The days of bags fly free on Southwest Airlines LUV 5.44%increase; green up pointing triangle are ending.

Starting Wednesday, the airline will charge customers $35 for one checked bag and $45 for a second, unless they hold the airline’s credit card or have elite status.

Southwest announced the change in March but hadn’t previously specified how much it would cost to check bags. It disclosed the fees in a message to employees.

The details

The new fees are similar to what Southwest’s rivals charge, though some charge more for those who don’t pay for bags in advance.

Southwest passengers at the highest loyalty status level will still be able to check two bags free of charge. Those with the airline’s credit card or the next level of status will get one bag free. Companions traveling on the same reservation as someone with those baggage benefits can receive the same allowance. Southwest’s top fare type also comes with two free checked bags.

The fees apply to new bookings starting May 28. If you bought your tickets before Wednesday, you will still get two free checked bags, unless you change your flight after the fees have kicked in.

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Southwest’s new basic-economy tickets are also going on sale for the first time, replacing Wanna Get Away as the airline’s cheapest option.

Basic tickets don’t allow changes and won’t include advanced seat selection when Southwest starts assigning seats—passengers will be assigned seats at the back of the plane at check in. If you cancel one of these tickets, you will get a flight credit that expires in six months—shorter than other ticket types.

Chief Financial Officer Tom Doxey said last week that the airline was out of sync with competitors’ bare-bones fare options. With too many features bundled in, there was little reason for Southwest customers to spend more on pricier tickets.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5730386&forum_id=2Elisa#48965283)