Customers Are Vowing To Leave Southwest Airlines After Company Eliminates Free Checked Baggage

Turning into all the others.

Southwest Airlines has always been unique among its competitors for offering low-cost fares, free checked bags and open seating, where customers are able to pick any seat that’s available when they board based on their assigned boarding positions.

The airline has become insanely popular over the past few years for being a cheaper alternative than Delta or United, while still offering the same quality of service and better perks.

Of course some people don’t care for the open seating, which requires checking in 24 hours ahead of time to get the best boarding position so you’re not stuck in a middle seat (or you could always pay extra to secure an early boarding position). But for the most part, if you’re looking for a cost-effective way to fly the friendly skies, it’s hard to beat what you get from Southwest.

The airline announced last year that they will be doing away with open seating in 2026, no doubt in an attempt to maximize revenue and give customers to opportunity to secure their preferred seat assignment ahead of time. But today, Southwest announced another change that has customers ready to check out other options.

Today, Southwest announced that they would be doing away with free checked bags, while also introducing a new basic economy tier of tickets below their current “Wanna-Get-Away” fares.

In a press release announcing the changes, the airline said they were “implementing new initiatives that support business objectives” – which is obviously just corporate speak for “make more money.”

“We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future Customer needs, attract new Customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our Shareholders expect. We will do all this while remaining focused on what’s made us strong—our People and the authentic, friendly, and award-winning Customer Service only they can provide.”

Customers who are members of the airlines Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred tier will still receive free checked bags, as will customers who book the highest-tier Business Select fare, but for everybody else, you’ll be paying for that checked bag starting on flights booked on or after May 28.

And well, as you can imagine, loyal Southwest travelers aren’t exactly happy about.

With the news of the changes today, many took to social media to announce that they would be finding a new airline now that Southwest doesn’t offer the same value that it once did:

As someone who has flown almost exclusively with Southwest Airlines for the last 10 plus years I am no longer loyal. Will I possibly fly them again sure but I have 0 loyalty and im not happy about these changes. Might Cancel their card even.

— Michael Oliver (@mikeoliver93) March 11, 2025

Southwest Airlines Chief Transformation Officer in September: “We’re more likely to lose money if we start charging for bags.”

So of course, they fire him, and announce they’ll do it anyways. pic.twitter.com/DRk15OqTl7

— Ben Heisler (@bennyheis) March 11, 2025

TERRIBLE business decision by Southwest Airlines to start charging for checked bags.

It was one of the only things that differentiated them from the other airlines. pic.twitter.com/f146RTi0S6

— Cryptid Politics (@CryptidPolitics) March 11, 2025

“If bags don’t fly free, I don’t fly with thee”
Sorry Southwest, all my golf trips will go elsewhere now. Big mistake y’all are making.@SouthwestAir

— Chris (@AR_aces23) March 11, 2025

After 54 years even @SouthwestAir has decided to abandon loyal customers. All while asking for loyalty from those very same customers. To the new board members at SouthWest Airlines, screw you.

— FIGHT BACK MEDIA NETWORK (@rbmshow) March 11, 2025

You know…

I’ve always defended you, Southwest

But now… pic.twitter.com/DyJF3LKwKa

— Tim Murray (@1TimMurray) March 11, 2025

If Southwest Airlines had assembled a focus group and asked them "what's the stupidest thing that we could do to ruin our company," this is what they would have come up with. https://t.co/k3QMQJHB8r pic.twitter.com/3brbgifBTK

— Nine (@ninewontmiss) March 11, 2025

Unless no other carrier has a non-stop flight to where I need to go, there’s 0 reason to fly southwest going forward.

Delta, American, Alaska, etc all have similar pricing, and are better airlines after these changes. https://t.co/VvETTb4PX5

— Matthew Gaylor (@MatthewGaylor) March 11, 2025

It’s wild that Southwest is getting rid of the only reason to fly with them. https://t.co/jzjAmZ0vHM

— erica (@midgetbubz) March 11, 2025

Southwest Airlines may soon find that, if they become just like every other airline, formerly hardcore Southwest loyalists will start treating them like every other airline. https://t.co/hTJxHLXOX7

— Drew Hudson (@DrewCHudson) March 11, 2025

First, Southwest ended open seating

Now, Southwest is ending it’s “bags fly free” policy

…so there’s no reason to fly Southwest anymore pic.twitter.com/zqcMSGx25I

— John Hasson (@SonofHas) March 11, 2025

It’s definitely ironic that Southwest is announcing this change after execs had previously claimed they would lose more money from customers leaving than they would make by eliminating the perk…which may end up being exactly what happens.

I actually fly Southwest pretty often, but I never really check bags and it’s only because it’s the most convenient to most of the places I want to go from Nashville. But with their prices becoming more and more comparable to other airlines, it’s hard to really stay loyal to Southwest at this point – especially if you were a fan of the open seating and free checked bags.