Experience with Southwest Airline?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Now in an era of extra charges people still think they need to carry on stuff but the reality is there is no charge for bags so why carry on? People in a rush to get out of the airport I guess.

Well if you're going for a short business trip, a short lesiure trip, don't want to lug suitecases around in general, don't want to wait for luggage, concern over lost luggage etc etc. There's a wide variety of reasons people don't check bags in day to day lives.

Oh and I forgot..damage to bags. Doesn't happen too often but sadly we've lost two 'largest in the set' to damage- 1 back in April 2013 from Delta and most recently in August 2018 from SWA. Both were replaced by the airlines but still. Unfortunately we've also found that newer soft-sided luggage aren't made very tough in comparison to older ones.

When my husband travels for business it's usually shorter trips and he doesn't want to deal with a checked bag. Longer trips and he may do a checked bag. When he was on field assignments in Houston and then in Maryland and when he does his field assignment in LA in a couple of months he comes home for a few days. He doesn't check a bag for that.

 

[bcla]

Oh and I forgot..damage to bags. Doesn't happen too often but sadly we've lost two 'largest in the set' to damage- 1 back in April 2013 from Delta and most recently in August 2018 from SWA. Both were replaced by the airlines but still. Unfortunately we've also found that newer soft-sided luggage aren't made very tough in comparison to older ones.

Well - but it's really important to find luggage that can withstand transport. I remember once my parents asked me to borrow a piece of carry on. It was from Samsonite and was meant solely to be hand carried and not tossed around. It didn't have any of the features found in typical soft-sided luggage such as rubber/plastic reinforcing corners. They checked it in anyways and returned it to us with the holes in the fabric.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Well - but it's really important to find luggage that can withstand transport. I remember once my parents asked me to borrow a piece of carry on. It was from Samsonite and was meant solely to be hand carried and not tossed around. It didn't have any of the features found in typical soft-sided luggage such as rubber/plastic reinforcing corners. They checked it in anyways and returned it to us with the holes in the fabric.

What I'm talking about is the kind made nowadays isn't the same material as years ago at least what you find on the vast majority of suitcases. All our suitcases have rubber and/or plastic reinforced corners. They are all meant to be travelled with. None are marketed as "hand-carried' that would do us absolutely no good anyways and any small duffle-style bags (that are like in that they aren't designed to go through cargo) that we use as our carry on (which both can also be placed under the seat too due to their size).

ETA: I should mention what I mean by years ago is I have a set with a large, middle, and small from 2006 that has been through the ringer. Haven't been able to find the same material that one is made out of since at least not ones sold in majority of stores.

I believe some of that may be due to trying to get the weight down. My 2006 set is much much heavier than the replacement suitcase we got from Delta in 2013 and our replacement suitcase from SWA in 2018 is even lighter than that.

 

[tex1989]

Sure bag damage can happen. My bigger point I guess is we mostly travel to WDW so with ME we take the easy way out. But certainly we understand better than anyone damage can happen.

On our December trip our bags were in the room when we got back from the parks on our first day. As my wife went to unpack hers we noticed a horrible smell. Upon further investigation it was clear that something had gotten on the suitcase. The stench was over whelming. So we emptied it and put it outside the room. We took her clothes that were effected (not many thankfully) and spent a midnight session at the machines washing and drying her socks and underware. Had to buy a new bag to return home (overpriced Mickey bag). So our conclusion based on the smell was one of two things, either a TSA dog smelled our cats on the bag and marked his territory, or a previous traveler on the plane we were on had deer esteres (Female deer urine) that spilled and got on the bag. I hunt and the smell was right in line with that sort of thing. Since we threw the bag away and could not prove anything or let anything be examined SWA could not compensate us for the luggage but did apoligize and gave us a $50 travel credit. It was a bad situation but we were happy that SWA reacted fast and the way they did.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Sure bag damage can happen. My bigger point I guess is we mostly travel to WDW so with ME we take the easy way out.

