Southwest Has Major Announcement After Ending Free Bags

Last month, Southwest Airlines sparked criticism when the company announced a bit of a brand overhaul that included ditching its longstanding policies of free checked baggage and open seating on the aircraft in an attempt to modernize and secure more profits. Now, Southwest is codifying those changes with a new announcement.

On Tuesday, Southwest Airlines officially announced its new fare bundles, offering perks to high-paying customers and loyalty program members. 

The airline rolled out four new fare options — Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice, and Basic, in descending price order. The new bundles will be available for customers to purchase in the third quarter of this year for flights scheduled in 2026

“With new choices like seat selection and Extra Legroom, our enhanced fare bundles let Customers customize their trip while still enjoying our industry-leading reliability and hospitality,” Southwest’s executive vice president of consumer and brand, Tony Roach, wrote in a statement on Tuesday.

While Southwest Airlines has long offered two free checked bags to all customers, only the "Choice Extra" bundle – the most expensive one of the bunch – includes two checked bags. Additional perks of the highest-tier bundle include seats with extra legroom, early boarding, and in-flight internet access.

In addition to ditching free bags, Southwest is also ending its longstanding policy of open seating on flights. Now, customers will have to pay in order to select their seats.

The "Choice Preferred" bundle offers customers preferred seating and early general boarding, while "Choice" customers will choose from standard seats upon booking, Meanwhile, those who opt for the "Basic" bundle will simply be assigned seats at check-in – a drastic change from the airline's decades of history allowing everyone to choose their own seats.

Clearly, it is a new era for Southwest Airlines as they are departing from everything that made them unique.