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Updated January 28, 2019

Southwest Baggage Fees

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Southwest prides itself on providing customers lots of extras without the extra costs. Here's what you need to know for your next flight on Southwest.

Southwest strives to keep things as simple as possible, and its baggage policies are no different - every passenger is allowed two free checked bags regardless of destination.

Here's a complete breakdown of their baggage policies and fees:

Baggage Basics

As you get ready to pack for your trip, keep in mind that Southwest offers two free checked bags for each ticketed passenger along with one free carry-on and one personal item. Skis and golf bags count under the free checked bag policy as well. Any checked bags beyond the first two cost $75 per bag, per leg.

Carry-on bags must be under 10 x 16 x 24 inches and fit in the overhead bin or the seat in front of you. If you get to the gate and the staff finds your bag is too big, they'll check it for you to pick up the baggage claim at your final destination. Keep personal items under 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inches so that they can fit under the seat in front of you.

Personal Items:

  • Laptop bags
  • Purses
  • Backpacks
  • Diaper bags
  • Briefcases
  • Food containers

Items that don't count toward your carry-on limit:

  • Car seats
  • Assistive/mobility devices
  • Outer garments (coats, jackets, ponchos) or other wearable items
  • Food for consumption in flight
  • Walking canes
  • Umbrellas

Each passenger is allowed one quart-sized clear bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes that are 3.4 ounces or less per item in their carry-on bags.

Baggage Check-in

Southwest requires that each passenger provide identification when checking bags. TSA inspects every bag, whether checked or carry-on. You may only lock your luggage with a TSA-approved lock.

Put your name and contact information on the inside and outside of your bag, and check your claim slip to be sure the destination listed matches your actual destination.

Be sure to check in at least 45 minutes before your flight - any bags checked in after that are marked with a late tag and may not make it onto the flight.

Flights out of Aruba require checking in at least 75 minutes before the flight and all other international flights require at least 60 minutes. When departing from San Juan, the check-in window is three hours. Anyone checking in after these times is not allowed to board the flight.

To save you time, Southwest offers self-tagging at certain airports, where you print your own bag tags, attach them to your bags, and drop the bags off at the designated area. The self-tagging kiosks also have the capabilities to check in for your flight, upgrade to Business Select, print your boarding pass and change your reservation.

Self-tagging is available at the following airports:

  • Albany, NY
  • Albuquerque, NM
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Austin, TX
  • Baltimore/Washington (BWI)
  • Birmingham, AL
  • Boston Logan, MA
  • Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY
  • Chicago (Midway), IL
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Columbus, OH
  • Dallas (Love Field), TX
  • Denver (DEN), CO
  • Detroit, MI
  • Ft. Lauderdale (FLL), FL
  • Ft. Myers/Naples, FL
  • Houston (Hobby), TX
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Long Island/Islip MacArthur, NY
  • Los Angeles (LAX), CA
  • Manchester, NH
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • Nashville, TN
  • Oakland, CA
  • Omaha, NE
  • Ontario/LA, CA
  • Orange County, CA
  • Orlando, FL
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Portland, OR
  • Providence, RI
  • Reno/Tahoe, CA
  • Sacramento, CA
  • St. Louis, MO
  • San Antonio, TX
  • San Diego, CA
  • San Francisco (SFO), CA
  • San Jose (SJC), CA
  • Seattle/Tacoma, WA
  • Tampa, FL
  • Washington - Reagan (DCA), DC

Overweight and Oversized Luggage

Southwest considers any bag over 50 pounds as overweight and any piece larger than 62 inches (length plus width plus height) oversized. Bags weighing 51 to 100 pounds and measuring 62 to 80 inches incur an additional fee of $75 per item, per leg. A bag that is both overweight and oversized is only charged one $75 fee.

Southwest does not transport any luggage heavier than 50 pounds and larger than 80 inches.

Additional bags beyond the two checked bags per person cost $75 per bag, per leg. If the additional bag is also overweight or oversized, it comes with an additional $75 fee on top of the $75 excess bag fee.

