Which Credit Cards Give You Free Checked Bags on Southwest Airlines?

You must now pay for checked luggage for Southwest Airlines trips purchased or changed today and beyond.

Customers with A-List and A-List Preferred statuses receive checked bag benefits, as do people traveling on Southwest’s Business Select fares.

But what about us plebes who fly Southwest occasionally and don’t want to fork out for Business Select?

We can still get our first checked bags for free: with one of the Southwest cobranded credit cards, of course.

(All information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® cards below was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided by nor reviewed by the card issuer. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.)

What are Southwest’s New Baggage Fees?

The first checked bag will cost $35 each way. Your second checked piece runs $45 each way. You’re looking at Bags must weigh under 50 pounds each.

Which Southwest Credit Cards Offer Free Checked Bags?

All five Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards give primary cardholders and up to eight others on their itinerary the first checked bag for free.

• • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ($69 annual fee)
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($99 annual fee)
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ($149 annual fee)
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card ($99 annual fee)
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card ($199 annual fee)

Here’s a real-world example:

• If my wife, daughter, and I travel on the same confirmation number, we can check up to three bags free. Up to three bags after would be $45 each.
• But if my daughter and I are on one reservation (for Companion Pass trips) and my wife is on a separate reservation, we’ll pay $35 for my wife’s first checked bag.
• Heaven help us if we check more than six bags.

So, if you fly Southwest once or twice a year and check one bag each time, you come out ahead if you have the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. That carries a $69 annual fee. I’m no math major but $69 is cheaper than $70 or $140.

You really should consider getting a Southwest credit card if you travel with your family. Let’s say your brood travels twice a year and checks three bags. (That’s what you’re used to — until today. Thanks, Southwest.) You’ll spend $210 each roundtrip or $420 a year. Don’t be one of those people who say, “I’m not getting a credit card with an annual fee!” but then spend five or six times that much because you’re “smarter than that.” (Heck, don’t use my links if you don’t want to. Just don’t be stupid.)

I have the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card because I get a $75 annual travel credit and 7,500 bonus miles (that’s about $150 value right there), and four A1-A15 boardings until assigned seating kicks in (then I believe I get some comparable benefit).

What About Other Cards?

You may already hold a credit card that may save you a little money on Southwest checked bag fees.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® members can earn up to $300 in statement credit each anniversary year for eligible travel purchases charged to their card. (Well, at least for now?)

Both The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offer cardholders up to $200 statement credit for eligible airline incidental purchases charged to their respective cards. You can pick one eligible airline each calendar year.

SEE: Some of our recommended airline credit cards.

Final Approach

Southwest tickets purchased or reissued (changed) as of today are now subject to the airline’s baggage fees. But if you hold an eligible Southwest credit card, the first checked bag is free for you and up to eight others on your reservation.

Read more:

• • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ($69 annual fee)
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($99 annual fee)
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ($149 annual fee)
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card ($99 annual fee)
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card ($199 annual fee)