Southwest baggage fees and how to avoid paying them

Southwest prides itself on its perks and freebies, even extending to the Southwest baggage policy. Southwest Airlines is the only domestic airline where every passenger — regardless of status, fare class or even the credit cards in their wallet — can check two bags for free.

Additionally, all passengers can bring a carry-on and a personal bag on board for no additional charge. Southwest is your best bet if you’re looking for an airline where you won’t need to pay extra to bring luggage.

Southwest carry-on guidelines

With Southwest’s carry-on guidelines, you are allowed up to one carry-on size bag and one small, personal item — all for no extra fee. Southwest counts pet carriers as your personal item or carry-on, and you’ll also need to pay an extra pet-in-cabin fee.

Your carry-on item can be stored in the overhead compartment on the plane and must be no larger than 24 inches long by 16 inches wide by 10 inches tall.

Personal items include purses, briefcases, backpacks, camera bags, laptop bags, blankets and pillows (excluding neck pillows). These smaller items can be stored under the seat in front of you and should be no greater than 16.25 inches long by 13.5 inches wide by 8 inches tall — as that is the size of the space underneath Southwest seats.

However, Southwest doesn’t count some items as personal items or carry-on items. In addition to your personal and carry-on items, you can also bring the following on board for no extra cost:

• A child restraint system
• Assistive/mobility devices for individuals with a disability (there’s no limit to the number of assistive/mobility devices you can bring on board)
• Outer garments or other wearable articles of clothing
• Food in disposable packaging
• Walking canes or umbrellas

Related: Keep calm and carry on: TPG shares its favorite travel carry-on bags

Southwest checked bags

With the Southwest baggage rules, your first two checked bags are free if they fit within the allowed weight and size limits. Specifically, each checked bag should weigh 50 pounds or less and be 62 inches in size (the sum of the bag’s length, width and height) or smaller.

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Related: Southwest baggage tracking tool is officially launched in the app

Southwest Airlines’ baggage policy is one of the most favorable policies among all airlines. Even if you are flying on a Southwest Companion Pass, you are still entitled to check up to two bags per person for no additional cost.

Sporting equipment

Southwest allows many sports equipment bags to fly free and count as part of your checked baggage allowance. For example, your skis, golf bags and even surfboards fly for free (including on intra-Hawaii flights). You might spend hundreds of dollars on many other airlines to travel with these items.

For snow equipment, you are allowed one pair of skis or one snowboard, a set of poles and one pair of ski/snowboard boots. You can put everything in one bag. However, even if the equipment is packed separately and spans two bags, it still counts as one bag toward your allowance. For golf bags and surfboard bags, weight limits do apply.

If your sporting equipment exceeds 50 pounds in weight or 62 inches in size, it will be subject to Southwest’s overweight and oversize baggage fees.

You can check out Southwest’s full policy for sports equipment on its website.

Related: Everything you need to know about the best seats on Southwest Airlines

Overweight and oversized Southwest baggage fees

If your bag is heavier or larger than allowed, Southwest will charge you a fee of between $100 and $125 per bag each way for bags between 51 and 70 pounds; it charges $125 per bag each way for bags between 71 and 100 pounds. Bags between 63 and 80 inches in total size will incur a fee of $125 per bag.

But since you are allowed two bags per passenger, you are better off with two bags that fall within the size and weight allowance than one larger or heavier bag.

There are two times when Southwest will waive the overweight or oversized baggage fee:

• You are a member of the military traveling on active duty or permanent change of station orders.
• You are checking large media camera equipment.

However, you must ship any bag weighing more than 100 pounds or exceeding 80 inches (the sum of the bag’s length, width and height) as cargo.

Excess Southwest baggage fees

After the two complimentary checked bags, each additional checked bag will cost $125 each way. If your excess baggage is bigger or heavier than the complimentary allotment, you’ll be charged the excess baggage fee of $125 plus the overweight or oversize fee of between $100 and $125.

The only exception is if you are a member of the military traveling on active duty or permanent change of station orders; in that scenario, your additional checked baggage will be complimentary. However, no passenger (including active-duty military members) can check more than 20 pieces of baggage per flight.

Related: Southwest’s new fare type is here. What to know about ‘Wanna Get Away Plus’

How to avoid Southwest baggage fees

Fortunately, Southwest’s baggage fees are as cut and dried as they are generous. As long as you only check two bags per passenger and your bags are within the size and weight limitations, you won’t face any baggage fees.

However, if you need to check more than two bags or a bag that is larger or heavier than the complimentary allowance, there’s no way to avoid Southwest baggage fees. You’ll need to pay the fees regardless of your Southwest elite status, fare booked or Southwest credit card.

If you need to pay a fee for excess baggage, overweight or oversized baggage, or special sporting equipment, a few travel rewards cards will allow you to use annual statement credits toward the purchase. For example, you can use the Chase Sapphire Reserve®‘s $300 annual travel credit toward any travel-related purchase, including baggage fees.

Some American Express cards offer airline fee credits that can cover your baggage fees if you select Southwest as your airline of choice.

Related: How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight

Bottom line

With the Southwest Airlines baggage policy, most travelers will find their checked bags will fly for free. Whether checking your bags or carrying them on, as long as they fall within the airline’s very reasonable limits, you won’t need to use your credit card to pay for baggage fees.

Southwest has one of the best baggage policies by far. Not having to pay baggage fees when flying Southwest can save you a ton of money on your next vacation.

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