I was speaking as a generality (so not just people going to WDW and using DME)

You posed the question "why carry on?" I gave some reasons

But that does not sound like an umm pleasant experience with the bag-sorry to hear about that but glad it wasn't too many things ruined in your bags Not sure what I would have done about that other than be disgusted at first and then probably laughed about it later about what a strange situation to have occurred lol.

 

[Squirlz]

I can't imagine messing with baggage check if you don't have to. We like to walk straight in to our gate and straight out of the airport.

 

[tex1989]

Yeah we laugh about it now, but that night when we did not get in bed till 2:00 am on the first day of the trip was not fun. It was a comedy of errors actually. We were at PoP and they gave my wife a card for the laundry which we thought was nice. Having never done laundry at WDW we just took the things down and found out first you buy the soap, then pay to use the machine through the coding system. Well the card the front desk gave her had $1 on it and paid for the detergent and nothing else. We brought no other money or cards to pay. So back to the room for that and then wait for the washing machine, Pay and move to a drier and wait for that.

What a fun night we had!

Oh yeah and we lost a compact umbbrella to it as well.

The funniest part was dispite telling the front desk and the maid service we were throwing the suitcase away it sat outside our room for three days.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yeah we laugh about it now, but that night when we did not get in bed till 2:00 am on the first day of the trip was not fun. It was a comedy of errors actually. We were at PoP and they gave my wife a card for the laundry which we thought was nice. Having never done laundry at WDW we just took the things down and found out first you buy the soap, then pay to use the machine through the coding system. Well the card the front desk gave her had $1 on it and paid for the detergent and nothing else. We brought no other money or cards to pay. So back to the room for that and then wait for the washing machine, Pay and move to a drier and wait for that.

What a fun night we had!

Oh yeah and we lost a compact umbbrella to it as well.

The funniest part was dispite telling the front desk and the maid service we were throwing the suitcase away it sat outside our room for three days.

Oh my! Sounds like quite the trip that's for sure.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I can't imagine messing with baggage check if you don't have to. We like to walk straight in to our gate and straight out of the airport.

We're going to LA (landing in LAX) to apartment hunt at the end of this month for my husband's temp assignment there. I think we'll be gone 4-6 days not quite sure yet.

We do know we're going to DLR at least a day but it may be up to 3 depending on our success on apartment hunting. If it weren't for that we wouldn't even think to bring a checked bag; just no need to. We haven't settled on taking one or not quite yet but I do want to have some room to bring a few things back if possible and that would be the reason for 'upgrading' to a larger bag that would get checked.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I get that but as long as you're not in the last zone, it doesn't really matter whether you're first or last. There will be space for your carry-on. Perhaps not directly above your seat, but definitely space. If I don't need access to it, I usually just toss it in any available slot I see as I'm walking to my seat.

I hate it when people do that! People bparding in the earlier zones, who sit in back, tossing their bags in near the front means that those who baord later must push all the way to the back, past those settling in, to find a spot for their bag, then swim back upstream to their seat, and then at the end of the flight cannot get off without first fighting their way all the way back again for their bag---all because someone who boarded first couldn't be bothered to put their bag in the general area of where their seat was? I frequently just have a tiny backpack as a carry on, but it sitll bothers me to see it happen because it slows the boarding and arrival processes.

I have recently been on a couple of flights where they were testing boarding from front to back and it went so much faster and smoother---I think mostly becuase this becomes a non issue.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks everyone for your advice - we have booked with Southwest after all, flying from Nashville.

When it comes to the boarding groups, is there really a risk that the lower boarding group you’re in, the more likely you won’t get on the flight if it’s overbooked? We haven’t paid for the early check in as of yet (it seems an awful lot on top of the standard fare) but if it really guarantees no issues with boarding then maybe it is worth considering?

