Southwest Airlines Review 2026 – New Fares, Bag Fees, Tips
Southwest Airlines Review 2026 – New Assigned Seating, Bag Fees $45/$55, Fares & How To Save
Southwest Changed Completely In 2026. Open Seating Is Gone. Bags Fly Free Is Gone. Here’s The New System – And How To Still Fly Cheap.
1. Bags Fly Free is OVER. 1st checked bag $45, 2nd $55 each way (bookings Apr 9, 2026+). One bag round trip = $90. Carry-on + personal item still FREE.
2. Open Seating is OVER. Assigned seating since Jan 27, 2026. Basic = seat assigned at check-in. Choice = pick seat at booking.
3. Fares Renamed: Wanna Get Away = Basic. Anytime = Choice Preferred. Business Select = Choice Extra.
If you book expecting 2 free bags + open seating, you will be shocked at airport. Read this guide.
- 250+ Destinations: US domestic + Mexico, Caribbean, Central America – Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Chicago Midway, Phoenix, Baltimore, Orlando, and 240+ more
- 803 Boeing 737s: 737-700, 737-800, 737-8 MAX – one aircraft type = simpler operations
- No Change Fees: Change / cancel without fee on Choice+ (fare difference may apply). Basic requires fare upgrade to change.
- Same-Day Standby Free: List for earlier flight same day, no extra cost (subject to availability)
- Free Snacks + Soft Drinks: Still free on all flights
- Rapid Rewards: Points never expire, no blackout dates, Companion Pass – bring 1 person for just taxes/fees
Southwest New Fare Tiers 2026 – Which To Choose?
| Fare | Seat Selection | Checked Bags | Rapid Rewards | Extra Cost vs Basic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Assigned at check-in | $45 / $55 | 2x | Base – Cheapest |
| Choice | Standard seat at booking | $45 / $55 | 6x | ~$30-$45 One-Way |
| Choice Preferred | Preferred seat at booking | $45 / $55 | 10x | ~$50-$70 One-Way |
| Choice Extra | Extra Legroom at booking | 2 Free Bags | 14x | $100+ One-Way |
Best Value: Choice for most travelers – pick your seat + 6x points + free same-day standby, only $30-$45 more. Basic only if you don’t care where you sit and travel with carry-on only. Choice Extra only if you check 2 bags – 2 bags = $200 round trip saved, so Extra often pays for itself.
Southwest Baggage Fees 2026 – Complete Table
| Bag | Fee (One-Way, US Mainland) | Free For |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Item (16.25×13.5×8 in) | FREE – All Fares | Everyone |
| Carry-On (24x16x10 in) | FREE – All Fares | Everyone |
| 1st Checked Bag | $45 | Choice Extra, A-List Preferred, A-List, Rapid Rewards Card, Military |
| 2nd Checked Bag | $55 | Choice Extra, A-List Preferred, Military |
| 3rd+ Bag | $150 Each | – |
| Overweight 51-70 lbs | +$100 | – |
| Oversize 62+ in | +$200 | – |
Save Money Tip: Travel with carry-on only = save $90 round trip. If you must check bag, get Rapid Rewards credit card – 1st bag free for you + companions on same booking – pays for itself in 1-2 trips.
How To Book Southwest Cheap – 7 Tips
1. Book Direct On Southwest.com: Southwest doesn’t show on Google Flights / Expedia. Book direct – no third-party fees, easier changes.
2. Book Tuesday / Wednesday: Cheapest days to fly. Avoid Friday / Sunday.
3. Book Early, Rebook If Price Drops: Southwest allows free rebooking – if price drops after you book, rebook same flight and get credit for difference. Check price weekly.
4. Use Rapid Rewards Points: Points never expire. Book with points + pay taxes/fees only ($5.60). No blackout dates.
5. Companion Pass: Earn 135,000 points or 100 flights in calendar year = Companion flies free (taxes/fees only) for rest of year + next year. Best deal in US airline industry. Credit card signup bonuses count.
6. Travel Carry-On Only: Save $90 round trip on bag fees.
7. Check In 24 Hours Before: Check-in opens 24h before departure. Basic fare – seat assigned at check-in, earlier check-in = better seat. Deadline 30 min domestic, 60 min international.
Southwest Assigned Seating & Boarding – New System
Boarding Groups 1-8: Replaces old A/B/C. Your boarding pass shows seat + group.
Basic: Seat assigned at check-in / gate, unless status / card benefit allows earlier selection.
Choice: Pick Standard seat at booking.
Choice Preferred: Pick Preferred (front cabin) or Standard at booking.
Choice Extra: Pick Extra Legroom (up to 5″ more pitch) at booking.
Priority Boarding: Buy spot ahead of groups, $10-$75 per person per segment, from 24h before departure to 30 min before.
Southwest vs Delta vs American vs United vs Spirit
| Southwest | Delta / American / United | Spirit / Frontier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change Fees | No Fee (Choice+) | No Fee (Main Cabin+) | $0-$99 |
| 1st Checked Bag | $45 | $35-$40 | $50-$70 |
| Carry-On | Free | Free (Main) | $50-$70 |
| Seat Selection | Assigned – Free On Choice+ | Free / Paid | Paid |
| Points Expire? | Never | Never (Delta/United), 24mo (American) | Expire |
| WiFi | Free For Members | Free (Delta), Paid (Others) | Paid |
| Long-Haul / International | US + Mexico / Caribbean Only | Worldwide | US + Caribbean |
| First Class | No – Extra Legroom Only | Yes | Big Front Seat |
Winner: Southwest for domestic US + no change fees + points never expire + Companion Pass. Delta / United for international / first class.
Rapid Rewards 2026-2027 – What Changes?
Current: A-List, A-List Preferred tiers.
Jan 1, 2027: New tiers Silver, Gold, Platinum – replacing A-List. Faster path to status via credit card spend. Members earn fewer points on Choice Preferred / Choice Extra when changes take effect.
Companion Pass: Still best perk – earn 135,000 points or 100 flights, companion flies for taxes/fees only.
New Partners 2026: TAP Air Portugal, LOT Polish Airlines – total partners 11, including Icelandair, Philippine Airlines.
Pros & Cons – Honest 2026
✅ Pros:
– No change fees on Choice+ – most flexible US airline
– Points never expire, no blackout dates
– Companion Pass – best deal in US airline industry
– Free carry-on + personal item on all fares
– Free snacks + soft drinks
– Free same-day standby
– Free WiFi for Rapid Rewards members
– Book direct, easy rebooking if price drops
– 250+ destinations, 803 737s – reliable domestic network
❌ Cons:
– Bags Fly Free is GONE – $45/$55 bag fees
– Open seating is GONE – assigned seating like everyone else
– No first class, no long-haul international
– No partner redemptions like Delta / United
– Basic fare – seat assigned at check-in, no same-day confirmed change
– WiFi only on ~30% fleet early 2026, Starlink rollout by fall 2027
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Final Verdict – Is Southwest Still Worth It In 2026?
Southwest is no longer the “no-fee, open-seating” airline it was. It’s now like Delta / American – assigned seats, bag fees, fare tiers. But it still has no change fees, points never expire, Companion Pass, free carry-on, and easy rebooking – and for domestic US travel, it’s still one of the best values if you travel carry-on only and book Choice fare.
If you check 2 bags every trip, compare total price with Delta / United – Southwest may no longer be cheapest. Always compare total price with bags included.
Book Southwest Flights →Southwest Airlines | 250+ Destinations | Assigned Seating | Rapid Rewards
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book via our link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, bag fees and policies change often. Check southwest.com official site for current fares, baggage fees and terms before booking.