Southwest Airlines, for the first time in its 54-year history, will be charging customers to check their bags.
The change was announced on the airline’s website Tuesday, marking the imminent end of Southwest’s free baggage policy for most of its customers.
The long-standing perk, a key part of the low-cost carrier’s identity, will still be available for Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and Business Select fare passengers, according to the airline. They’ll be allowed two free checked bags while Frequent flyer A-List Members and other select customers will be allowed one.
Southwest-branded credit card holders will also be credited for a single checked bag, Southwest said.
All other flyers should come prepared to pay for their first and second checked bags — with weight and size restrictions still in place — starting on May 28. While the exact cost was not provided, sources told CBS News it will competitive with other carriers.
The departure from its longstanding policy is part of a broader bid by Southwest to boost revenues and better cater to its most loyal flyers. As the nation’s fourth-largest airline, Southwest has recently faced mounting pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, to improve its bottom line.
“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,” said Bob Jordan, CEO of Southwest, in a press release. “We will do all this while remaining focused on what’s made us strong: our People and the authentic, friendly, and award-winning Customer Service only they can provide.”
It also comes just weeks after Southwest announced it would lay off about 15% of its corporate workforce. The airline also plans to do away its open seating policy — another one of its more popular features — next year and will instead offer paid premium seating options that include extra leg room.
As it now stands, Southwest offers the same class of seats throughout its cabins.