Southwest Airlines cancels free checked baggage: what will change?
11 march 2025 в 20:37
Southwest Airlines is changing one of its policies after canceling the option of free seat selection. Now the company is getting rid of the widely popular bonus: free baggage allowance. This move comes in response to the changing economic landscape for all airlines, as many have raised prices and changed their baggage allowance and seat upgrade policies.
Below you will learn about recent changes in Southwest Airlines' policy.
Until May 28, 2025, Southwest Airlines will allow free baggage allowance. The airline will begin charging for the first and second baggage allowance for each passenger, except for A-list loyalty program participants or those traveling on a business fare, CNN reports.
For decades, Southwest’s signature promise has been free baggage allowance. Even as competitors raised baggage prices, the airline remained firm in its policy — until now.
Southwest CEO Bob Jordan cited «profitability» as the reason for changing the baggage allowance fee. According to a press release statement, Jordan said, «We have a huge opportunity to meet the current and future needs of customers, attract new customer segments we are not currently competing for, and return to levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect».
No other American airline provides free baggage allowance for all customers. Some companies offer free baggage allowance for certain customers, such as rewards program participants.
According to CNN, Southwest Airlines did not specify how much baggage allowance will cost from May 2025. The company also did not specify when it will cancel its free seat selection policy. However, in July 2024, Southwest announced that it will switch to assigned seating for passengers.
«Research clearly shows that 80% of Southwest customers and 86% of potential customers prefer assigned seating», - Southwest said in a statement. «By transitioning to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to expand its appeal and attract more passengers from among its current and future customers»
Below you will learn about recent changes in Southwest Airlines' policy.
Until May 28, 2025, Southwest Airlines will allow free baggage allowance. The airline will begin charging for the first and second baggage allowance for each passenger, except for A-list loyalty program participants or those traveling on a business fare, CNN reports.
For decades, Southwest’s signature promise has been free baggage allowance. Even as competitors raised baggage prices, the airline remained firm in its policy — until now.
Southwest CEO Bob Jordan cited «profitability» as the reason for changing the baggage allowance fee. According to a press release statement, Jordan said, «We have a huge opportunity to meet the current and future needs of customers, attract new customer segments we are not currently competing for, and return to levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect».
No other American airline provides free baggage allowance for all customers. Some companies offer free baggage allowance for certain customers, such as rewards program participants.
According to CNN, Southwest Airlines did not specify how much baggage allowance will cost from May 2025. The company also did not specify when it will cancel its free seat selection policy. However, in July 2024, Southwest announced that it will switch to assigned seating for passengers.
«Research clearly shows that 80% of Southwest customers and 86% of potential customers prefer assigned seating», - Southwest said in a statement. «By transitioning to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to expand its appeal and attract more passengers from among its current and future customers»
© Kolganov Andrey
