🔥 Bucketlist Baddie Cheat Codes: Beat Southwest’s New Baggage Fees

Alright now my Bucketlist Baddies, you know I love me some Southwest, but today? Chile, they hit us with a plot twist! They just announced some changes that took a direct shot at the little red, blue, and gold heart I have for them. 😩 For the past 50+ years, Southwest has been the real MVP, lugging our two checked bags for free—making it a dream for the budget-savvy traveler or that family of five who would rather put those baggage fees towards an extra night and a candlelit dinner at their 5-star hotel. But now? The free bag era is officially on life support.

But you already know—we don’t fold, we finesse. So, let’s talk about how to keep your coins exactly where they belong and outsmart these fees like a true Bucketlist Baddie™.

Baggage Fees Loading…

But So Are the Cheat Codes – Let’s get into it.

Starting May 28, 2025, Southwest will:

✅ Give 2 free checked bags to A-List Preferred Members and Business Select travelers

✅ Give 1 free checked bag to A-List Members & Southwest credit card holders

❌ Charge everyone else for their checked bags (pricing TBA) they're still working on it!

Translation? If you love a checked bag moment, prepare to pay.

SO, WHAT’S A BUCKETLIST BADDIE SUPPOSED TO DO?

Squabble Up! This Southwest switch-up is just a reminder that we don’t panic, we pivot. When the rules change, we adapt. Listen, when I say, "Trips Come True are for Girls Like You, I mean it" But you also have to be willing to keep your movements on the swivel when things switch up. The key? Moving differently. That means adjusting how we plan, pack, and stack our coins so we’re always two steps ahead of the game. Here are three quick shifts that’ll have you outsmarting these baggage fees with ease:

1️⃣ PACK LIKE A PRO: Make Every Inch Count

Checked bag fees? We don’t know her! Here’s how to dodge the fee like a pro:

✔ Upgrade Your Carry-On Game – Invest in a max-sized personal item (Southwest allows a small personal bag + carry-on). We’re talking backpacks that double as wardrobes.

✔ Vacuum Seal Bags Are Bae – Pack like a magician. These bags suck the air out so you can fit twice as much in half the space.

✔ Airport Outfit Strategy – Wear your bulkiest items on the plane (yes, even that big coat & your heaviest sneakers). Layers are your besties.

Sis if you haven't started vacuum sealing your travel bags, maybe now's a good time to start. Here is an option for everyday vacuum bags for every reason, cuz they're also good around the house and come with 3 sizes for travel. Here's a link for compression cubes to make your carryon space max, just stack'em inside your suitcase and here's a link for durable reusable vacuum bag options if you absolutely love it! ✨ And while you’re at it, make sure you’re rolling up in style with our GoWear™ luggage pieces from the Merch Store.

2️⃣ JOIN THE RIGHT PROGRAMS & GET THE ‘FREE BAG’ LOOPHOLE

You don’t have to be swiping platinum cards to get perks—just be strategic.

✈️ Consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card – It’ll still grant one free checked bag, so if you fly often, it pays for itself. Here's the Link

✈️ A-List Membership = Bag Perks – If you frequently fly Southwest, consider earning status (especially if your job has you up in the air often).

✈️ Stack Rewards & Use Points – Your points could help cover extra fees—watch for Southwest’s redemption changes.

3️⃣ “If You Got to Pay - Make it Painless!"

If you can’t avoid the fee, make it make sense.

💰 Set Up a ‘Baggage Fee Stash’ – $5 a week between now & May = a stress-free check-in come summer.

💰 Book Sooner than Later – Southwest releases their flight schedules up to 6 months out and their prices fluctuate. Watch for promos & snag early-bird deals to offset costs.

💰 Use a ‘Travel Splurge Fund’ – Cut a Small Expense, Redirect the Coins – One less takeout order = baggage fees handled.

SO, SHOULD YOU STILL FLY SOUTHWEST?

Let’s be real—there will probably never be a day when a Southwest plane takes off empty. But best believe, the people sitting in those seats? Divided into two categories: the ones who know the game and play it well, and the ones who are paying the price—literally.

At the end of the day, the real flex isn’t just booking a flight—it’s knowing the rules of the game so you can bank ‘em in your favor. Fees will keep rolling in, but savvy travelers don’t take L’s, they take notes. Learn the tricks, use the cheat codes, and start moving like the traveler you wanna be. One move, one trip at a time.

Moment with Mesha: Sitting high above Bali, swinging between the sky and possibility, I’m reminded—travel is all about the pivot. Plans change, airlines switch up, but a Bucketlist Baddie™? She moves different. She adapts. She learns the game and plays it well. Wherever your next adventure takes you, Stay Fly Sis.

Sincerely,

—Mesha, Girl Let’s Go 

#BucketlistBaddie #WeOutAgain #CheckedBagFeesWho #StayFlySis #PackSmartTravelHard #GirlLetsGo

"So tell me, sis—are you rolling with Southwest after this switch-up, or is it time to book elsewhere? 🧐✈️ Drop your thoughts below! Girl Let's Go👇🔥"