FREE NO MORE

Southwest Ends One of Its Most Famous Perks for Passengers

The airline was so well-known for the policy that it even trademarked a phrase about it.

Southwest is changing one of its most notable policies: Bags are no longer flying free. The company, which has scrambled to come up with ideas on how to bring in more cash as it flounders, is implementing the new rule in May. Southwest was so well-known for its free-checked bag rule that it even trademarked the phrase “bags fly free,” dedicating a whole section of its 50th anniversary book to the guideline, according to The Wall Street Journal. Starting May 28, customers with the highest loyalty status and those buying the most expensive tickets will receive two checked bags for free; the next status, alongside Southwest credit card holders, will get one checked bag for no cost. Everyone else, however, will now have to start paying up. Layoffs, ditching open seating, and redesigning cabins with more leg room are just some of the tactics Southwest is using to boost revenue as it lags behind other companies. “I’m not trying to spin it as a very big positive for everybody, but we did try to protect our engaged customers here,” Southwest CEO Andrew Watterson said.