Southwest Airlines Kills Free Bag Policy, Spurring Outrage

CALIFORNIA — Southwest Airlines ended its free checked bags policy on Tuesday, killing a 54-year-old perk for which the airline is known.

The Dallas-based company will begin charging for checked bags on May 28, nixing its "bags fly free" motto for its longstanding two-free bag policy.

The airline, which offers flights in at least 13 airports in California, will also introduce an economy fare, which isn't refundable and won't allow for modifications.

The change is monumental for Southwest, one that its top executives believe will boost revenue.

“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,” CEO Bob Jordan, said in a statement.

Rivals on Tuesday saw an opening, especially as customers took to social media, promising to dump the airline.

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“I think clearly there are some customers who chose them because of that, and now those customers are up for grabs,” said Delta Airlines President Glen Hauenstein, speaking at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference.

The changes also evoked anger from its customers, with many vowing to switch to other airlines. Here's what some of them said on X:

"Once again, private equity ruins something good," Scott Hevel, a mortgage expert, said.

"As someone who has flown almost exclusively with Southwest Airlines for the last 10 years plus, I am no longer loyal," Michael Oliver wrote.

"It’s wild that Southwest is getting rid of the only reason to fly with them," X user Erica said.

The news comes a year after the airline got rid of its open seating policy and announced it would charge passengers extra for more leg room.

"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," said Drew Hudson, TechNet's director of federal policy on X.

The airline said in September that charging bag fees could bring in about $1.5 billion a year but cost the airline $1.8 billion in lost business from customers who chose to fly Southwest because of its generous baggage allowance.

Southwest said Tuesday that it would continue to offer two free checked bags to Rapid Rewards A-List preferred members and customers traveling on Business Select fares, and one free checked bag to A-List members and other select customers.

Passengers with Rapid Rewards credit cards will get a credit for one checked bag. Those who don't qualify for those categories will get charged to check bags.

"This is how you destroy a brand. This is how you destroy customer preference. This is how you destroy loyalty. And this, I think, is going to send Southwest into a financial tailspin," Henry Harteveld, an industry analyst, told CBS News. "Southwest, with these changes, becomes just another airline."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.