Any word if AT will not have baggage fees?

[connie254]

That is, w/o getting the flight via the SW website? I thought I saw something about it but not sure

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

That is, w/o getting the flight via the SW website? I thought I saw something about it but not sure

Although AirTran has been owned by Southwest (which still has a "bags fly free" policy for its own flights) for almost two years now, AirTran continues to charge baggage fees — with new exceptions. According to Southwest:

"Southwest is making one exception: any itinerary with a Southwest segment or that is purchased through a Southwest point-of-sale channel will not have bag fees for the first or second checked bag (weight and size restrictions apply)."

Here's Southwest's press release about this: http://www.swamedia.com/releases/southwest-airlines-and-airtran-airways-begin-connecting-networks

Here's AirTran's FAQ about baggage allowances and fees: http://www.airtran.com/faq/q/what_are_the_baggage_allowances_and_fees.aspx

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Airtran will continue to charge baggage fees until they are completely phased out. SWA does not want to invest in the man power to upgrade the Airtran computer system in order to eliminate the baggage fee from the system only to have the system shut down in the near future. So allowing the booking of the Airtran flights on the SWA sight and giving free bags, is SWA way of working around the baggage fee system for now.

 

[Lewisc]

Airtran will continue to charge baggage fees until they are completely phased out. SWA does not want to invest in the man power to upgrade the Airtran computer system in order to eliminate the baggage fee from the system only to have the system shut down in the near future. So allowing the booking of the Airtran flights on the SWA sight and giving free bags, is SWA way of working around the baggage fee system for now.

I don't buy that reason. Assuming you're right and the computer system won't let them lower the fee to zero they should at least be able to lower the fee to $1.

Change fees might be an issue. Lowering the fee to zero might be easy but putting an expiration date and policy consistent with Southwest's policy maybe not.

Booking AT flights on the Southwest site is a way to "bribe" customers into giving up assigned seats. Free bags and no change fees is probably more valuable then assigned seats to many (most?) passengers.