Military personnel flying for active duty or permanent change of station are exempt from all excess bag, oversize and overweight bag fees. Their bags must also be under 50 pounds and 80 inches.

Southwest's baggage policy really works for me. I often check two bags with them rather than carrying the smaller bag on board. But when I have to fly on another airline, I consider the baggage fees as part of the fare and choose accordingly.
Kim Wright, lawyer and systems change agent, Cutting Edge Law

Avoiding Baggage Fees

While Southwest's baggage policy is generous, you may still need tips for avoiding the excess bag, oversized and overweight charges.

Open an elite travel card: Several non-branded cards can be used to help cover additional incidental fees, including the Gold Card from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner:

  • American Express Gold earns 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. This card earns 4x points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000/calendar year in purchases, then 1x). 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. You can earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required. There is a $250 annual fee (See Rates & Fees). Terms apply.

  • American Express Platinum offers 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. There is a $695 annual fee (See Rates & Fees).

    This card includes several benefits for travelers: This card offers Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. This card also offers up to a $200 airline fee credit per calendar year to cover incidental fees at one select qualifying airline. This card gives you complimentary access to 5 airport lounge networks including The Centurion® lounge network, The International American Express lounges, Delta Sky Club® lounges, Priority Pass™ Select, and Airspace Lounge. Enrollment required for Priority Pass Select. There is no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees). This card also gives you access to Platinum Card® Concierge. You can enroll to get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status and complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status. Terms Apply.

  • Chase Sapphire Reserve lets you earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. This card offers a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.

    This card earns 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. The points can be transferred 1:1 to leading frequent travel programs including airline transfer partners. The card has $0 foreign transaction fees. The card comes with access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select. There is a $550 annual fee.

Check weight and size at home: Don't be surprised by extra fees at the airport by measuring and weighing your luggage at home before you leave. You can use a household scale or purchase a specialty luggage scale on Amazon.

Purchase a lightweight suitcase: Buying a new lightweight suitcase can help cut down on the chance of being overweight and paying the extra fees. Many new suitcases also have flexible storage spaces that allow you to pack more efficiently.

Ship your luggage: Consider sending your luggage ahead of you through FedEx, UPS or the United States Postal Service. Numerous companies, such as LugLess and Luggage Forward, specialize in shipping luggage, with fees varying depending on size, weight, distance and how soon you need it to arrive.

Learn to pack light: Use packing tips like rolling up clothing, using vacuum-sealed bags and wearing as much as you can on the plane. When planning your outfits, choose versatile pieces that you can mix and match, limiting the number of items you need to pack.

Condense luggage: Families traveling together can avoid luggage fees for each person by condensing all their belongings into just one or two bags. Since car seats fly for free, purchase a car seat bag and fill it with the car seat as well as other belongings, saving you some room in your suitcase.

International Flights

Because Southwest flies mostly within the domestic U.S., it has separate baggage policies for its limited international flights.

When traveling internationally, you must check all bags at a ticketing counter - you many not use curbside check in.

International itineraries that include a connection after entering the U.S. must claim luggage upon arrival in the U.S., head through customs and then re-check the luggage.

Luggage Embargos

Some destinations impose luggage embargos, limiting the number and/or size and weight of bags that passengers can bring into the country. Passengers traveling to Havana, Cuba, can only bring two checked bags. Each bag must weigh under 50 pounds and be less than 62 inches.

Restricted Items: Just because Southwest allows free checked bags doesn't mean it allows you to fly with just anything. Like most other airlines, Southwest bans dangerous and hazardous items from flights, including items like:

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 7
  • Self-defense sprays
  • Spillable wet cell batteries
  • Internal combustion engines (lawn equipment, engine-powered scooters, etc.)
  • Flammable liquids and hazardous materials
  • Medical oxygen
  • Hoverboards
  • Torch lighters, lighter fluid, strike anywhere matches and fire starters

When traveling with sharp objects (needles, syringes, medication items, etc.), make sure they're properly covered to prevent injury to anyone handling your bags.

