Southwest to start charging for bags

[Kwami]

That's too bad. Just another example of what happens to a good company when the founder dies and external capital gets involved.

I don't really see the point of flying Southwest anymore. They're basically the same as the legacy carriers now, but with fewer routes and times.

 

[reddog21]

When they run out of space the additional carry ons will be checked. I would be surprised if they charge for this, I'm thinking it will be free.

That's my point. If they change the policy to say if carryone space runs out and your bag doesn't fit it will be checked........at a fee!! There's just a lot more people bringing carryon luggage and as some point it's going to flip to personal item only.

The second part of your comment was said by everyone who is now paying for lightning lane, luggage.....etc.

 

[Bostonjetset]

That's too bad. Just another example of what happens to a good company when the founder dies and external capital gets involved.

I don't really see the point of flying Southwest anymore. They're basically the same as the legacy carriers now, but with fewer routes and times.

Even worse than the legacies. At least the legacies (except for ridiculous AA on domestic routes) have seat back TVs. Southwest doesn’t even have that so they are basically Spirit now.

 

[baggs32]

I think you're underestimating the impact.

I know, for my family of 5, on SW we only ever bring personal items that fit under the seat because it's easier to just get all of the bags at baggage claim rather than wrangling kids and carry on rollers. Once you have to go to baggage claim for 2 bags, might as well check the carry on size rollers and make it 4. Not if they're charging for the privilege, though...

This is no joke folks. We just got back last Friday from a 6 day trip where there were 5 of us with 7 checked bags and we all had a backpack that went under the seat. Nothing went overhead. Going forward when we do this we'll have at least 5 carry-ons, that were previously checked every time, and minimal checked bags, if any. Overhead space was full on the flights to and from MCO and people were having to check their carry-ons at the door to the plane. Imagine now adding our 5 carry-ons plus those of many others to these flights and it's not hard to imagine where the concern is coming from.

I'm sure flights to MCO are a somewhat different animal than flights to other places but it's still going to be concerning across the board regardless.

Someone else mentioned something to the effect that this basically takes away anything that made SW special and I totally agree with that. The flights cost more than Spirit or other budget carriers so why would I fly with SW anymore given I can have roughly the same experience on another carrier for less? I've never flown Spirit or the other budget carriers but I'll be taking a closer look now for sure.

 

[Marrila]

That's my point. If they change the policy to say if carryone space runs out and your bag doesn't fit it will be checked........at a fee!! There's just a lot more people bringing carryon luggage and as some point it's going to flip to personal item only.

The second part of your comment was said by everyone who is now paying for lightning lane, luggage.....etc.

Eh, I think it will be similar to Delta's gate checked pink tag. (No charge.) If the carryon item is oversized though all bets are off.
But we shall see.

 

[Uncle Coaster]

The worst battles during boarding are always over bin space for carry ons though.

Oops. I meant personal item, not carry on. I use the floor in front of me only and not the overhead. Sorry about that.

 

[sam_gordon]

Eh, I think it will be similar to Delta's gate checked pink tag. (No charge.) If the carryon item is oversized though all bets are off.
But we shall see.

Delta's pink tag are for when bins aren't big enough for carryons. The bags are dropped planeside and returned in the jetbridge.

When the bins are full, Delta actually checks the bags for free. They're dropped at the counter or bottom of the jetbridge and you pick them up at baggage claim.

 

[easyas123]

Both my husband and I have a SW card, and we usually rack up a fair amount of points. We usually fly out of BWI and SW goes nonstop to many of the places we go to...with that being said we never 'just' fly SW. We look at departure/arrival times, cost, and whether or not it's a n/s flight or not. Plus we are situation where we could fly out of PHL or BWI, or even DCA or IAD if needed - so I'm going with what is most convenient airline for us before loyalty to any airline.
I'll still use SW, because it's still about schedule and convenience as well as cost - but I'm guessing that the luggage costs & needing to use the credits in 6 months may have me second guessing before booking.

 

[kylenne]

That's my point. If they change the policy to say if carryone space runs out and your bag doesn't fit it will be checked........at a fee!! There's just a lot more people bringing carryon luggage and as some point it's going to flip to personal item only.