I have never heard of Southwest being overbooked---and since most of their planes are identical, even if there is an equipment change, it is highly unlikely to result in being bumped from a flight.
Really the ONLY reason to pay for early bird check in is to get to board sooner, thereby having more choices of seats and a better chance of sitting together. If you'd rather save the money and possibly sit apart for the short flight, it's perfectly reasonable not to buy it (I think I boguht it twice in about a dozen flights---I normally just do not care THAT much about the seat for a shorter flight---and more often than not you can still find two seats together somewhere.

 

[Sandeep1]

I hate it when people do that! People bparding in the earlier zones, who sit in back, tossing their bags in near the front means that those who baord later must push all the way to the back, past those settling in, to find a spot for their bag, then swim back upstream to their seat, and then at the end of the flight cannot get off without first fighting their way all the way back again for their bag---all because someone who boarded first couldn't be bothered to put their bag in the general area of where their seat was? I frequently just have a tiny backpack as a carry on, but it sitll bothers me to see it happen because it slows the boarding and arrival processes.

I have recently been on a couple of flights where they were testing boarding from front to back and it went so much faster and smoother---I think mostly becuase this becomes a non issue.

So lets say there 6 zones when boarding. If you're Zone 1-4, obviously you will just toss your carry on in the area above your seat. But if you're in the last zones, there is a good chance there won't be space above your seat. And the last thing you want to do is get to your seat, not see any available space, and have to put it behind you. Because, as you said, you will then have to swim up stream.

Unfortunately, boarding a plane isn't a team sport. What's good for me may not be good for you and others. But I'm obviously going to look out for #1.

 

[NHdisneylover]

So lets say there 6 zones when boarding. If you're Zone 1-4, obviously you will just toss your carry on in the area above your seat. But if you're in the last zones, there is a good chance there won't be space above your seat. And the last thing you want to do is get to your seat, not see any available space, and have to put it behind you. Because, as you said, you will then have to swim up stream.

Unfortunately, boarding a plane isn't a team sport. What's good for me may not be good for you and others. But I'm obviously going to look out for #1.[/QUO

Silly me being polite and thinking of othesr as we all spend time in an enclosed space AND even sillier of me to notice that every single person gest there faster when we board more quickly, which happens when people put their bags near where they sit instead of having the self important attitude you describe.

 

[Sandeep1]

Silly me being polite and thinking of othesr as we all spend time in an enclosed space AND even sillier of me to notice that every single person gest there faster when we board more quickly, which happens when people put their bags near where they sit instead of having the self important attitude you describe.

I don't think you're actually reading what I'm typing. I'm not suggesting that someone in the first zone toss their bags at the front. I'm saying that people boarding towards the end need to put their bag wherever there is space.

It's really not a difficult concept to grasp and I'm not sure why you're having so much difficulty with it. If the remaining overhead space is limited, and I see an available spot, I will put my bag there. If that means you don't have a spot, then that's unfortunate. You can alert one of the FAs and they will be happy to gate check your bag.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't think you're actually reading what I'm typing. I'm not suggesting that someone in the first zone toss their bags at the front. I'm saying that people boarding towards the end need to put their bag wherever there is space.

It's really not a difficult concept to grasp and I'm not sure why you're having so much difficulty with it. If the remaining overhead space is limited, and I see an available spot, I will put my bag there. If that means you don't have a spot, then that's unfortunate. You can alert one of the FAs and they will be happy to gate check your bag.

I'm not trying to speak for the PP but I think the difference to me would be did those passengers put their bags in opens spots as a manner of necessity because the FAs explained overhead bin space was limited or gone (or you could clearly see there wasn't room near your selected seat) OR did the passengers put their bags in open spots away from their seat because they actively chose to?

In both instances it can slow down a plane in boarding and deboarding but doing it as a matter of choice can further that delay and the optics aren't as good.

Your original comment was "If I don't need access to it, I usually just toss it in any available slot I see as I'm walking to my seat." so clearly choosing to do that rather than it being because of necessity.

If everyone put their bags by their seats there would be less random bags placed about, with less chance of issues, unless the issue was oversized bags or too many bags per passenger in overhead bin.