To protect invaluable and irreplaceable items, Southwest recommends not putting certain items in your checked bag, including:

  • Cash
  • Jewelry
  • Electronics
  • Fragile items
  • Medications
  • Car keys
  • Important documents

Special Items

Traveling with special items - such as baby items, guns or assistive devices - comes with its own set of policies. Be sure to check the policies again before you go to assure that nothing has changed.

Air Compressors: Electronic engines and air compressors are allowed as checked luggage as long as the air tank is empty and in the open position.

Alcoholic Beverages: Allowed in checked luggage as long as it's in the original unopened container, less than 140 proof and securely packaged, either by you or a wine or liquor supplier such as a duty-free shop, cruise ship or winery. Southwest sells wine and liquor packaging for $5 per unit. Each passenger is allowed five liters of alcohol.

Assistive Devices: Southwest recommends bringing all medications and assistive devices, such as crutches, canes, walkers, CPAP machines and breast pumps, on board with you. These items do not count toward your carry-on and personal item limit. If you prefer to check these items, let the ticketing agent know if you'd like to retrieve them at the gate or in baggage claim when you land.

Passengers can bring their own personal wheelchair or use the wheelchairs from Southwest. Each plane has room for one wheelchair on board, with any wheelchairs stored in the cargo hold for the flight. Indicate on your reservation if you'll be bringing a wheelchair or need to borrow one from Southwest.

Power wheelchairs and scooters must be checked in at least an hour before departure. Between check-in to departure, you'll have use of a Southwest wheelchair to get around the airport and to the gate. Fill out the power wheelchair/scooter form before traveling and make sure that Southwest can access the battery if necessary.

Baby Items: Passengers traveling with babies and young children may bring an FAA-approved car seat on board, one per child traveling. The seat must go in the middle or window seat and may not go in an exit row or the row ahead or behind an exit row. You're also permitted one stroller per child that you can check at the ticket counter or the gate - strollers and car seats do not count toward your two free checked bags limit.

Batteries: Dry cell batteries are allowed onboard as long as they are securely installed in the equipment or packaged in plastic bags, covered in electrical tape or secured in plastic covers. Lithium batteries are limited to 20 per passenger. Fuel cells (for cameras, cell phones, laptops, etc.) are allowed onboard provided they are marked with maximum quality, type of fuel, and do not exceed:

  • 6.7 fluid ounces for liquids
  • 0.4 pounds for solids
  • 4 fluid ounces for liquefied gas (non-metallic)
  • 6.7 fluid ounces for liquefied gas (metallic)

Cameras and Film: Screening equipment used for checked luggage may damage undeveloped film, so bring those and cameras containing undeveloped film with you as a carry-on. Camcorders and media cameras are both allowed on-board, as is professional media equipment when traveling with a credentialed media representative.

Camping Equipment: One book of matches or 1 safety lighter is allowed in carry-on, as well as brand-new camp stoves in manufacturer's package and without fuel cylinder in either checked or carry-on. Knives and axes with blades protected in checked luggage only.

Electronic Cigarettes/Vaporizers: Allowed on board in carry-on but you may not use at any time on the flight.

Guns/Ammunition: Passengers can bring along firearms, as long as they are placed in checked baggage, free of ammunition and checked with a Customer Service Agent at a ticket counter. Guns must be stored in a hard-sided, locked container. Ammunition is allowed as long as it is properly packed in a checked bag.

Human Remains: Only allowed as a carry-on if cremated - use a temporary or plastic container for transport to protect the remains.

Musical Instruments: Instruments in a case that fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you are allowed in the cabin. Passengers with instruments too big for the overhead bin or under the seat must purchase a seat for the instrument, at a fare no greater than the Southwest's Child's Fare for that flight. They may also check the instrument. Any instrument is allowed as a checked bag and counts as one of the two free bags. Oversize and overweight fees apply.

