Southwest Airlines Policies: Everything You Need to Know

The Big Picture on Southwest

Southwest used to be the airline that did things differently: free checked bags, open seating, and no change fees. A lot of that has changed. Southwest now charges for checked bags on most fares, assigns seats instead of letting you choose at the gate, and has renamed its entire fare structure. But it still has no change fees, free wifi for Rapid Rewards members, and a genuinely customer-friendly cancellation policy. Southwest still only flies Boeing 737s, which means a consistent cabin experience on every flight, and it remains one of the largest domestic carriers with a focus on point-to-point routes.

Carry-On and Personal Item Policy

Carry-On Bag (Free)

Every Southwest passenger still gets a free carry-on bag and a personal item, regardless of fare type. Maximum carry-on size is 24 x 16 x 10 inches including handles and wheels -- slightly larger than what most airlines allow.

Personal Item (Free)

Your personal item can be a purse, backpack, laptop bag, or similar item that fits under the seat in front of you. No size restrictions are formally published, but it needs to actually fit under the seat.

Checked Baggage Fees

This is the big change. Southwest used to be famous for two free checked bags. That ended for most passengers:

• 1st checked bag: $35
• 2nd checked bag: $45
• 3rd+ bags: $150 each

Standard bags must be 62 linear inches or smaller and weigh 50 lbs or less. Overweight bags (51-100 lbs) cost $75 extra.

Who Still Gets Free Checked Bags

• Choice Extra fare (formerly Business Select): 2 free checked bags
• A-List Preferred status: 2 free checked bags for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation
• Southwest credit card holders: 1 free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation
• Active military: Free checked bags with valid ID

If you fly Southwest regularly, a Southwest credit card essentially pays for itself with the free bag perk alone. The card covers not just you but up to 8 people on your reservation, making it especially valuable for families.

Baggage Tips

Southwest's weight limit is 50 lbs per bag, and they're strict about it. If your bag goes over, you'll pay $75 for each overweight bag (up to 100 lbs). Unlike some airlines, Southwest doesn't offer a way to prepay for bags online at a discount -- the fee is the same whether you pay at the counter or at check-in.

Cancellation and Change Policy

This is where Southwest still shines. The cancellation policy is the best among major U.S. airlines:

• No change fees ever: Change your flight at any time with no penalty. You just pay any fare difference
• No cancellation fees: Cancel any flight for free
• Refundable fares (Choice Preferred and Choice Extra): Full refund to your original payment method
• Non-refundable fares (Choice/Basic): You get Travel Funds valid for future Southwest flights

Travel Funds expire 12 months from the original booking date. If your plans are uncertain, Southwest is the safest bet because you'll never lose money to change fees.

Name Change Policy

Southwest handles name issues through a correction process:

• Minor corrections: Small typos and misspellings can be fixed online through your reservation. Southwest allows one minor name correction per passenger per booking
• Legal name changes: For marriage, divorce, or court-ordered changes, contact Southwest customer service with documentation
• Transfers: Tickets are non-transferable. You can't put someone else's name on your booking

Because Southwest has no change fees, if you catch a name error early, the simplest fix is often to cancel the booking and rebook with the correct name. You won't lose any money.

Seat Selection Policy

Southwest has abandoned its famous open seating system. As of January, assigned seating is the new norm:

• Choice Extra (highest fare): Includes selection of Preferred or Extra Legroom seats at booking
• Choice Preferred (mid-tier fare): Includes standard seat selection at booking
• Choice / Basic (lowest fare): Free seat assignment only at check-in -- you'll get whatever's left

If you want to sit together with your travel companions, book a higher fare or be prepared to pay for seat selection. The days of lining up at the gate and grabbing any seat are over.

Pet Policy

Southwest allows small dogs and cats to fly in the cabin on domestic flights:

• Fee: $125 each way per carrier
• Carrier size: Maximum approximately 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inches -- must fit completely under the seat
• Pets per carrier: Up to 2 pets of the same species in one carrier
• Age requirement: Pets must be at least 8 weeks old
• Species: Only vaccinated dogs and cats on domestic flights

The pet fee is fully refundable if you cancel before departure. That's consistent with Southwest's overall cancellation-friendly approach. Space is limited, so book early.

Southwest does not offer cargo pet shipping. Emotional support animals are not accepted -- only trained service animals can fly outside a carrier.

Wifi and Entertainment

Southwest has solid wifi offerings:

• Rapid Rewards members: Free unlimited wifi on all flights. Rapid Rewards is free to join
• Non-members: Wifi available for purchase
• Starlink upgrade: Southwest is installing Starlink satellite internet across its fleet, starting in summer, with plans to equip 300+ aircraft by year-end

Southwest also offers free live TV, movies, and messaging through its entertainment portal. Access it through the Southwest app on your personal device -- there are no seatback screens.

Pro tip: download the Southwest app before your flight. You'll need it for entertainment, wifi, and boarding pass access.

Other Key Policies

Fare Structure

Southwest renamed its fares in January. Here's the translation:

• Choice (formerly Wanna Get Away): Cheapest fare, no seat selection until check-in
• Choice Preferred (formerly Anytime): Mid-tier, includes seat selection
• Choice Extra (formerly Business Select): Top tier, includes premium seat selection and 2 free bags

Unaccompanied Minors

Children ages 5-11 can travel as unaccompanied minors on nonstop flights only. The fee is $100 each way. Kids 12 and older can fly alone without the service.

Boarding

With assigned seating, boarding works by groups now. Choice Extra passengers board first, followed by Choice Preferred, then Choice/Basic. A-List and A-List Preferred members get priority boarding.

No Partner Airlines

Southwest doesn't participate in airline alliances or codeshare agreements. If Southwest cancels your connecting flight, they can only rebook you on another Southwest flight. Keep this in mind on routes where Southwest has limited frequency.

Food and Drinks

Complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages on all flights. Alcoholic drinks cost $7-$8 on domestic routes. Southwest doesn't offer buy-on-board meals, so bring your own food for longer flights.

Rapid Rewards Program

Southwest's loyalty program uses a revenue-based points system. Status tiers are A-List and A-List Preferred, with perks including priority boarding, free wifi, same-day standby, and free checked bags (A-List Preferred). Points don't expire as long as you have earning activity at least once every 24 months.

Companion Pass

The Companion Pass is Southwest's most valuable perk. Earn it by accumulating 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year, and a designated companion flies free (just pay taxes and fees) on every flight you take for the rest of that year and the following year. It's one of the best deals in the airline industry if you fly frequently. Some Southwest credit card signup bonuses can get you most of the way there.

No Alliance Partners

Southwest doesn't belong to any airline alliance and doesn't codeshare with other carriers. That means you can't connect to international flights, earn partner miles, or use lounge access from alliance status. If your flight gets canceled, Southwest can only rebook you on another Southwest flight. On routes where they fly infrequently, this can be a meaningful drawback.

Customer of Size Policy

Southwest has a well-known policy for customers who need extra space. If you need more than one seat, you can purchase an additional seat at the time of booking and request a refund for the extra seat after travel. Alternatively, if the flight isn't full, the gate agent may provide a complimentary additional seat. This policy is generally regarded as one of the more accommodating in the industry.