For U.S. mainland travel booked, ticketed or changed on or after April 9, 2026, Southwest's published standard first and second checked-bag fees are $45 and $55 each way on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares. Choice Extra includes the first two qualifying standard bags. Hawaii interisland travel has its own table, so the mainland rows cannot be reused there.
Start with the fare printed on the booking
| Fare on a qualifying mainland trip | First standard bag | Second standard bag | Two-piece base total, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $45 | $55 | $100 |
| Choice | $45 | $55 | $100 |
| Choice Preferred | $45 | $55 | $100 |
| Choice Extra | Included | Included | $0 for two qualifying pieces |
The $0 row is an included fare allowance, not a claim that every third bag, heavy bag or large bag is free. Southwest lists a separate third-plus piece charge and excess-weight and oversize charges. Its ordinary checked threshold is 50 lb and 62 linear inches; a 51 lb bag can have an additional charge even when the base first bag is included. A two-bag paid fare would have $200 in listed base charges on a matching round trip, before any excess component.
Benefits that change the row
Southwest's policy gives A-List Preferred members two standard checked bags, while A-List members and qualifying Rapid Rewards cardmembers can have a first-bag benefit. The A-List second bag has a different published charge from the general $55 row. The card benefit can extend to eligible travelers on the same reservation, subject to the terms and a Rapid Rewards number. Active-duty military and some Getaways bookings follow separate terms. Do not assign any of these benefits to an unlinked traveler or a partner flight.
Dates, payment and the airport
The carrier displays an earlier table for mainland travel booked and ticketed before April 9, 2026. If the reservation was changed, use the airline's own booking record to determine the applicable fee date. Southwest's checked-bag help explains that an airport excess-weight or size payment requires a physical credit card, not contactless payment. That operational detail matters when a bag is close to the limit.
The Southwest airline profile covers the broader conditions, while the April 2026 policy update explains what changed. The calculator can show the reviewed standard mainland row only when the fare, date, operator and benefit inputs match. For a Hawaii, partner or special-item itinerary, request the official quote.
Airline sources
Sources last checked 2026-11-01. Match the fare and flight in your booking before you pay or pack.