Perishable Items: Seafood, meat and other perishable foods can travel as checked or carry-on luggage as long it as packed in leak-proof containers. Dry is allowed if the container is marked with the words "dry ice," the total weight of the dry ice, and the contents. Southwest offers dry ice labels for this purpose.

Sports Equipment

While you can often rent any sports equipment you need when you arrive at your destination, sometimes it's necessary to travel with your own equipment. Southwest allows most sporting equipment as checked luggage - each piece counts as one of your two free bags. Oversized and overweight bag charges apply.

Southwest accepts these sporting items:

  • Archery (bow, arrows and average-size target)
  • Baseball/softball (catchers allowed additional equipment)
  • Boogie or knee board
  • Bowling (balls and shoes)
  • Bicycles (packed in hard-sided box)
  • Fishing (rod and reel in container)
  • Golf
  • Hockey/lacrosse (multiple sticks taped together)
  • Javelins
  • Kayaks
  • Parachutes
  • Scuba
  • Skateboard (can also be a carry-on)
  • Snow and water skis
  • Surfboard/kiteboard/wind-surfing board (with keels and fins removed)
  • Tennis racquets

Traveling with Pets

If your furry friend is your constant travel companion, Southwest has a straightforward and simple pet travel policy. Small cats and dogs may travel in the cabin, as long as they are vaccinated, well-behaved, at least eight weeks old and fit in a kennel that fits under the seat in front of you.

Each passenger is only allowed one pet carrier, which counts toward your carry-on and personal item limits. Pet carriers cost $95 each leg and the fee is non-refundable.

Pets are not allowed as checked baggage or on any international flights.

Southwest sells branded pet carriers that fit perfectly on their planes - they cost $58 at a ticket counter or $58 plus tax when purchased online at Southwest: The Store. Other acceptable pet carriers must be under 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inches to fit under the seat in front of you, leak-proof and well-ventilated. Carriers can be soft or hard-sided.

Each carrier can include two cats or two dogs, as long as they are the same species and both can move and stand up easily. Animals must remain in the carrier at all times - at the gate, during boarding and deplaning, and during the flight.

Southwest's pet policy does not allow passengers to travel with pet remains, unless they are cremated remains.

Only six pets are allowed on each flight, so passengers should reserve a spot early by calling Southwest's customer service number. All pets must be checked in and paid for at a ticket counter.

Southwest Customer Support/Reservations:
1-800-435-9792

Service and Emotional Support Animals: These types of pets are also allowed on board but must fit on the passenger's lap or on the floor in front of the them. Southwest does not accept unusual or exotic animals as service or emotional support animals.

Lost and Damaged Items

If you leave a bag or other item onboard after you deplane, contact a Southwest Customer Service Rep as soon as possible. If you don't realize something is missing until after you leave the airport, you can file a lost item report online. You'll need to provide a detailed description of the item and either an email address or phone number for customer service to contact you.

For checked bags that are lost, damaged or delayed, you must file a report in person at the Southwest Airlines Baggage Service Office in baggage claim within four hours of landing. A customer service agent will file a report and give you a receipt with your claim number and phone number to call to check on the status of your claim.

For any bags that don't show up within five days, you can file a missing bag claim with Central Baggage Services through the Baggage Claim Web Portal. You can also check the status of your lost or damaged luggage claim through this website.

Southwest limits its liability for lost or damaged baggage to $3,500 per ticketed passenger for domestic itineraries. International trips fall under the Warsaw Convention or Montreal Convention, limiting compensation to $1,685.19.

It's up to you to be sure your items, especially fragile and irreplaceable ones, are properly packed. Southwest does not cover damage caused by:

  • Manufacturer defects
  • Normal wear and tear
  • Overstuff bags
  • Any carry-on bags or personal items

Bottom Line

With the most generous baggage policy of any major airline, Southwest is a smart choice for budget-minded travelers. Southwest allows two free checked bags, plus a carry-on and a person item, saving you hundreds of dollars in baggage fees for your trip.

Write to Lindsey Thompson at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold card, please click here.

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