Southwest Airlines baggage fees and fare rules

IATA: WN

Updated: 2025-12-24

Answer-first summary

Carry-on allowance

One carry-on bag and one personal item are published as included on all fares.

Personal item rules

The personal item must be stowable under a seat or in an overhead compartment under the published carry-on rule.

Checked bag baseline

Published first- and second-bag pricing is route-wide but fare-specific: pre-May 28, 2025 bookings show both bags at USD 0, while later Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred bookings show first- and second-bag pricing from USD 35 and USD 45 one-way.

Notable restrictions

Basic Fare lists no seat selection, same-day change is limited to Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra, and Choice Extra retains published free first and second checked bags on later bookings.

Core fee breakdown

Published rows below are grouped by fee type and retain the route, fare, and timing limits shown in this dataset.

Carry-on rules

See also the broader carry-on fee reference.

Applies to	Region / route	Amount	Timing	Conditions	Source
All fares	All routes	0.00 USD	per flight	Carryon + personal item included: (a) one carryon bag not exceeding 10 x 16 x 24 inches; and (b) one smaller personal item stowable under a seat or in an overhead compartment	Source

Personal item rules

The personal item must be stowable under a seat or in an overhead compartment under the published carry-on rule.

Checked baggage fees

See also the checked baggage fee reference. For a side-by-side baseline comparison, review Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines.

Applies to	Region / route	Amount	Timing	Conditions	Source
All fares	All routes	0.00 USD	each way	1st checked bag: free (applies to travel booked and ticketed before May 28, 2025)	Source
All fares	All routes	0.00 USD	each way	2nd checked bag: free (applies to travel booked and ticketed before May 28, 2025)	Source
Basic Fare	All routes	35.00 USD	one-way	1st checked bag (for travel booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025)	Source
Basic Fare	All routes	45.00 USD	one-way	2nd checked bag (for travel booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025)	Source
Choice Fare	All routes	35.00 USD	one-way	1st checked bag (for travel booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025)	Source
Choice Fare	All routes	45.00 USD	one-way	2nd checked bag (for travel booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025)	Source
Choice Preferred Fare	All routes	35.00 USD	one-way	1st checked bag (for travel booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025)	Source
Choice Preferred Fare	All routes	45.00 USD	one-way	2nd checked bag (for travel booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025)	Source
Choice Extra Fare	All routes	0.00 USD	one-way	1st checked bag: free (for travel booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025)	Source
Choice Extra Fare	All routes	0.00 USD	one-way	2nd checked bag: free (for travel booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025)	Source
All fares	All routes	150.00 USD	one-way	3rd+ checked bag (for travel booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025)	Source

Overweight baggage

Applies to	Region / route	Amount	Timing	Conditions	Source
All fares	All routes	100.00 USD	one-way	Overweight item: 51–70 lbs; charge is in addition to the standard checked bag fee	Source
All fares	All routes	200.00 USD	one-way	Overweight item: 71–100 lbs; charge is in addition to the standard checked bag fee	Source

Oversized baggage

Applies to	Region / route	Amount	Timing	Conditions	Source
All fares	All routes	200.00 USD	one-way	Oversized item: in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches; charge is in addition to the standard checked bag fee	Source
All fares	All routes	200.00 USD	one-way	Oversized & overweight: only one $200 charge applies if the piece is both oversized and overweight (as long as it does not exceed 100 lbs); standard checked bag fee also applies	Source

Seat and fare-related fees

See also the seat selection fee reference.

Applies to	Region / route	Amount	Timing	Conditions	Source
Basic Fare	All routes	0.00 USD	check-in / boarding	No seat selection with Basic fares; a Standard seat will be assigned at check-in (flights departing on or after January 27, 2026). Until then, Southwest uses open seating	Source
All fares	All routes	Varies USD	per segment	Paid seat upgrades (for flights departing on or after January 27, 2026)	Source

Change and cancellation references

For cancellation, significant schedule change, and refund timing rules in U.S. markets, see the U.S. DOT refund rules reference.

Applies to	Region / route	Timing	Conditions	Source
All fares	All routes	before departure	No cancel fees (all fare types eligible for cancellations without a fee); failure to cancel at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure may result in forfeited travel funds	Source
Choice / Choice Preferred / Choice Extra	All routes	day of travel	Free same-day change available only for Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, or Choice fares; Basic fares not eligible unless fare is upgraded	Source
Eligible fares	All routes	day of travel	Same-day standby available; request must be made at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure of original flight; if using app/mobile web for standby, must list 30 minutes ahead of scheduled departure	Source

Fare-class behavior

Basic Fare

Published rows show first and second checked bags at USD 35 and USD 45 one-way for later bookings, no seat selection, and no same-day change eligibility unless the fare is upgraded.

Choice Fare

Published later-booking rows show the same USD 35 and USD 45 first- and second-bag pricing as Basic, while same-day change is listed at USD 0.

Choice Preferred Fare

Published later-booking rows show the same first- and second-bag pricing as Choice, with same-day change also listed at USD 0.

Choice Extra Fare

Published later-booking rows list the first and second checked bags at USD 0 and same-day change at USD 0.

Real-world scenarios

Traveling with only cabin items

Published carry-on rows show one carry-on bag and one personal item included on all fares.

Checking one standard bag

On later Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred bookings, the published first checked bag amount is USD 35 one-way. Choice Extra shows the first checked bag at USD 0.

Checking an overweight bag

Published overweight pricing is USD 100 one-way for 51-70 lbs and USD 200 one-way for 71-100 lbs, in addition to the standard checked bag fee.

When fees may not apply

Published rows show first and second checked bags at USD 0 for travel booked and ticketed before May 28, 2025.
Choice Extra fares show the first and second checked bags at USD 0 on later bookings.
All fares show no cancellation fee in the published change and cancellation rows.

Compare with other airlines

Comparison links below are limited to airlines with closely related fee structures or booking models.

Alaska Airlines Delta Air Lines American Airlines

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• Information subject to change without notice.

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• Fees are documented only from verifiable, airline-published sources.

Database ID: southwest

This reference page reflects only the published rows included in the current dataset and their linked source documents.