Take a moment to re-read that headline and really let the hilarity sink in.
Yes, really: As promised last week, Southwest finally ditched their divisive open-seating model Tuesday and began assigning seats for flights Jan. 27, 2026 and onward. The airline is charging their cheapest fares close to $20 or more to pick a seat – or closer to $70. Depending on what fare you buy, your status, or if you have a Southwest credit card in your wallet, you can pick from select seats.
And yet here we are, more than two months since Southwest officially killed off its “Bags Fly Free” policy and began charging at least $35 each way to check a bag … and there's still no way to pay for a bag online. We confirmed Tuesday there's no option to add a bag during the booking process at Southwest.com or on its smartphone app, nor is there an option to add a bag to an existing reservation.
That means, more than two months into the most significant change in the company's history meant to by charging fees for what was once free, the only way for Southwest flyers to pay for a bag is still to do it in person at the airport on the day of their flight.
In response to a request for comment about when travelers could expect to pay for a bag online, a Southwest spokesperson responded that the airline never suggested it would offer that option.
Asked if that meant it would never be available, the spokesperson responded: “That’s not something we’re offering right now.”
But it begs the question: If Southwest can charge you to pick a seat while you're booking your flight, why can't you pay for a checked bag at the same time? Considering Southwest first announced it would charge for bags way back in early March, wasn't 4 1/2 months long enough to get this ready? And if the entire point of charging for bags was to bring in more revenue, why aren't they making it easier on passengers to, you know, give them more revenue?
It's something everyday travelers expect, and paying ahead of time speeds up the process at the airport. Case in point: Every major U.S. airline offers the option to pay for bags online … except the nation's fourth-largest carrier, Southwest.
It's a new era at Southwest – and one that many travelers aren't too happy with.
Within the span of just a few months, the airline once beloved by both travelers and Wall Street for its consumer-friendly policies and profitability has begun charging for bags; killed off “Wanna Get Away” fares and replaced them with stingy basic economy tickets; revamped its Rapid Rewards loyalty program and raised annual fees on its credit cards; expanded to sell its fares on Google Flights and later, Kayak and Expedia; nixing its polarizing open-seating model in order to start charging for seat assignments instead; and eventually even installing extra legroom seats across its fleet.
While executives assured investors last week that their customers aren't heading for the exits, our survey this spring found roughly two-thirds of frequent Southwest flyers planned to book flights on other carriers as a result of charging for bags and other painful policy changes.
Seat Assignments (& Fees) at Southwest?!
It won't happen overnight, but the days of rushing to check-in for Southwest flights in order to board and pick your seat sooner are officially numbered.
Southwest began selling tickets with seat assignments Tuesday, but only for travel late January and onwards. In addition to collecting more revenue in the form of seat assignment fees, Southwest executives have repeatedly said that their open-seating policy was probably scaring would-be customers away.
Seat assignments – and fees – are online now. And the amounts vary wildly.
- Buy the cheapest Basic Fare (RIP to “Wanna Get Away”), and you can pay $15 to $30 or so each way to pick a standard economy seat – otherwise, you'll get automatically assigned a seat at the back of the cabin for free at check-in
- With Basic and other fares, you can pay $30 to $40 for a Preferred seat closer to the front of the plane
- In our experience, extra legroom seats at the front of the cabin or in exit rows will cost you $60 or more apiece
The better (and pricier) fare you buy, the better seat you can get:
- Choice fares (or “Wanna Get Away Plus”) can choose any available standard seat toward the back of the plane
- Choice Preferred fares (currently dubbed “Anytime”) can choose any Preferred seat closer to the front of the plane, or a standard seat
- Choice Extra fares (or “Business Select”) can also pick from new, extra legroom seats at the front of the plane or in exit rows as those get installed across more of Southwest's fleet.
Travelers with Southwest A-List or A-List Preferred Status can pick a seat regardless. No matter what ticket they buy, travelers with a *southwest plus* in their wallet can pick any available standard seat within 48 hours of departure while cardholders with the *southwest premier* can also choose a Preferred seat at the same time. With the top-tier *southwest priority*, you can pick a standard or Preferred seat at booking – or opt up to an extra legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, if there's one available.
Bottom Line
Back when Southwest first started charging for checked bags for the first time in company history in late May, we wrote: “Even after more than two months of work to get ready for the biggest change in company history, Southwest wasn't ready for prime time.”
Here we are, two months later, and nothing has changed – despite the fact that Southwest is now assigning (and charging for!) seats.
I flew SW last week and was disappointed how they treated the customers in Group C.
This occured in two airports MSP and MDW almost like it was the new directive from the company.
They needed 14 people to check their carry ons. ” If you are in C group we need 14 volunteers to check their bags and we will not charge you” “Even if you have bags checked this bag will not be charged”
“If we do not get volunteers you will be forced to check your bag and will get a handwritten tag and your bag tracking will not be guaranteed” “If you do not check your bag you will be delaying this flight”
This was the same announcement on both flights. I was shocked at the tone. If you are asked on Delta you get the perk of boarding early. There was no perk just bulling. I have never heard such a tone on SW. Usually they are the fun loving airline. I booked flights by May 27 for the rest of the year with my companion flights and my free 2 checked bags after that I am booking based on cost and SW IS NOT the best deal anymore. NO lounges/ no charging on most planes and often the wifi is not working or the beverage service is not happening. (there have been many excuses why there is no service or wifi)