What are the updates to Southwest Airlines' policies?

Southwest Airlines Policies Update: About Its Changed Checked Baggage Policy

One of the major low-cost carriers in the United States, Southwest Airlines is the fourth biggest airline in North America regarding passenger carriers as of 2023. The airline currently covers over 110 destinations in the Americas and the Caribbean. However, Southwest Airlines' CEO, Bob Jordan, isn't satisfied with all this and wants to expand its customer base and increase its revenue. Thus, it has made several changes in its current policies. If you are a traveller of Southwest Airlines or planning to travel with the airline, you must know about its new policies, which can be learnt through the provided article. So, let's stay connected and understand "What is the new Southwest policy?" Which will help you make your future journey convenient with the airline.

Southwest Airlines Policy Updates

Southwest Airlines' policies have been updated many times to make travel easy and comfortable for its passengers. These updates apply to bookings and changes made on or after 28 May 2025. The following section explains Southwest Airlines' potential changes and lets you know about its new principles: 

Changes in the Checked Baggage Policy based on Fare Classes

Based on Jordan's observation, to meet the "customer's needs and wants," the policy of charging fees for checked baggage instead of two free checked bags is applied, and each customer wants a lot of choices. Full details of the new policies can be seen as follows:

• Earlier, you were not required to pay any fee for the first two checked baggage items, regardless of the fare class you had booked, where the applicable weight and size limitations were applied as prescribed by the airline.
• However, for reservations booked or any voluntary changes (including the name change) made on or after May 28, 2025, you have to pay the checked baggage fee if you have booked your fare class of Anytime fares, Wanna Get Away Plus, or Basic, irrespective of your travel dates. 
• However, if you have booked a business select fare class, you can continue to bring two free checked baggage like before. 
• After applying the new policy, you must pay $35 to $40 for the first checked bag and between $45 and $50 for the second one, if applicable.
• You can bring your first two checked bags for free if you are among the airline's A-List Preferred Members.
• And, if you are a Rapid Reward Credit Card member and an A-List Member, the airline allows you to bring only your first checked baggage for free. 
• If you are a Hawaii resident and booked your flight with Southwest Airlines to travel between the islands, then the airline allows you to continue your first two checked baggage to travel freely.
• You will not receive these benefits if you travel with Southwest Airlines' partner airline.
• The airline will apply the size and weight limitations as usual. 

Changes For the Checked Baggage for Tier Members 

• The checked baggage benefits provided to the Tier members will also be applied to up to eight additional members travelling on the same reservation as yours. 
• You must keep in mind that if you are an A-List and A-Lost Preferred Member, booked your flight with a Wanna Get Away fare, and made your reservation or made any changes to it before May 27, 2025, then the airline will allow you to make a same-day change, irrespective of your travel date. 

Changes in Checked Baggage for Rapid Rewards Credit Card Members 

• Suppose you are a Rapid Rewards primary Credit Card Member or a passenger travelling on the same reservation as a Rapid Rewards primary Credit Card Member. In that case, Southwest Airlines allows you to bring your first checked baggage for free. 
• Suppose you are eligible for these Cardmember benefits, along with other categories allowing the checked baggage advantage, such as having an A-List status. In that case, you are only allowed to have the benefits of an A-List status, and you won't be allowed to carry additional free checked baggage for having the two statuses. 
• You are not eligible to take advantage of the card member benefits offered by Southwest Airlines if you have booked your flight with its partner airline. 
• While checking in with Southwest Airlines, you must consider each bag's standard weight and size limitations.
• In addition to the free checked baggage allowance, Rapid Rewards Credit Card Members can also take advantage of the new benefit of seating and boarding in select seats. 

Checked Baggage Benefits for Companion Pass Members

• Suppose you are a Companion Pass Member of Southwest Airlines and are eligible for any free checked baggage allowance due to your tier status or fare class. Your benefits will also be applied to your companion under the airline's new policy upgrade.