 

[Sandeep1]

I'm not trying to speak for the PP but I think the difference to me would be did those passengers put their bags in opens spots as a manner of necessity because the FAs explained overhead bin space was limited or gone (or you could clearly see there wasn't room near your selected seat) OR did the passengers put their bags in open spots away from their seat because they actively chose to?

Well, you kind of have to decide early on what you're going to do. If you're in one of the last boarding zones, and you wait till to get to your seat to determine there is no space left, then it's too late to go back up to the front (as you've got a whole crowd of people behind you). So you're SOL at that point, only option is to put the bags behind you and then you're swimming upstream after landing which is not a pleasant scenario.

Your original comment was "If I don't need access to it, I usually just toss it in any available slot I see as I'm walking to my seat." so clearly choosing to do that rather than it being because of necessity.

If everyone put their bags by their seats there would be less random bags placed about, with less chance of issues, unless the issue was oversized bags or too many bags per passenger in overhead bin.

Well I think everyone would prefer to have their bags placed directly above them. If I'm boarding the plane first, I'm not going to toss my bag above Seat 1 if I'm Seat 20, that would make no sense.

But yes, the issues as you described are people with too many bags, people who don't place small bags under the seat in front of them, and people with larger sized bags than allowed. All of that adds up and causes issues for people in the last few zones.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Well, you kind of have to decide early on what you're going to do. If you're in one of the last boarding zones, and you wait till to get to your seat to determine there is no space left, then it's too late to go back up to the front (as you've got a whole crowd of people behind you). So you're SOL at that point, only option is to put the bags behind you and then you're swimming upstream after landing which is not a pleasant scenario.

Yeah sorry I've never been on a plane before where people are left to guess at least in the way you've described. FAs have been very good at letting people know. Additionally FAs have also taken the bag for the passenger who has made it to their seat but found there isn't space above/near them (and that goes for all sorts of situations) and then advised them where the bag is. Maybe we're not taking the right flights I guess I'm not used to seeing passengers so completely left on their own and without knowledge that they just take it upon themselves to just place the bag in the first available spot they see no matter where their actual seat is at.

Well I think everyone would prefer to have their bags placed directly above them. If I'm boarding the plane first, I'm not going to toss my bag above Seat 1 if I'm Seat 20, that would make no sense.

But yes, the issues as you described are people with too many bags, people who don't place small bags under the seat in front of them, and people with larger sized bags than allowed. All of that adds up and causes issues for people in the last few zones.

Conveniently leaving out when passengers don't have their bags near them..especially the ones who just take it upon themselves to toss it wherever they see fit.

You've already said you're going to just toss your bag in any available spot on your way to your seat--but you've now clarified it just won't be extreme----gotcha...

In any case you do you

 

[Floridaman999]

I hate it when my carefully placed bag of tacos gets smashed by the late comers to the plane. I absolutely love tacos and I hate it when they get smashed. I pay for early boarding so I have room for my bag but I guess it doesn't really help anymore.

 

[Allison]

I hate it when people do that! People bparding in the earlier zones, who sit in back, tossing their bags in near the front means that those who baord later must push all the way to the back, past those settling in, to find a spot for their bag, then swim back upstream to their seat, and then at the end of the flight cannot get off without first fighting their way all the way back again for their bag---all because someone who boarded first couldn't be bothered to put their bag in the general area of where their seat was? I frequently just have a tiny backpack as a carry on, but it sitll bothers me to see it happen because it slows the boarding and arrival processes.

I have recently been on a couple of flights where they were testing boarding from front to back and it went so much faster and smoother---I think mostly becuase this becomes a non issue.

I hate it to.

 

[wilbret]

I hate it to.

I hate it too, but guess what? The flight attendants are telling people to use whatever space they can find. A problem that could be SOLVED with ASSIGNED seats. ;-)
Just assign seats! Jeebus criminey crickets. It's like riding greyhound. I fully expect them to hand me a live chicken to hold while boarding.