The Cheapest Way to Check Your Bag on Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines changed its baggage policy, and now you might be paying MORE when you travel!

For tickets booked on or after May 28th, 2025, you’ll pay $35 for your first checked bag and $45 for your second. That can add up if you’re traveling with a lot of luggage! Well, looked into some of the ways to save on those baggage fees, and we’re here to help you find the best hack.

Book with Choice Extra Fare

Starting in 2026, there are a few new fare categories for Southwest Airlines flights. One of the more expensive levels is Choice Extra Fare. This category includes the ability to choose an extra legroom seat, board early, AND you get two free checked bags.

Looking at a round-trip flight the first week of February from LGA to MCO as an example, booking Choice Extra seems to cost about $150 extra per person. $80 of that cost would be two checked bags, so you’d need to determine if the other perks are worth an additional $70. To see the full list of perks, check out the fare categories on Southwest’s website before booking.

Travel with Rapid Rewards A-List Members

A Southwest Rapid Rewards Member who “flies 20 qualifying one-way flights booked through Southwest or earns 35,000 tier qualifying points per calendar year will qualify for A-List status.” Once you hit this tier, you get one free checked bag per flight!

To qualify for A-List Preferred status, you’ll need to “fly 40 Southwest Airlines qualifying one-way flight segments or earn 70,000 tier qualifying points per calendar year.” This tier comes with two free checked bags per flight!

The Southwest Airlines travel charges website also notes that for those who qualify for free baggage, that perk can extend to up to eight people flying on the same reservation. So if you’re not a member, make sure to travel with someone who is!

Travel with Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers

For a slightly easier hurdle than the membership tiers above, Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers can get their first checked bag free when they fly. To qualify, you’ll need to enter your Rapid Rewards account number at the time of booking.

These members can also extend the baggage perk for up to eight people traveling on the same booking. That’s a huge deal!

If You’re Active Duty Military, Bring Your ID

Now, this one’s not really a hack, but more of a tip. For those who are active duty military in the U.S., you should bring your current military ID when you fly. If presented, bag fees will be waived.

Active duty military will not have to pay to check one or two bags, and fees will be waived for oversized or overweight bags as well.

Book Through Getaways by Southwest

The last option to save on baggage fees is to book through Getaways by Southwest. This is Southwest’s vacation bundle service where you book flights and hotels together as a package. They’re available in 30+ popular vacation markets around the world.

Each flight booked through this service comes with two free checked bags per passenger. You’ll have to price out the individual elements of your vacation to see if this service saves you money on your trip, but that perk could be worth it!

Depending on how and when you’re traveling, one of these methods might work for you! It all comes down to the way you want to travel and what you’re willing to pay extra for.