Yes, you still get one free Southwest carry on bag and one free personal item, as long as each fits within the airline’s size limits.
Bag rules on Southwest changed a lot once checked bag fees arrived, so many travelers now ask, “Do You Still Get a Free Carry On with Southwest?”. In plain terms, it did, and you can still board with a full size carry on and a smaller personal item without paying a bag fee.
Do You Still Get a Free Carry On with Southwest? Rules By Fare Type
Every published Southwest fare still includes one standard carry on bag for the overhead bin plus one personal item for under the seat. That rule covers Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra, and Business style fares. The airline removed automatic free checked bags for most travelers but kept the cabin allowance the same, so your roller bag and backpack still ride free as long as they meet the size rules.
Where fares now differ is in boarding order and checked bag perks. Higher bundles and top tier status place you in earlier boarding groups, which makes it easier to find open bin space close to your seat. Basic fares and late check in times tend to land you in the last groups, which means the same free carry on bag might still get tagged and placed in the hold if bins fill up before you reach the door.
What Counts As A Free Southwest Carry On
Southwest treats your free cabin allowance as two separate items. The main carry on is a larger bag that travels in the overhead bin and can measure up to 24 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 10 inches deep, wheels and handles included. The personal item is smaller, lives under the seat in front of you, and works best when it stays near 16.25 inches by 13.5 inches by 8 inches or less. There is no stated weight limit, yet you still need to lift the bag into the bin on your own.
| Item Type | Free Allowance | Main Size Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Standard carry on bag | 1 per ticketed passenger | 24″ x 16″ x 10″ including wheels and handles |
| Personal item | 1 per ticketed passenger | About 16.25″ x 13.5″ x 8″ or smaller |
| Coat, jacket, or umbrella | Free in addition to carry on and personal item | Must fit in bin or under seat without blocking aisles |
| Food in disposable packaging | May ride along with your cabin items | Needs to fit under seat or in bin without spilling |
| Assistive devices | Free on top of standard cabin allowance | Cane, crutches, or similar items that fit safely in cabin |
| Stroller or car seat | Gate checked free for families with young children | Folded or broken down for safe handling |
| Pet carrier | Counts as carry on or personal item plus pet fee | Soft sided carrier that fits fully under seat |
| Small musical instrument | Allowed if it fits safely in a bin | Instrument case within standard cabin dimensions |
If you want to double check the details, the airline lists the same dimensions on the official Southwest carry on baggage policy page. Measuring your suitcase and backpack at home against those numbers gives you a simple yes or no before you head for the airport.
Standard Carry On Bag Basics
Your main carry on can be a compact suitcase, a roller bag, or a structured travel backpack. The outside measurement matters more than any volume rating on the tag. Include handles, wheels, and side pockets when you measure, since those pieces often push bags over the limit.
Personal Item Strategy
The personal item is where you keep the things you cannot lose or damage. Laptops, cameras, medication, travel documents, and a spare shirt fit well here. Pick a slim backpack, messenger bag, or laptop case that tucks under the seat and still leaves room for your feet. When bin space runs out and staff need to tag large cabin bags, that small under seat item becomes your lifeline.
Free Carry On With Southwest Rules Today
The free carry on deal applies across the fare chart, yet the rest of the baggage rules now depend more on what you buy and how often you fly. Basic fares usually pay for every checked suitcase. Choice and higher tiers often include at least one checked bag or pair nicely with loyalty perks that keep one or two bags free.
From a cabin point of view, though, the pattern stays steady. One bag up top, one down by your feet, with no separate fee on any published fare. When travelers talk about losing the old “bags fly free” promise, they now mean the checked bag side, not the free carry on right above your head.
| Traveler Type | Carry On Allowance | Checked Bag Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Basic fare | 1 carry on bag plus 1 personal item | Pays fee for each checked bag |
| Choice or Choice Preferred | 1 carry on bag plus 1 personal item | Often includes price breaks on first or second checked bag |
| Choice Extra or Business style fare | 1 carry on bag plus 1 personal item | Commonly includes two checked bags without extra charge |
| Rapid Rewards A List | 1 carry on bag plus 1 personal item | Checked bag perks layered on top of booked fare |
| A List Preferred | 1 carry on bag plus 1 personal item | Richer checked bag benefits and earlier boarding groups |
| Co branded credit card holder | 1 carry on bag plus 1 personal item | Often keeps first checked bag free on eligible itineraries |
Baggage fees can shift by route and season, so check the current fee chart on the Southwest site when you book trips that need checked luggage. Cabin rules tend to change less often than fee tables, which makes the free carry on a steady tool for keeping costs down.
How To Keep Your Bag Eligible As A Free Carry On
Keeping your bag within the free carry on rules starts with the suitcase you choose. Shop with a tape measure in hand and aim for models that publish their external dimensions clearly. Many travel brands now sell “airline friendly” designs built around the same 22 inch class that fits under the Southwest box while still working on other major carriers.
Once you have the right bag, the way you pack matters just as much. Soft packing cubes, rolled clothing, and mindful use of pockets keep the shell from bulging past the limit. Heavy items such as shoes and chargers belong near the wheels in a roller bag or close to your spine in a backpack, which keeps the lift into the bin smooth and controlled.
Think about boarding order as part of your packing plan. If your fare or status puts you late in the line, assume bins near your seat might already be full. Place one outfit, daily medication, a toothbrush, and any valuables in your personal item so you are ready for a last minute gate check of the main bag.
Liquids, Security Rules, And Your Southwest Carry On
A free carry on still has to pass airport security screening. In the United States, that means small liquid containers in a single quart size clear bag. Most checkpoints follow the familiar TSA liquids rule, which limits each liquid, gel, or aerosol to 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters inside that bag.
Full size shampoo bottles, big spray cans, and large tubes of toothpaste usually need to ride in checked luggage instead of your Southwest carry on. Travel size versions that match the rule slip through screening and leave more space in your cabin bag for clothing and gear. Dry items such as bars of soap, solid deodorant sticks, and laundry sheets help you cut down the liquid load even more.
Tricky Southwest Carry On Situations
Real trips often add a few wrinkles that do not fit neatly in a baggage chart. You might show up with a soft garment bag for a wedding, a guitar in a hard case, or a toddler in a stroller plus a diaper bag. Southwest tries to keep rules friendly for these cases, but staff still look first at whether each item fits safely in the cabin.
Quick Southwest Carry On Packing Checklist
Do You Still Get a Free Carry On with Southwest? The policy still says yes, and this short checklist helps you turn that rule into a smoother trip every time you fly.
Carry On And Personal Item Checklist
- Confirm your main bag measures at or under 24″ x 16″ x 10″ including handles and wheels.
- Pick a personal item that fits fully under the seat and still leaves some space for your feet.
- Pack valuables, medication, and fragile items in the personal item in case the main bag gets gate checked.
- Use travel bottles and a quart size clear bag for liquids so screening at security stays simple.
- Keep one outfit, basic toiletries, and a phone charger in your cabin bags for delays or missed connections.
- Close every zipper and tighten loose straps before boarding so the bag slides into bins without snagging.
- Place roller bags wheels first, then turn them on their side to leave room for neighbors in the same bin.
When you know the rules, pick the right luggage, and pack with boarding order and security in mind, the free Southwest carry on works like a small travel insurance policy. You keep your core gear by your side, dodge many checked bag fees, and step off the plane ready to start your trip right away.