The Southwest Airlines baggage allowance includes one free carry-on measuring 24 x 16 x 10 inches, plus one personal item. Checked bags are a separate purchase on most fares. For qualifying mainland bookings, the current standard fees are USD 45 for the first bag and USD 55 for the second, each way.
That distinction matters if your last Southwest flight came with two free checked bags. The cabin allowance is still generous, but an old packing routine can now produce a different bill. Start with your packed bag, your fare, and the date you bought or voluntarily changed the ticket.
Southwest baggage rules at a glance
| Bag | Size and weight | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| One free carry-on | 24 x 16 x 10 inches, including wheels, handles and attachments | Overhead bin |
| One free personal item | Must fit under the seat; no numerical personal item limit published on the current policy page | Under the seat in front |
| Standard checked suitcase | Up to 50 lb and 62 linear inches, including wheels and handles | Aircraft hold; fee or benefit depends on booking |
Southwest’s cabin baggage policy sets the carry-on dimensions. Its standard cabin rules do not specify a numerical weight cap. This is not permission to bring an awkward load that cannot be stowed safely.
For metric planning, 24 x 16 x 10 inches converts to 60.96 x 40.64 x 25.4 cm. Fifty pounds is about 22.7 kg, and 62 inches is about 157.5 cm. These are calculated conversions, not separate rounded allowances.
Measure three sides for the cabin, add three sides for the hold
There are two different tests. Cabin bags must meet each individual dimension. Checked bags use the sum of length, width and height.
Hypothetical example: a 23 x 17 x 10 inch roller totals 50 inches. So does a 24 x 16 x 10 inch roller. Only the second meets Southwest’s individual cabin limits, because the first is one inch too wide.
For a checked suitcase, a hypothetical 30 x 20 x 12 inch bag totals 62 inches. A 30 x 21 x 12 inch bag totals 63 inches. That extra inch changes its size category even if the bag weighs only 40 lb.
- Pack everything, including the jacket you plan to bring home rather than wear.
- Close the expansion zipper, then measure from the lowest wheel to the highest fixed handle.
- Measure the widest point across the case and any protruding side handle.
- Measure depth across the fullest front pocket, not just the hard shell.
- Weigh checked luggage with everything inside, including its cover or protective packaging.
Leave some room below the maximum. Soft pockets bulge, souvenirs add weight, and a rounded measurement on a store label may hide the actual external dimensions. Our carry-on luggage comparison explains the difference between case dimensions and overall size.
A backpack is a personal item only when it fits underneath
A bag’s name does not decide its category. A small backpack can be your personal item; a large travel backpack may need your overhead allowance. A purse worn across your body is still a bag.
Picture boarding with a roller, a laptop backpack and a crossbody purse. That is three ordinary items, not two. Put the purse completely inside the backpack before boarding, without making the backpack too bulky for the available space.
Do not choose an underseat bag using a universal Southwest dimension borrowed from an old diagram. Seat hardware can reduce usable space. Our underseat bag guide favors overall dimensions and practical access over an airline compatibility label.
Pack the bag so it works on the floor: laptop protected, liquids upright, and essentials reachable without unpacking into the aisle. If your chosen seat has no seat in front, ask the crew where to stow it for departure. A seat change can alter your storage arrangement without changing your bag entitlement.
Which Southwest fares include checked bags?
The Southwest Airlines baggage allowance now separates free cabin bags from checked benefits. Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred do not automatically include standard checked bags. Choice Extra includes the first two.
| Fare or eligible benefit | First bag | Second bag |
|---|---|---|
| Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred without another benefit | 45 | 55 |
| Choice Extra | Included | Included |
| A-List Preferred | Included | Included |
| A-List | Included | 35 |
| Eligible Rapid Rewards primary credit cardmember | Included | 55 |
These are standard bags, within the size and weight limits. The official fee schedule has separate rules for interisland Hawaii, military travel, group tickets and vacation packages. Do not apply this mainland table to every itinerary.
A-List and A-List Preferred checked benefits extend to up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation. The eligible primary cardmember’s first bag benefit also covers up to eight others on that reservation. Separate bookings do not become one reservation just because you travel together.
For the card benefit, add the primary cardmember’s Rapid Rewards number to the booking. Southwest says new card status can take up to 14 days to update. Authorized users do not independently receive this benefit.
