Last updated: 31 October 2026.
Southwest's liability for baggage and delay is set in its Contract of Carriage. Its Customer Service Plan, which applies to Southwest-operated flights and yields to the Contract if they conflict, adds commitments on delayed bags.
12 hourstarget to return delayed bags on domestic flights
15-30 hourstarget to return delayed bags on international flights
12 / 15 hoursdelay after which bag fees are refunded, domestic / international
30 dayswritten acknowledgment of a complaint
Delayed or lost baggage
- The airline works to return a late bag in 12 hours on domestic trips and 15 to 30 hours on international ones.
- When a bag is late or lost through no fault of yours, report it at the airport and claim reasonable costs.
- If you paid a bag fee and the bag was delayed 12 hours or more (domestic) or 15 hours or more (international), or was not recovered, the fee is refunded once you have filed the report.
- Check the Contract of Carriage for liability limits and the claim deadlines that apply to your journey.
Other commitments
- For delays of 30 minutes or more, or cancellations, the airline tries to tell you within 30 minutes of learning of it.
- Written complaints are acknowledged within 30 days and answered substantively within 60 days.
- Involuntarily denied boarding on an oversold flight brings a written notice, compensation and a seat on the next Southwest flight.
Questions travellers ask us
How fast will a delayed bag be returned?
The aim is 12 hours domestically and 15 to 30 hours internationally.
Do I get my bag fee back?
Yes, if the bag is 12 or more hours late (15 internationally) or lost, after you file a report.
Baggage Allowance is an independent information site and is not part of Southwest Airlines. Check the airline's own pages before you travel.
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