One of the most popular Southwest perks is flying off into the sunset, but here's how you can keep your access.

If you don't have Southwest elite status, the cheapest option for getting a free checked bag will be the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. It has a $69 annual fee, which may be as much as the baggage fees for a round-trip flight.

Southwest Airlines will begin charging customers a fee to check bags. It's a significant change for the budget carrier, which built years of advertising campaigns around its policy of letting passengers check up to two bags for free.