Amid volatile oil and jet fuel prices, which have both sharply increased since the war in Iran began, many global carriers are facing huge spikes in costs. According to a release from Southwest, fees will increase by $10 for both first and second checked bags on any reservation on or after April 9 , 2026. The airline says A-list Preferred and Choice Extra customers will still receive two checked bags, and Rapid Rewards cardholders will still get one checked bag free. The cost for the first checked bag is increasing from $35 to $45. Costs for a second checked bag will increase from $45 to $55. Southwest ended the decades-old policy of allowing passengers to check two bags for free in May of 2025, marking a shift in how the airline marketed itself to passengers. Southwest is one of several airlines that have increased fees since the start of the war in Iran, which sent oil and jet fuel prices surging. Fighting near the Strait of Hormuz has caused ripple effects throughout the supply chain. ...read more read less