✈️ Why Southwest Is Still the Best Airline for Families in 2025

Apr 5

Written By Kayla Barrientos

And how we keep flying for (almost) free with kids in tow thanks to the Southwest credit card. Get yours here!

✅ 1. One Free Checked Bag for the Whole Family

Starting May 28, 2025, Southwest is updating its baggage policy:

If you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card, you and up to 8 people on your reservation will each get one free checked bag.
This is a change from the old two-bag policy for everyone, but it still beats most other airlines—especially for families.
Most airlines charge $30–$40+ per bag, per person, each way. That adds up fast.

For us: That’s at least $160 in savings on every roundtrip flight with our family of 5.

🧳 2. No Change Fees, Ever

Things go sideways with kids—someone gets sick, nap schedules shift, plans evolve.
Southwest is the only airline that lets you change your flights without penalty (you just pay any fare difference).

🎯 3. Easy Rebooking When Prices Drop

Southwest makes it ridiculously easy to get points or credit back if your flight drops in price after booking.

We’ve rebooked and gotten over $200 in savings on flights we’d already paid for—zero hassle.

👥 4. The Companion Pass

This is the holy grail for family travelers. If one parent earns the Southwest Companion Pass, another family member (usually a spouse or kid) flies free on every flight—just pay taxes and fees.

We used this to fly our family of 5 to Disneyland for under $500.

You can earn the pass faster by:

Opening a Southwest credit card (or two, if you own a business)
Referring your spouse to get a second signup bonus
Flying or earning qualifying points

💳 5. Credit Card Bonuses Make It Easy to Start

Most Southwest cards offer 50,000+ point bonuses just for hitting the minimum spend. That’s enough to cover $700+ in flights.

Plus:

Points don’t expire
No blackout dates
You can transfer points between family accounts

And now, thanks to the new baggage policy, those cards also help you save at check-in—huge win.

💡 Final Take

Southwest still isn’t fancy. But when you’re traveling with kids, you want flexible, predictable, and affordable.

From free checked bags to companion passes to easy flight changes, Southwest continues to offer the best value for family travel in 2025.

Want to try the same strategy we used?
[Get 50,000 points with this referral link »]

Kayla Barrientos