Southwest Airlines is doing away with its longstanding policy of two checked bags for free for all passengers.

The Dallas, Texas-based carrier on Tuesday announced it will begin charging some customers for checked bags.

Southwest had been a holdout among large U.S. airlines that charge for checked bags, allowing customers to check two bags at no cost.

The airline, which also recently changed the number of Rapid Rewards points earned on qualifying flights, is setting an expiration date for flight credits to one year from the date of the ticket purchase.

Why Southwest Airlines is eliminated guaranteed no cost checked bags

The moves, effective May 28, are ways to “reward the airline’s most loyal” customers and improve profits, the company said.

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“We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future Customer needs, attract new Customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our Shareholders expect,” President and CEO Bob Jordan said in a company release.

On May 28, it will also introduce a new Basic fare on its lowest-priced tickets in advance of offering assigned seating and extra legroom options.

The announcements follow notification of another big change coming to the airline, ending open seating, another thing that has long differentiated the carrier from other airlines.

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Will you have to pay for checked bags on Southwest Airlines?

Under the new bag policy:

• Southwest will continue to offer two free checked bags to Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and customers traveling on Business Select fares.
• A-List Members and other select customers will get one free checked bag. Southwest will give a credit for one checked bag to flyers who have a Rapid Rewards credit card.
• All other customers will be charged for their first and second checked bags.

Southwest Rapid Rewards changes

The carrier also recently adjusted the number of Rapid Rewards points customers earn on qualifying flights. Customers now earn more points on Business Select fares, but less on the cheaper Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares. Southwest Rapid Rewards, the carrier’s loyalty program, will also introduce variable redemption rates across higher-demand and lower-demand flights.

Southwest one-year expiration on flight credits

Flight credits issued for tickets purchased on or after May 28 will expire one year or earlier from the date of ticketing, depending on the fare type purchased.

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at [email protected] or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.