Southwest to start charging for bags

[sam_gordon]

They’ve also been trying to crack down on carryons. Having to pay for checked bags is only going to make the carryon situation worse.

I don't understand this line of thinking. IMO, there is one MAJOR reason to have a carry on and a couple of minor to bring a carry on...

MAJOR
In case a checked bag is lost/delayed. This can be human error, mechanical error, or a tight connection. My aunt even had her bag delayed on a direct flight. It simply never got on the plane. Having a carry on (should) give you at least one (if not more) changes of clothes and enough necessities for at least 24 hours.

MINOR
1) No stopping/waiting at baggage claim. Obviously if you have any checked bags, even if you have a carry on, this isn't a benefit, but if you can travel "carry on only", it's a great perk!

2) OK, here's where the cost sneaks in. But, many airlines offer perks to either their card holders or their FF for free checked bags.

Even IF I'm checking a bag (offsetting #1 minor benefit) AND have free checked bags (offsetting #2 benefit). I will ALWAYS bring a carry on (and my backpack and my cpap), especially when heading toward a vacation destination.

 

[eticketplease]

So does this mean if I book with points and it drops 2500 points, I cannot get my points back unless I book WGA+ or higher?

They have only mentioned changes regarding flight credits. I believe point bookings will continue to operate in the same manner as they currently do.

 

[brockash]

I was willing to tolerate open seating because of the free checked bags.

This was in my email this morning:

View attachment 946843

My default is usually SW because it's non-stop to MCO and I can fly out of MHT in my backyard vs the time/expense to get to logan and fly another airline.

Us too...without free bags and the easy flexibility to get a credit if plans change; I don't see any reason that we would fly SW (not having an assigned seat was something we were willing to put up with for those benefits, but without it no thank you) unless they start having super cheap flight which i dont see happening.

 

[SteveH]

Maybe trying to avoid altercations.

This is the big reason why, and I can't say I blame them for trying to avoid it. It should be addressed before they pass through ticketing, but those employees don't want to fight it either.

 

[Erica1016]

I'll be using over $200 in credits this spring. Use 'em or lose 'em.

From what I'm reading, I'm thinking it's credits after May 28. And they still last 6 months (for the basic fares). What I'm unsure of is if I use the credits and then cancel that flight, do the 6 months start over?

 

[kylenne]

Leaving MCO, they need to do something about carry-ons. We see family after family boarding with more than the policy allows. Not just families, but couples and singles. We see them get on with a backpack, small carry bag and a 21" suitcase carry-on per person. Or they will have a suitcase. huge backpack they have to put in the overhead bin and a lightsaber. We have never seen the airline gate attendants say a word. Of course, they do not say anything other things that go against policy, so that is probably why. Maybe trying to avoid altercations.

MCO is by far the worst airport I've ever flown out of for this, regardless of the airline. Hordes of infrequent leisure travelers, most of whom are families with kids and all of the Stuff required, bags full of souvenirs on top of their luggage, etc. It's the Hunger Games trying to get bin space. Delta and JetBlue gate agents there tend to be pretty hardcore about enforcing carry on limits ime but one of the reasons I always spring for First on Delta and EMS on JB for my Disney trips is specifically to board ASAP and ensure bin space for my 1 carry on lol. It's always a nightmare.

Re: the free bag allowances, it seems like SWA is trying to bring themselves in line with the industry so I would be very shocked if the Rapid Rewards cards didn't extend the free bag benefit to everyone on the reservation up to a certain number. JetBlue Plus card has that as well as the Delta Amexes. And with Delta that free bag from the card does stack with status entitlement. Back when I was a lowly Silver Medallion I always got 2 free checked bags even in Main Cabin or C+, one from the Gold card and one from 1 Medallion status.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Southwest in 2024: we’re not going to charge bags
Southwest in 2025: (bleep) you, we’re charging bags… coming soon: we’re charging for in flight entertainment, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages too

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Southwest in 2024: we’re not going to charge bags
Southwest in 2025: (bleep) you, we’re charging bags… coming soon: we’re charging for in flight entertainment, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages too

Definitely my fear!

We have CPs for 2025-26, so we're still going to look at SW first for family travel for a little while at least. But I think this will be the end of our relationship with SW...

 

[deckdmd]

I don't understand this line of thinking. IMO, there is one MAJOR reason to have a carry on and a couple of minor to bring a carry on...

MAJOR
In case a checked bag is lost/delayed. This can be human error, mechanical error, or a tight connection. My aunt even had her bag delayed on a direct flight. It simply never got on the plane. Having a carry on (should) give you at least one (if not more) changes of clothes and enough necessities for at least 24 hours.

