Southwest Airlines Baggage Fees & How To Avoid Paying Them!

BY 

Erin Miller

- March 23, 2017October 4, 2018

1. Travel Guides & Resources  / 
2. Airline Guides

Full Disclosure: We may be compensated when you click on links to credit card products from our advertising partners, such as American Express, Chase & Barclays. Opinions on this site are ours alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer. See our Advertiser Disclosure for more details. Thanks!

Next Article JetBlue Baggage Fees & How to Avoid Paying Them

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
American Express® Gold Card	$100 airline fee credit per calendar year on your previously designated airline. BRAND NEW CARD! Earn 25,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 3 months. Receive 20% back as a statement credit at U.S. Restaurants within the first 3 months, up to $100 back. Offer available to new Card Members who apply by 1/9/2019. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at US restaurants. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Terms Apply. Annual Fee: $250
The Platinum Card® from American Express How We Get $1,500+ In Value From This Card (Per Year) >	$200 airline fee credit per calendar year on your previously designated airline. Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Access more than 1,100 airport lounges across 120 countries and counting, including the amazing Centurion® lounges. Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually. $200 Airline Fee Credit. Terms. Annual Fee: $550
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	$200 airline fee credit per calendar year on your previously designated airline. Welcome Offer: Earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points. Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 & an extra 25,000 points after you spend an additional $10,000 all on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com. Access more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries and counting, including the amazing Centurion® lounges. Terms. Annual Fee: $450
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants. Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select Annual Fee: $450

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.

To see more airline baggage fees and policies, click here.