Changes for Flight Credits in Fares of Southwest Airlines in Phases

• Phase 1: Since the start of March 2025, Southwest Airlines has changed the earn ratio in its Rapid Rewards program. If you are flying in Business Select fares, you can earn a high ratio, and with Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares, you earn a lower ratio in Rapid Rewards. Moreover, the redemption rate of the airline also varies for its different fare products, depending on the travel period's low and high fare demand. 
• Phase 2: From May 28, 2025 onwards, Southwest Airlines has introduced a new basic fare on its aircraft. You have to pay the least to book this new fare class, where flexibility is also the least compared to other aircraft fare classes.
• Phase 3: The airline will change the name of its fare class later this year. Thus, you will book Choice instead of Wanna Get Away Plus, Choice Preferred for Anytime, or Choice Extra for Business Select class fare.
• For all the flight credits and transferable flight credits that you have created after the reservation that you have made, or you make any voluntary changes on or after 28 May 2025, the eligibility for you to use your credit will be one year or less, based on the fare class that you have booked.

Note:

• If you created your flight credit on or before 27 May 2025, they won’t expire.
• However, if you use your flight credit points and cancel or create flight rewards on or after 28 May 2025, then the same travel credit or flight credit points have a specific expiry, which previously didn’t have any.

Southwest Airlines’ Details of Various Policies Based On Fare Classes After Its Policy Changes

• Checked Baggage fee: Business select passengers can bring two free checked bags, whereas passengers in all other travel classes must pay for each checked baggage.   
• Earning Rapid Reward Points: While travelling in Business Select fare, you will earn 14X Rapid Rewards points, in Anytime, you will earn 10X, in Wanna Get Away plus fare, you will earn 6X, and for Basic fare, you will earn 2X Rapid Rewards points. 
• Expiration of the flight's credit: Flight credit earned in Basic fare would expire in 6 months, whereas for any other fare class, the flight credit will expire after 12 months. 
• Transferability of flight credits: Every other fare class traveller can transfer their flight credit, except for Basic fare passengers. 
• Refundability eligibility: Business Select and Anytime fare tickets are refundable, whereas Wann Get Away Plus and Basic fare tickets are non-refundable. 
• Allowances for changes in flight schedule: Where the Basic fare passengers are not allowed to make changes in their flight schedule, all other passenger can change their flight itinerary, provided that they have to pay for the difference in the price of the two flights. 
• Cancellation allowance: Irrespective of fare class, everyone on Southwest Airlines is allowed to cancel their flight. 
• Eligibility for same-day changes and standby: All passengers except Basic fare passengers are eligible for same-day flight changes/standby. 
• Qualification for priority boarding: The airline allows priority boarding with the Business Select and Anytime fare classes. However, you must pay extra charges to experience priority boarding with the Wanna Get Away Plus and Basic fare. 
• Inclusion of complimentary in-flight entertainment: Everyone on board, irrespective of their fare class, will be allowed to enjoy the complimentary in-flight entertainment offered by Southwest Airlines. 
• Allowance for priority or express lane: If you have booked a Business Select or Anytime fare on Southwest Airlines, you can access the airline’s priority/express lane.
• Getting Premium drinks onboard: Southwest Airlines offers complimentary premium drinks on its flights for Business Select passengers, whereas for other fare classes, you must buy your drinks during the flight. 
• Permission for in-flight internet: You are allowed to use in-flight internet for free if you have booked a Business Select fare, and for the other fare classes, you have to pay to use the internet on board. 

Conclusion

Southwest Airlines has changed its policies for its travellers in 2025. The airline's new policies will apply to booked flights or any changes made in the itinerary on or after 28 May 2025. Bookings made on or before 27 May 2025 will follow the previously established policies of the airline. All these new changes have significantly impacted various airline rules and regulations, which you should understand to make a comfortable future flight with the airline.