How Southwest Airlines' New Bag Fees Affect Minnesota Travelers

It had been previously announced, but a new airline policy has now gone into effect, and it's adding to the cost of traveling if you're flying out of Minnesota or across the country.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is the largest airport in the North Star State and offers flights to numerous destinations. In fact, the airport says airlines at MSP served 163 nonstop destinations from the North Star State in 2023, up from 156 destinations in 2023 and 145 destinations in 2022.

18 different airlines currently offer service from MSP, including 13 from Terminal 1 and five from Terminal 2. Delta Air Lines, which merged with Minnesota-based Northwest Airlines back in 2008, offers the most with a whopping 330 flights per day.

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Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines offers service from MSP's Terminal 2 on a somewhat smaller scale. Southwest currently offers 32 flights from Minnesota to the following airports and cities:

Austin (AUS)
Baltimore (BWI)
Chicago Midway (MDW)
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Denver (DEN)
Las Vegas (LAS)
Nashville (BNA)
Orlando (MCO)
Phoenix (PHX)
St. Louis (STL)

However, if you *do* take one of those Southwest Airlines flights, it will now cost you more money here in Minnesota and across the country. That's because Southwest just implemented a new policy that is now charging travelers to check their bags, similar to policies in place at other airlines.

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Photo by David Syphers on Unsplash

This is a big change, though, travel site Conde Nast Traveler noted, because for over 50 years, Southwest's policy had always been 'two bags fly free.' Well, not anymore! Here's how the new policy, which went into effect on May 28th, 2025, works:

Southwest will now charge travelers $35 for their first checked bag and $45 for a second checked bags. The new fees will not apply to tickets purchased on or before May 27, 2025, regardless of your travel date, however.

Conde Nast Traveler also said there are a few exceptions to the new policy: If you're an A-List Preferred member of Southwest's Rapid Rewards loyalty program or if you're traveling in business class, you will still get two free checked bags. And if you're an A-List member and have the Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card, you'll get one free checked bag.

CBS News reported that this isn't the only change that's taking place at Southwest. The Dallas-based airline said last July that it would also be doing away with its longstanding 'open seat' policy and would later this year start selling assigned seats, as well.

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