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If you plan to travel with a carry-on, you’ll need to be up to speed with airline carry-on policies.
While Southwest is technically a low-cost carrier, they’re much better about “a la carte” fees and won’t nickel and dime you on every little item as Spirit and Frontier will. Actually, when it comes to fees and checked baggage, they are better than the full-service domestic airlines, including Delta, United, and American.
That said, you’ll still want to be aware of Southwest’s policy for what you can and can’t bring on the plane.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Southwest’s carry-on policy. This includes Southwest carry-on size, liquid policy, pets, and other rules and restrictions you should know before boarding your flight.
Southwest has the best overall baggage policy. They allow 2 checked bags at no charge as well as a carry-on bag and personal item. That’s a lot of baggage to transport for free!
Southwest Airlines’ carry-on dimensions are a little more than most domestic airlines at 24″ x 16″ x 10″. These dimensions include the wheels and handles, so make sure to keep that in mind when you measure your carry-on. If it’s bigger than those dimensions, it will need to be checked.
If you aren’t sure if your carry-on will fit, use the Southwest carry on bag sizer located at their ticketing counters and departure gates. If your bag fits in the sizer, you can bring it on board with you. If it does not, you may have to check it.
If your bag is too big, you will have to check it, so it’s better always to know your bag size and the airline size restrictions in advance.
As a rule, Southwest Airlines does not impose weight restrictions on carry-on bags. However, when checking a bag, the weight limit is 50 pounds per bag.
If you are looking for a great carry-on bag when flying Southwest, I recommend the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Expandable Spinner. I have used this carry-on for years. It’s durable, reasonably priced, and holds everything I need for shorter trips. Plus the spinner wheels make it very easy to get through the airport quickly and effortlessly.
This carry-on bag has been sizer bin tested to accommodate overhead bin space on most major US airlines.
Note: If fully expanded it may not meet overhead bin size limits, so be careful to not overpack.
In addition to a carry-on bag, Southwest allows each passenger to bring one personal item onboard. Personal items include purses, briefcases, cameras, food containers, or laptops (case included).
Southwest personal carry-on items must be no larger than 16.25” (L) + 13.5” (W) + 8” (H).
Your personal item must be stored under the seat in front of you. If it doesn’t fit or if there’s no seat in front of you, we’ll ask you to place it in an overhead bin.
Southwest has the best baggage fee policy of any airline in the United States.
With Southwest, there is no charge for your carry-on and personal item, plus, your first two checked bags are free (weight and size limits apply).
Skis and golf bags may also fly free, and surfboards fly free in Hawaii. Each additional bag and any oversized bag (more than 50 pounds or larger than 62 inches) is $75 per item, one-way.
Here is a table with the added fees for checked items:
The rules for carry-on liquids are set by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration), not by the airline. Southwest doesn’t have its own specific Liquids Policy, they just enforce the rules and policies of the TSA.
Liquids in a carry-on bag must be 3.4 ounces or smaller and fit in a 1 quart-sized container. Anything larger must be placed in your checked luggage.
Any liquid that does not meet the TSA 3-1-1 rule will either have to be checked with your luggage or will be thrown away at the security checkpoint.
Here is a little video to help illustrate this:
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