Ground operations employees load baggage onto a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft on the tarmac at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California.
Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images
It’s happening: Southwest Airlines will start charging passengers to check bags for the first time.
It’s a stunning reversal that shows the low-cost pioneer is willing to part with a customer perk executives have said set it apart from rivals for more than half a century of flying in hopes of increasing revenue.
Southwest’s changes come after months of pressure from activist Elliott Investment Management. The firm took a stake in the airline last year and won five board seats as it pushed for quick changes at the company, which held on for decades — until now — to perks like free checked bags, changeable tickets and open seating.
For tickets purchased on or after May 28, Southwest customers in all but the top-tier fare class will have to pay…
