Southwest Airlines will begin charging for checked baggage on Wednesday, according to CNBC. The change marks the first time in over 50 years that Southwest passengers will face checked bag fees, a decision driven by shareholder pressure, particularly from activist Elliott Investment Management. Southwest plans to introduce seat assignments for 2026 flights and is upgrading aircraft with larger overhead bins to accommodate increased carry-on use. CEO Bob Jordan said bookings have not dropped since the March announcement, despite customer backlash.
