Bags fly free no more at Southwest Airlines, a perk that has been one the big selling points for the company in its 54-year history. On Tuesday, a new page is being written as the airline goes through some turbulent changes.

Southwest Airlines is implementing a new round of changes — including charging travelers to check their bags. According to a release, the new initiatives reward the airline's most loyal customers while giving all customers more options.

Southwest Airlines is ending its open seating policy and introducing bag fees as part of a major operational overhaul.