An older ticket can have an older baggage price
Southwest’s April 9 fee announcement says existing reservations retain their previous pricing unless voluntarily changed. For mainland tickets in the earlier table, the standard first and second bag prices are USD 35 and USD 45 each way. A voluntary change on or after April 9 can move the reservation to the newer schedule.
Look at the ticket history rather than the flight date alone. If a booking was disrupted by the airline, ask which schedule applies before treating that change as voluntary. Save the baggage quote shown for your actual reservation.
Compare the fare upgrade against your actual bag bill
Calculated example: one traveler with no bag benefit checks two standard suitcases on a qualifying mainland round trip. The current table gives USD 45 + USD 55 outbound, then the same return: USD 200 total. An upgrade to Choice Extra costing less than USD 200 across that whole trip could reduce the combined fare and bag cost.
Now change the traveler to an eligible primary cardmember with the first bag included. Only the second standard bag would cost USD 55 each way, or USD 110 round trip. Paying USD 150 extra for Choice Extra would not save money on baggage alone in that scenario.
Compare the final price for all relevant flights and passengers. A benefit already covering a bag is not an extra bag credit to stack on top of another waiver. Other fare benefits may matter to you, but count them separately.
A free checked bag can still trigger a surcharge
Bag count, weight and size are separate checks. A fare that includes two pieces does not remove the standard weight or size limit. Weigh both suitcases individually, rather than averaging their combined weight.
| Condition | Additional charge |
|---|---|
| 51 to 70 lb | 100 plus the applicable standard bag fee |
| 71 to 100 lb | 200 plus the applicable standard bag fee |
| Over 62 through 80 linear inches | 200 plus the applicable standard bag fee |
| Both oversized and overweight, not exceeding 100 lb | One combined 200 surcharge plus the applicable standard bag fee |
Do not add both separate surcharges when the combined rule applies. For example, a hypothetical 65 inch, 60 lb first bag on the current mainland standard fee schedule costs USD 45 + USD 200 = USD 245 each way. That assumes no fee waiver or special equipment exception.
Above the ordinary published acceptance ranges, contact Southwest before bringing the item. Sports equipment and musical instruments have their own exceptions. Buying a larger suitcase first and hoping to pay whatever is required at the airport is a poor plan.
Hawaii, international destinations and partners change the calculation
Interisland Hawaii has a separate schedule
For qualifying flights entirely between Hawaiian islands, a nonresident without a waiver pays USD 30 for the first standard bag and USD 40 for the second. Those are each way for tickets issued or voluntarily changed from April 9, 2026. Hawaii residents can receive two standard bags free when their qualifying Hawaii address and Rapid Rewards details meet Southwest’s terms.
A mainland to Hawaii journey is not an interisland journey. Check each booking’s route before selecting a fee table. Joining a free loyalty program alone does not give a mainland traveler the resident allowance.
An embargo can mean refusal, not a higher fee
Southwest’s international baggage embargo list includes recurring restrictions for Nassau, Belize, Montego Bay and San Jose, Costa Rica. Their holiday restrictions run November 15 through January 15. Montego Bay also has an August 15 through September 15 period.
During those periods, the listed destinations generally limit checked pieces to two and refuse bags over 62 linear inches. Overweight bags up to 100 lb remain subject to fees there. Boxes, storage containers and ice chests are restricted too.
Havana limits travelers to two checked bags throughout the year, with no ordinary bags over 50 lb or 62 linear inches. Check the detailed packaging exceptions before bringing a boxed item. Paying an oversize fee does not override an embargo.
A Southwest segment does not guarantee Southwest checked rules
For an official partner itinerary, Southwest states that the partner carrier’s checked baggage policy and fees apply to the entire itinerary. Items refused by either carrier remain unacceptable. Partner travelers cannot check bags online for the Southwest operated flight.
Cabin rules still need checking for the actual operating airline. A bag can pass the Southwest sizer and exceed another carrier’s limit. If separate tickets involve United or Delta, compare their cabin rules before buying the largest Southwest permits.
What if the bag has to be checked at the gate?
A cabin sized bag and an oversized bag present different problems. The first may need checking because bins are full. The second fails the cabin rules even if a bin happens to be empty.