The second part of your comment was said by everyone who is now paying for lightning lane, luggage.....etc.

If the goal is to strip SW of its brand identity and bring them in line with the other major carriers, then it will be free. They all do it, which is one reason why some people on other airlines like to try and take on behemoth rollaboards. They know they'll just be told to check them for free vs. paying a checked bag fee ahead of time.

Then again, looking more closely at all of these changes, it looks like their version of Basic Economy won't even allow same day standby, which is actually worse than BE on the legacies. So who knows.

Oops. I meant personal item, not carry on. I use the floor in front of me only and not the overhead. Sorry about that.

It's okay! Honestly, if I could get away with it, I would probably just take a personal item on board too. But I take a lot of meds with me.

 

[pjacobi]

Even worse than the legacies. At least the legacies (except for ridiculous AA on domestic routes) have seat back TVs. Southwest doesn’t even have that so they are basically Spirit now.

On Southwest there are no seatback TVs because all the free entertainment is available on your phone by connecting to the on-board Wi-Fi. iMessage is also free, but you do need to pay for internet beyond the southwest flight page.

Image how much fuel and carbon credits are saved by getting rid of the seatback TV!


-Paul

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

I wonder if you can stack the free luggage allowances. Two free bags by getting one by being a credit card holder and the other by being A List? Or is it either/or?

 

[BrightMorningStar]

I don't understand this line of thinking.

His/her point is very clear. It really is not that deep.

 

[Bostonjetset]

On Southwest there are no seatback TVs because all the free entertainment is available on your phone by connecting to the on-board Wi-Fi. iMessage is also free, but you do need to pay for internet beyond the southwest flight page.

Image how much fuel and carbon credits are saved by getting rid of the seatback TV!


-Paul

Carbon credits? What are those and am I supposed to care about them? I hate watching TV on my phone and would much prefer having a seat back TV like on Delta ( or JetBlue. Or United). Southwest, and others that don’t have it, doesn’t have it because it saves them money at the expense of passenger comfort.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

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.

Exactly. I'm not sure why this is so hard to figure out.

 

[Simba's Mom]

fares booked that day or later, I was relieved to read

I have a May 24-June 1 trip

When I first read it, I know it said that, but if you follow the little # (6?) it says flights starting May 28th.
I was so disappointed. Seems they've been so proud of the fact that they gave free bags.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

Other airlines do. Now, will the couple who check a suitcase and do a carry on emergency forgo the checked and each do carry on? Maybe.

One would have to be blind to reality to not see that there will be more carry-on bags...mostly rolling suitcases. People do not want to pay $30 a bag each way on top of rising travels costs.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

I think you're underestimating the impact.

I know, for my family of 5, on SW we only ever bring personal items that fit under the seat because it's easier to just get all of the bags at baggage claim rather than wrangling kids and carry on rollers. Once you have to go to baggage claim for 2 bags, might as well check the carry on size rollers and make it 4. Not if they're charging for the privilege, though...

100%

I do not see what is so hard to understand about somebody bringing a rolling carry-of size bag in place of a rolling suitcase you would have to pay to check-in.

If you read comments on news articles and FB discussing this very thing, people have said this is how they will handle. Swap the check-in roller for a carry-on roller. If only 50 people do that, than that is 50 more bags for the already full overhead bin.

 

[BrianL]

I've always really liked Southwest because of the non-nonsense approach - transparent fares, no fee changes/credit, no checked bag fees (not that I ever check a bag). Now they are just going to be like every other airline. It's lame. Apparently though they weren't doing all that well on the old system, so what do I know?

 

[Disnsyncey]

When I first read it, I know it said that, but if you follow the little # (6?) it says flights starting May 28th.
I was so disappointed. Seems they've been so proud of the fact that they gave free bags.

ugh boo....where are you pointing out the #? I am now lost haha

Oh, I see on this, it says starting after..

https://support.southwest.com/helpc...a4c6b&mi_ecmp=ac_sec_promo_20250311_news_annc

 

[canyoncam]

I havent read everything. Change is inevitable. I recently have picked up flights on AA and Breeze because they worked better for me. I was considering a full brand loyalty change myself before this announcement. I feel the loss but so much of Travel industry continues to change.