Southwest Airlines allows each ticketed passenger to check two pieces of luggage at no additional cost. The carrier will charge a fee of $50 each for a third, fourth or fifth bag. Each checked bag beyond that will be subject to a fee of $110. The maximum allowed weight for each bag is 50 pounds and the maximum size is 62 inches--the total of height plus width plus length. Any piece of checked luggage that is overweight or oversize will be subject to an additional $50 fee. Items that weigh more than 100 pounds must be shipped via Air Cargo, subject to restrictions
Under TSA regulations, all checked baggage at Southwest Airlines is subject to screening and physical inspection. Passengers must produce identification when checking bags, and name identification is required on the outside of all checked items. ID tags are available at check-in counters.
According to Southwest Airlines policy, the carrier is limited to a maximum of $3,300 per passenger for lost, damaged or delayed baggage, unless the customer declares an excess value and pays an additional fee at check-in. A passenger must report any lost or damaged luggage within four hours of arrival, according to Southwest. Fragile or improperly packaged items can be loaded on the plane, but an agent will tag it as "conditionally accepted" and the airline will not be responsible for any damage to the items.
Customers must check their baggage for Southwest Airlines flights no later than 30 minutes before the plane is scheduled to depart. Any luggage checked later than that will be marked "Late Check-In" and might not be loaded on that flight. Certain U.S. airports that Southwest flies from requires bags to be checked no later than 45 minutes before the flight: Baltimore/Washington International (BWI); Chicago Midway (MDW); Denver International (DEN); Las Vegas International (LAS); Los Angeles International (LAX); Phoenix (PHX); Orlando (MCO); and Washington Dulles (IAD).
As required by TSA regulations, Southwest passengers are each allowed to carry onto the plane one bag plus one smaller personal item. Allowed personal items include briefcases, laptops in cases, containers of food, cameras and purses. The one carry-on bag must be no larger than 10 inches by 16 inches by 24 inches. Southwest allows certain items to be carried onto the plane that are not counted against the limit: child car seats for child passengers; assistive or mobility devices needed by passengers with disabilities; coats, jackets or other wearable clothing; food in disposable containers for in-flight consumption; and canes or umbrellas.