Southwest directs travelers with oversized or extra ordinary cabin items to check them at the ticket counter. Do not plan around receiving a free exception at the gate. Ask the agent about any charge and where you will collect the bag before handing it over.
Keep a small removable essentials pouch near the top of your roller. Include medication, documents, keys and fragile valuables you need to keep with you. If the roller goes into the hold, take that pouch out before the tag is attached.
Southwest has a specific power bank rule: from April 20, 2026, each passenger may bring only one, rated no more than 100 Wh. It must stay in the cabin and out of the overhead bin. When used, it must remain visible; you may not recharge it from onboard seat power.
Southwest’s battery rules also require removing a smart bag battery before overhead storage. Use our power bank packing guide for capacity labels and terminal protection. Airline restrictions can be stricter than the general security allowance.
Children, medical items and mobility aids need separate planning
When traveling with children, each ticketed customer may check one stroller and one car seat or child restraint system free. A purchased child seat also allows an approved restraint for use onboard without consuming the ordinary cabin allowance. A folding crib is regular baggage, not automatically free baby equipment.
The child equipment policy says gate checked items normally go to baggage claim at the final destination. Tell the agent if you need the stroller or restraint returned at the jet bridge, including during a connection. Confirm the tag reflects that request.
Disability related medication packed separately from ordinary belongings does not count toward bag limits. Keep needed medicines with you, especially if a carry-on is taken for the hold. Southwest’s medication guidance also warns that checked bags are inaccessible during an overnight connection.
Wheelchairs and mobility aids checked by travelers with disabilities are exempt from ordinary bag fees. That exemption does not remove aircraft loading restrictions. Use Southwest’s mobility aid guidance and information form before travel, especially for a powered device.
Build time for the bag drop, not just security
Southwest generally accepts checked baggage no earlier than four hours before the original scheduled departure. Domestic bags presented within 45 minutes of departure may be refused. Departures from Saint Thomas have a 90 minute deadline.
For international itineraries, bring checked bags to the ticket counter at least 60 minutes before departure. Aruba requires 75 minutes. These are bag acceptance cutoffs, not recommended airport arrival times.
Allow extra time for queues and an unexpected repack. Southwest’s checked baggage instructions say airport size and weight surcharges require a physical credit card. Bring one rather than relying entirely on a phone wallet.
Flying in 2027? Keep the status dates straight
A-List and A-List Preferred are the current 2026 names. Starting January 1, 2027, Silver replaces A-List, Gold replaces A-List Preferred, and Platinum becomes a new higher tier. Southwest lists one, two and three included checked bags respectively, subject to its terms.
There is also a transition exception for the Silver second bag price. Travelers who earned A-List for 2027 through 2026 activity retain a USD 35 second bag rate on flights through December 31, 2027. See the official tier comparison and our Southwest status changes guide before pricing next year’s trip.
Your final packing check
- Use the Southwest Airlines baggage allowance for the booked fare, ticket history and route.
- Measure all three external cabin dimensions, with the bag fully packed.
- Consolidate ordinary small bags so you board with only your allowed pieces.
- Check each suitcase’s weight and linear total separately.
- Confirm the loyalty or card benefit appears on the correct reservation.
- Check embargoes before bringing extra, large or boxed items internationally.
- Keep the one permitted power bank and essential medicines accessible.
- Leave enough time to drop bags before the applicable airport cutoff.
Southwest baggage questions
Does Southwest Basic include a carry-on?
Yes. Basic includes the same one carry-on and one personal item as Southwest’s other fares. Checked bags are separate unless a qualifying benefit applies.
Can I take a backpack and a suitcase on Southwest?
Yes, if the suitcase meets the overhead limit and the backpack fits under the seat in front. An additional purse must fit inside an allowed bag unless it qualifies for an exception.
Does Southwest still give everyone two free checked bags?
No. The Southwest Airlines baggage allowance no longer includes two checked bags for every fare. Choice Extra, qualifying status and certain other bookings retain included bags; check your reservation’s specific benefit.
Are wheels included in Southwest baggage measurements?
Yes. Include wheels and handles for both cabin and checked bags. Add all three overall dimensions for a checked suitcase, but compare each dimension separately for a carry-on.
Is an overweight bag free if my fare includes checked luggage?
Not automatically. Included pieces still have standard size and weight limits. Applicable surcharges or destination restrictions can apply even when the ordinary bag fee is waived.