Flying Southwest Will Be Different Soon and Here’s Why

If you're planning a vacation soon, your travel experience may look a little different if you plan to fly with one popular airline.

What’s Changing with Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines, which serves 111 cities and destinations in nine countries across the world, recently announced some changes that have some fans of the airline upset. Most notably, Southwest had previously been known for its open seating and "two checked bags fly free" policies, but both of these frequent flier favorites are going away.

No More Free Checked Bags

Checking bags on a Southwest flight now costs an additional fee, for"Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus®, and Anytime fares booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025," according to the company's website. Now, those who purchase "Choice Extra" at booking, as well as those with Tier Benefits, like A-List and A-List preferred, will still be able to check at least one bag at no additional charge. A-List Preferred will be able to check two bags with no additional fees.

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As someone who has traveled from the Tristate on Southwest flights on several occasions and from several different airports, including nearby Indianapolis, Nashville, and St. Louis, the changes are bittersweet. On the one hand, I will no longer be able to check a larger bag without paying additional fees or purchasing a more expensive ticket option. However, the change may have the unintended benefit of forcing this chronic overpacker to be much more intentional in what I pack when I'm traveling.

New Boarding Tiers and Policies

As for the open seating policy, currently on Southwest, the order you board the plane is tied to when you check in for the flight, with check-in beginning 24 hours before your flight. This means if your flight leaves at 5 am on a Tuesday, and you want a good position in the boarding queue, you had better be sure you are awake and ready to hit that check-in button online or in the app at 5 am on Monday morning. With the current system, you can purchase "EarlyBird Check-In" for an additional fee that will automatically check you in for your flight 36 hours before your flight's departure.

READ MORE: Do You Still Have to Take Your Shoes Off at the Airport?

What These Changes Mean for Travelers

With the new boarding policy at Southwest, your ticketing choice will determine when you board the plane. "Choice Extra" will get you early boarding. "Choice Preferred" and "Choice" will land you in "Early General" and "General" boarding, respectively. Meanwhile, the "Basic" or economy fare will place you in the last boarding group to get onto the plane.  There are also queue placement upgrades for boarding for those with A-List and A-List Preferred. There are additional benefits to the new ticketing tiers, including the choice of seats with more legroom.

When the New Policies Take Effect

The new seating changes will be implemented with tickets purchased on or after July 29, 2025, for flights set to depart on or after January 27, 2026. To learn more, visit Southwest.com.