MINOR
1) No stopping/waiting at baggage claim. Obviously if you have any checked bags, even if you have a carry on, this isn't a benefit, but if you can travel "carry on only", it's a great perk!

2) OK, here's where the cost sneaks in. But, many airlines offer perks to either their card holders or their FF for free checked bags.

Even IF I'm checking a bag (offsetting #1 minor benefit) AND have free checked bags (offsetting #2 benefit). I will ALWAYS bring a carry on (and my backpack and my cpap), especially when heading toward a vacation destination.

Absolutely, but now if carry ons are free and checked bags are not. I can only assume passengers will maximize the amount of stuff in carryons to avoid 2 checked bags vs one, or cram everything into carryons to avoid checked bags all together.

 

[dreamer17555]

This effectively ended us flying Southwest. Their rates have kept rising but the checked baggage was the reason we kept choosing them. Now I will stick with a legacy airline.

 

[dreamer17555]

From what I'm reading, I'm thinking it's credits after May 28. And they still last 6 months (for the basic fares). What I'm unsure of is if I use the credits and then cancel that flight, do the 6 months start over?

Yes it is for credits issued after May 28th. Current credits should not be impacted.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

This stinks. We use them regularly for our trips down south, out of a local, regional airport 20 minutes away. We do have their credit card, so if we do check a bag, we get a credit, but it seems long gone of the days of inexpensive flights with some nice perks (bags fly free)

 

[KMP12]

I still can't figure out if I can make a reservation (on points) and change it if a better deal comes out or not. I'm not happy with Southwest and am wondering why I bother driving 2+ hours to get to an airport they service. They are becoming just like the legacy carriers.

Yesh after this trip we won't be driving 3 hours one way to get Southwest flights anymore. Disappointing

 

[honeymo78]

We had already started planning to transitition to AA for flights starting next year due to fewer non-stop flights on SW and this just cements the decision. Any remaining spending on our SW cards will now go to our AA cards.

 

[RedHead0186]

And adding expiration dates to flight credits.

That's going to really change how I use SW. I am always booking flights then checking back to see if the fare went down and if I got a credit. Knowing the credits are only going to be valid for 6 months (mayyyybe a year, though I don't usually book fares at that level) really changes my strategy.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

I don't understand this line of thinking.

So many people feel entitled to whatever they can get and do not care about being courteous and respectful towards others or following guidelines. They will pack as much as they can in a backpack and a separate 21" rolling bag and shove them up top. People already do this and SWA does not say a word...now add more and more people doing this because they do not want to pay to check their bags. I think @deckdmd 's point was clear.

 

[miksicnarf]

Just adding my rant. I live in L.A. and fly frequently to Pittsburgh and Orlando. SW used to be our go-to, with great fares and good timing. Over the years that changed to the point that I rarely fly SW, and the free bags weren't even much of an issue with a couple exceptions: when travelling to PIT in winter I need to pack more clothes, boots, etc. and when emptying my parents' house there I would bring back as much as possible in 2 checked bags. Open seating is fine with me, and even when I only have a carry-on I usually gate check it to avoid struggling with the overhead. I'm in no big hurry.
My next flight to MCO happens to be on SW as I stumbled upon a quick sale last month. Flights aren't direct and timing is only OK, but the fare was good. I'll be sure to check 2 bags just because I can!

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

This effectively ended us flying Southwest. Their rates have kept rising but the checked baggage was the reason we kept choosing them. Now I will stick with a legacy airline.

Sadly, they will not care. SWA made this decision because the equity firm they partnered with wants it. Equity firms care about profits, not customer service or lifetime customers. When a business is failing, an exit strategy is their next move.

 

[mcd2745]

I’m not really surprised at this change, but it is disappointing. We used to fly SWA pretty frequently from our home airport (PHL). However, the fares began to get less competitive and we lost many non-stop flights.

They really have all but abandoned the northeast...which is baffling.

When they left Newark Airport altogether, they claimed they would just replace the flights with ones from LGA. That never happened. EWR had several nonstop flights daily to MCO. LGA still doesn't have any. ISP used to have 4 or 5 daily nonstops to MCO. Now they are down to 1 or 2. Flights to other FL airports have been reduced significantly as well.

These bizarre scheduling changes and redeployments probably have more to do with any financial issues they have moreso than not charging for checked bags and other fees.

 

[Erica1016]

That's going to really change how I use SW. I am always booking flights then checking back to see if the fare went down and if I got a credit. Knowing the credits are only going to be valid for 6 months (mayyyybe a year, though I don't usually book fares at that level) really changes my strategy.

Same for us. Between that and the baggage fee, we'll be having to rethink our strategies for sure.