked bag | $150 | Unchanged since May 2025 |
Weight limit: 50 lb (23 kg) per bag. Size limit: 62 linear inches (length + width + height).
These fees apply to standard fares. The cheat sheet above covers every exemption if you hold A-List status, fly Choice Extra, or carry a Southwest card, check that table first.
How to Check a Bag With Southwest
Southwest gives travelers several ways to check their luggage.
You can indicate that you’re checking bags and pay applicable standard baggage fees online or in the Southwest app after checking in, beginning 24 hours before departure. Southwest says bags can be checked digitally up to 60 minutes before domestic departure and 90 minutes before international departure.
If you’d rather have an agent handle it, you can take your luggage to the Southwest ticket counter.
One important detail: if your bag requires an additional fee because of its weight or size, Southwest says the airport payment must be made using a physical credit card. Tap-to-pay, contactless cards, and mobile payments aren’t accepted for those additional charges.
Can You Track a Checked Bag?
Yes. Southwest also provides digital bag tracking, which lets you check the status of your luggage after you’ve handed it over to the airline.
Bottom line: Before heading to the airport, check three things: your bag’s total dimensions, weight, and applicable baggage fee for your particular trip. A suitcase that looks perfectly normal can still trigger an extra charge if it crosses Southwest’s 62-inch or 50-pound limits.
Overweight and Oversized Bags
Bags between 51 and 70 pounds typically run an extra $100; 71 to 100 pounds adds $200. Oversized bags — those running long on total dimensions carry their own surcharge on top of the standard fee.
Southwest has also historically waived the oversize charge for boxed sports equipment within certain size ranges, which is worth confirming directly if you’re checking skis or a bike.
Route-specific and international figures can differ from the domestic numbers above, so check your itinerary before you fly if you’re anywhere near these limits.
The End of Bags Fly Free
For 54 years, “Bags Fly Free” was the one thing everyone knew about Southwest. Two checked bags, no charge, on every ticket. It was baked into the airline’s ads, its gate signage, its whole identity since 1971.
That ended on May 28, 2025. Southwest announced the change on March 11 that year, and gave travelers about ten weeks to book under the old rules before the new ones kicked in. The first checked bag went to $35, the second to $45.
Southwest raised the fees again on April 9, 2026, amid a sharp increase in jet-fuel prices linked to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz the same pressure that pushed Delta, United, and JetBlue to raise their own bag fees around the same time. The new rate: $45 for the first bag, $55 for the second.
Southwest told investors the change could generate roughly $1.5 billion in annual revenue while potentially costing the airline up to $1.8 billion in revenue from customers who valued the free-bag benefit. That gives some context for the scale of the change.
If you’re flying United instead, our 7 Best 17×10×9 Personal Item Bags for United Airlines covers the smaller under-seat requirement.
Southwest vs. Delta: Quick Comparison
| Southwest | Delta | |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | 24 x 16 x 10 in | 22 x 14 x 9 in |
| Personal item (commonly cited, not official) | ~16 x 13 x 8 in | ~18 x 14 x 8 in |
| 1st checked bag | $45 | $45 |
| 2nd checked bag | $55 | $55 |
| 3rd checked bag | $150 | $150 |
At the time of this update, Southwest and Delta charge identical fees for the first, second, and third checked bag on applicable domestic fares. Southwest’s bigger carry-on allowance remains the clearest real difference between the two. For the full breakdown of Delta’s rules, see our Delta Air Lines Baggage Guide.
Checked September 2026. Personal-item measurements above are commonly cited third-party estimates, not figures either airline officially publishes both airlines only require the item to fit under the seat. Airline baggage policies can change; reverify before relying on this comparison.
Military Baggage Policy
Active-duty military customers are exempt from Southwest’s baggage fees including standard checked-bag charges, excess-bag charges, and overweight or oversized surcharges provided each piece doesn’t exceed 100 lb and 80 linear inches. Military members traveling on orders also aren’t held to the standard two-checked-bag limit that applies to most other exemptions.
Bring a valid military ID and your orders to check-in to confirm eligibility, and confirm the specifics for your route directly with Southwest, since exact documentation requirements can vary.
Baby and Family Travel
Strollers and FAA-approved car seats check free, separate from your carry-on and personal item. A diaper bag counts as an extra item, not part of your standard allowance.
If your infant is flying on your lap rather than a purchased seat, their gear typically counts toward your own carry-on and personal item limits plan your packing with that in mind.
Sports Equipment
Qualifying sports equipment is generally subject to Southwest’s standard checked-bag and overweight fees, while the airline waives the oversize fee specifically for listed sports equipment within its size allowances.
Bikes need a hard case or box and may still draw a size-related charge depending on packaging and total dimensions. Confirm the current fee for your specific equipment on Southwest’s site before you travel these figures shift more often than the standard bag fees do.
Pet Travel
Small cats and dogs can fly in the cabin in an approved carrier for a fee, and the carrier counts as your personal item. Space is limited per flight, so book your pet’s spot early rather than assuming there’s room.
How to Avoid Southwest Baggage Fees
- Fly with just a carry-on and personal item both are still free on every fare, so this is the simplest way to dodge the fee entirely.
- Get a Southwest co-branded credit card if you check bags more than once or twice a year. The free-bag perk usually covers the annual fee on its own.
- Book a Choice Extra fare or hold A-List Preferred status if you regularly check two bags the fare or status upgrade can cost less than paying per bag round-trip.
- Weigh your bag at home. A bag at 52 pounds costs you the standard fee plus a $100 overweight charge repacking two pounds into your carry-on is free.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming Southwest still means free bags for everyone. That ended in May 2025, and the fee has already gone up once since.
- Forgetting the credit-card perk. If you have an older Southwest card, its free-bag benefit is still active — check before you pay at the counter.
- Packing a carry-on to fit Delta or United’s smaller limit out of habit, and leaving Southwest’s extra room unused.
- Assuming oversize sports equipment is automatically fee-free. The waiver only covers the oversize charge standard and overweight fees can still apply.
How We Verify This Guide
We track Southwest’s official baggage and fee pages directly, and cross-check third-party figures against the airline’s own numbers before publishing.
Fare-tier names and exemption details get rechecked whenever Southwest updates its booking structure, since those change more often than the dollar amounts do.
FAQ
Does Southwest still have free checked bags?
For most passengers, no that ended May 28, 2025. A-List, A-List Preferred, Choice Extra fares, Southwest credit cardholders, and active-duty military still fly free.
When did Southwest end Bags Fly Free?
The airline announced it on March 11, 2025, and the new fees applied to tickets booked on or after May 28, 2025.
How much does a checked bag cost on Southwest now?
$45 for the first bag, $55 for the second, as of April 9, 2026. The third bag is $150.
Is Southwest’s carry-on bigger than Delta’s?
Yes. Southwest allows 24 x 16 x 10 inches; Delta caps out at 22 x 14 x 9 inches.
Who still gets free checked bags on Southwest?
A-List and A-List Preferred members, Choice Extra fare purchasers, Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardholders, and active-duty military.
Compare Before You Fly
This guide reflects Southwest’s baggage policy as of September 2026. Fees and fare-tier names change confirm current details on southwest.com before you fly.
