Southwest Airlines Baggage Fees & How To Avoid Paying Them!
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Southwest Airlines has the single most clear-cut (and cheapest!) baggage policy of any airline. Thank You, Southwest!
Your first two checked bags are FREE with any fare, and the extra/excess fees are a simple $75 each.
Southwest is one budget airline where you definitely won’t get stuck with hidden baggage fees.
Southwest Carry-On Allowance:
1 personal item: FREE
1 standard carry-on bag: FREE
Size Restrictions
- Personal: 13.5″ x 8.5″ x 18.5″
- Standard: 24″ x 16″ x 10″
Lap Infant Carry-On Policy
- undisclosed
Stroller Check Policy
- Southwest allows strollers to be checked at the curb, ticket counter, or gate free of charge.
Southwest Checked Baggage Allowance:
All checked bags must adhere to a max weight of 50lbs and must adhere to max linear dimensions of 62 inches.
Southwest is the only Airline that provides TWO FREE CHECKED BAGS for all fares.
1st Bag: FREE
2nd Bag: FREE
3rd+ Bags: $75
Additional / Excess Baggage Fees:
Overweight Fee: $75
Oversized Fee: $75
Credit Cards That Reimburse You For Checked Bag Fees
Unlike Spirit Airlines, Southwest has a generous checked bag policy that allows two bags per person. If you are taking a big trip and need additional checked bags, you can use one of the cards below to offset the cost.
| Credit Card | Card & Fee Reimbursement Details |
|---|---|
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card |
|
American Express® Gold Card |
|
The Platinum Card® from American Express How We Get $1,500+ In Value From This Card (Per Year) > |
|
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
|
Military traveling on active duty or permanent change of station orders – 3rd+ bags FREE; no charge for overweight/ oversized bags
Exclusions & Waivers:
No charge for overweight/ oversized large media camera equipment
Plus, some special sporting items fly free as well! (subject to certain restrictions)
“Any of the items listed below may be checked in substitution of one piece of the free Checked Baggage allowance for each Passenger at no charge on a one-item-for-one-bag basis. If the item of sporting equipment exceeds 50 pounds in weight or 62 inches in size (outside length plus height plus width), excess weight and size charges may apply.”
- Archery Equipment
- Baseball/Softball Equipment
- Boogie/Knee Board
- Bowing Bag
- Bicycles
- hard-sided bicycle box falling w/in 62″/50lb limits
- Fishing Rod & Tackle Box
- limited to 91″ in length, 3″ diameter
- counts as ONE item even if packed separately
- Golf Bag
- hard-sided golf bag
- excess size charges waived; excess weight charges may apply
- Hockey/Lacrosse Sticks
- Up to two bags allowed to count as ONE item, even if packed separately
- Kiteboard
- Knives, Dress Sabers, Swords
- checked bags only
- Parachutes
- carry-on or checked bag
- may not be worn in flight
- Scuba Equipment
- air tanks must be empty
- Skateboard
- carry-on or checked
- Snow Ski Equipment
- Up to 2 bags (one set of equipment) allowed to count as ONE item, even if packed separately
- excess size charges waived; excess weight charges may apply
- Water Ski Equipment
- excess size charges waived; excess weight charges may apply
For other baggage fees related to special luggage (sporting equipment, musical instruments, etc.) please refer to Southwest Airlines’ policy here.
