Chile! Southwest Airways had social media customers scrambling for solutions on Tuesday (March 11) after switching up their checked luggage coverage. For 54 years, the corporate has allowed ALL passengers to fly with two luggage free. Effectively, the corporate opted to kick custom to the curb! In just some weeks, free baggage will not be a perk for everybody, only for a choose few.

RELATED:  Man Complains About Crying Little one On Southwest Flight: “Did That MF Pay Further To Yell?”

Southwest Reveals New Checked Luggage Coverage

As talked about, Southwest Airways will quickly start charging clients a payment to verify luggage. However get into this! Final fall, firm executives stated that Southwest’s free checked luggage coverage helps it stand out in comparison with different finances airways. Moreover, Southwest has spent years and thousands and thousands on promoting campaigns selling the coverage. All different main U.S. airways cost for checked baggage. However, Wall Avenue has lengthy argued that Southwest was leaving cash behind.

Not in 2025, although! Will probably be slashing the journey perk for many of its clients, starting with tickets booked on Could 28 and after. Southwest stated Tuesday that it could proceed to supply two free checked luggage to Fast Rewards A-Checklist most popular members and clients touring on Enterprise Choose fares. A-Checklist members and different choose clients will get one free checked bag. Passengers with Fast Rewards bank cards may even obtain a credit score for one checked bag.

Individuals who don’t qualify for these classes shall be charged to verify luggage. When the coverage change takes impact, the airline stated it could additionally roll out a brand new, fundamental fare on its lowest-priced tickets.

Why This Is Occurring & Different Pending Adjustments

In September 2024, Southwest Airways estimated that charging bag charges would herald about $1.5 billion a yr. Nonetheless, in addition they admitted that reducing the coverage would price $1.8 billion in misplaced enterprise from clients who selected to fly its airways due to its free baggage allowance.

“We have now super alternative to fulfill present and future buyer wants, appeal to new buyer segments we don’t compete for at the moment, and return to the degrees of profitability that each we and our shareholders anticipate,” CEO Bob Jordan stated in a press release.

So, why is that this taking place? Southwest has struggled lately and is beneath strain from activist traders to spice up income and income. In October, the airline reached a truce with hedge fund Elliott Funding Administration to keep away from a proxy struggle. Nonetheless, Elliott received a number of seats on the corporate board.

Lower than a yr in the past, the Dallas-based airline introduced it was ending one other custom. After greater than 50 years, 2025 is the corporate’s final yr utilizing an open-boarding system. Southwest expects to start working flights with passengers in assigned seats subsequent yr.

Regardless of the surprising checked luggage switch-up, Southwest’s inventory rose greater than 9% Tuesday, in response to the Related Press. In the meantime, the corporate’s employment is more likely to pattern downward quickly. The airline introduced final month that it was eliminating 1,750 jobs or 15% of its company workforce. This can mark the primary main layoffs within the firm’s whole historical past. CEO Jordan stated in February that the job cuts are a part of a plan to chop prices and remodel the corporate right into a “leaner, quicker, and extra agile group.”

Social Media Is In SHAMBLES Over Airways Swap-Up

As talked about, Southwest gagged social media customers with their new checked luggage coverage. On X (formally Twitter), the reactions had been spicy, to say the least! Preserve scrolling to see how the web streets are reacting to Southwest dropping its most-enticing journey perk.

If Southwest Airways had assembled a spotlight group and requested them “what is the stupidest factor that we may do to damage our firm,” that is what they’d have provide you with. pic.twitter.com/sKHM2sFRK3

— Doug Gladden (@DougtheLawyer) March 11, 2025

There’s actually no motive to fly southwest now. The luggage had been actually the one benefit that they had https://t.co/tSr3SrqNxP

— Stella’s Brother (@MaggDaddy) March 11, 2025

That was a nasty transfer for Southwest Airways. They even may have dropped the free bag allowance all the way down to 1 . However snatching each free checked luggage is simply greed.

— KDub 🤎 (@AsToldByKristen) March 11, 2025

child who’s southwest making an attempt to impress???? no sky lounge, no tvs, 90 % of flights don’t have shops however you suppose it’s okay to cost for luggage after virtually 60 years? I let yall slide with that assigned seat coverage however now this? get your shit collectively.

— TB🤴🏾 (@TevonBlair) March 11, 2025

Southwest letting you verify 2 luggage without cost was the ONLY factor preserving them in enterprise. If I gotta pay for BOTH luggage now AND you price simply as a lot as a BETTER airline, why wouldn’t I am going with them as an alternative? Their pockets are about to HURT!! This received’t final lengthy 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/mwSBOe9Bra

— The Actual Future Marilyn (@sweet_novacanee) March 11, 2025

Southwest cancels luggage fly free means they don’t know their clients. pic.twitter.com/cMCmonn0yJ

— Kevín (@KevOnStage) March 11, 2025

Until no different service has a continuous flight to the place I must go, there’s 0 motive to fly southwest going ahead.

Delta, American, Alaska, and so forth all have comparable pricing, and are higher airways after these adjustments. https://t.co/VvETTb4PX5

— Matthew Gaylor (@MatthewGaylor) March 11, 2025

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

— Chris (@AR_aces23) March 11, 2025

Could whoever determined to RUIN Southwest Airways be instantly fired and NEVER allowed to the touch the corporate once more pic.twitter.com/s9HfQ7ms3I

— Dylan (@DylanMcD8) March 11, 2025

Woah: @SouthwestAir goes to start out charging for luggage starting on Could 28 🤯

By no means thought I’d see this present day. Choose elites and biz passengers nonetheless get 2 free luggage.

Fundamental financial system and different extra punitive adjustments are additionally coming quickly.

The Southwest of yesteryear is useless.

— Zach Griff (@_ZachGriff) March 11, 2025

As somebody who has flown virtually completely with Southwest Airways for the final 10 plus years I’m not loyal. Will I presumably fly them once more positive however I’ve 0 loyalty and im not comfortable about these adjustments. Would possibly Cancel their card even.

— Michael Oliver (@mikeoliver93) March 11, 2025

Southwest is ruining their whole enterprise mannequin. Charging for luggages and assigned seats with no charging ports on most aircrafts? Pathetic.

— Tobi O. 🇳🇬📸 (@Heytobs) March 11, 2025

That is the way you destroy a model @SouthwestAir. This is likely one of the major causes I select to fly this airline over American (of Dallas-based airways with the perfect nonstops)

The strikes Southwest is making are extremely disappointing for individuals who have been loyal to this airline https://t.co/rkNwDD2C08

— Amanda Atwell (@AmandaMAtwell) March 11, 2025

welp, it was enjoyable flying Southwest whereas it lasted

— . (@storyofhalima) March 11, 2025

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Related Press employees Michelle Chapman and Melissa Perez Winder contributed to this report.