Amtrak promotes free luggage while Southwest axes free checked bag

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Craig Nigrelli Reporter

By Craig Nigrelli (Reporter), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), Shianne DeLeon (Video Editor)

Amtrak is emphasizing its free baggage policy after Southwest Airlines announced during the week of March 9 that it will begin charging for checked bags. The airline did not reveal specifically when the “bags fly free” policy will expire.
Amtrak went on social media to proclaim that each passenger is allowed to take one personal item and two carry-on items on board. However, there are weight limits.
While Southwest says it is trying to return to levels of profitability and meet future customer needs, Amtrak previously revealed it had record ridership in fiscal year 2024.

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Amtrak wasted little time trying to seize the spotlight after Southwest Airlines announced it is altering its “bags fly free” policy the week of March 9.

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The nation’s passenger railroad company went on social media, issuing two brief statements on its bag policy.

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What did Amtrak say?

The company’s post on X stated that each passenger may bring one personal and two carry-on items for free, saying, “guess we’re the only ones doing free baggage now.”

guess we’re the only ones doing free baggage now
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) March 11, 2025

What are some of the specifics of the Southwest policy change?

Amtrak’s message comes after Southwest announced on Tuesday, March 11, that some passengers will be charged for their checked bags on all flights booked on or after May 28. No specific price was given.

Certain customers enrolled in Southwest’s Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred program and those who pay Business Select fares will still receive two free checked bags, as Southwest looks to beef up its loyalty rewards program.

In addition, Southwest will allow one free checked bag for customers who are Rapid Rewards credit card holders, as well as other select customers.

Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement that the airline has an opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customers and return to profitability.

Other changes at Southwest

The airline, long known for its no-frills approach, recently announced it will do away with its lettered open seating group approach, moving to assigned seating beginning in early 2026. In addition, the company increased fees for its priority boarding.

What are Amtrak’s rules when it comes to baggage?

As for Amtrak, personal items must be lighter than 25 pounds, while carry-on items must be under 50 pounds. Customers are charged an excess baggage fee if the bags are larger than the required dimensions, or the customer has more than three total items.

Back in December 2024, Amtrak reported that it set an all-time record for ridership in fiscal year 2024, with nearly 33 million customers.

Tags: Amtrak, Plane, Social Media, Southwest airlines, U.S. Economy

[Craig Nigrelli]

AMTRAK WASTED LITTLE TIME TRYING TO SEIZE THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER SOUTHWEST AIRLINES THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED IT IS ELIMINATING IT “BAGS FLY FREE POLICY”.
THE NATION’S PASSENGER RAILROAD COMPANY WENT ON social medi, ISSUING TWO BRIEF STATEMENTS ON ITS BAG POLICY.
THE COMPANY POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA – “ EACH PASSENGER MAY BRING 1 PERSONAL + 2 CARRY-ON ITEMS FREE. AND QUOTE “ GUESS WE’RE THE ONLY ONES DOING FREE BAGGAGE NOW. “
THE MESSAGING COMES AFTER SOUTHWEST ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY THAT SOME PASSENGERS WILL BE CHARGED FOR THEIR CHECKED BAGS ON ALL FLIGHTS BOOKED ON OR AFTER MAY 28TH. NO SPECIFIC PRICE WAS GIVEN.
CERTAIN CUSTOMERS ENROLLED IN SOUTHWEST’S RAPID REWARDS A-LIST PREFERRED PROGRAM AND THOSE WHO PAY BUSINESS SELECT FARES WILL STILL RECEIVE TWO FREE CHECKED BAGS, AS SOUTHWEST LOOKS TO BEEF UP ITS LOYALTY REWARDS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, SOUTHWEST WILL ALLOW ONE FREE CHECKED BAG FOR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE RAPID REWARDS CREDIT CARD MEMBERS, AS WELL AS OTHER SELECT CUSTOMERS.
SOUTHWEST PRESIDENT AND CEO BOB JORDAN SAID IN A STATEMENT, “WE HAVE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE CUSTOMER NEEDS, ATTRACT NEW CUSTOMER SEGMENTS WE DON’T COMPETE FOR TODAY AND RETURN TO LEVELS OF PROFITABILITY THAT BOTH WE AND OUR SHAREHOLDERS EXPECT. “
THE 53-YEAR-OLD COMPANY, LONG KNOWN FOR ITS NO-FRILLS APPROACH, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT WILL DO AWAY WITH ITS A,B AND C GROUP OPEN SEATING AND GO TO ASSIGNED SEATING, BEGINNING IN EARLY 2026. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY INCREASED FEES FOR ITS PRIORITY BOARDING.
AS FOR AMTRAK, Personal items must be lighter than 25 POUNDS, while carry-on items must be under 50 POUNDS. Customers are charged an excess baggage fee of $20 A BAG, IF THE BAGS ARE LARGERS THAN REQUIRED DIMENSIONS OR IF PASSENGERS HAVE MORE THAN THE THREE, TOTAL ITEMS, ALLOWED.
BACK IN DECEMBER, AMTRAK REPORTED THAT IT SET AN ALL-TIME RECORD FOR RIDERSHIP IN 2024, WITH NEARLY 33 MILLION CUSTOMERS.