Southwest to start charging for bags

[kylenne]

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.

In this day and age being a free agent increasingly feels like the way to go, unless you live in a fortress hub with limited options. I definitely have my preferences, but the airlines have become so homogeneous that loyalty to any single one seems like a sucker bet now. I was a JetBlue loyalist until their prices shot up and they started cutting flights and routes that mattered to me.

 

[Disnsyncey]

BUT..... it also says this.......Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus® and Anytime fares traveling on or after May 28, 2025

and none of my fares are none of those.....so interesting.....

 

[happycamper47]

They definitely need to do a better job at enforcing carry-on size along with the new policy.

 

[Disnsyncey]

They definitely need to do a better job at enforcing carry-on size along with the new policy.

along with the rest of the airlines HAHAH

 

[TwoMisfits]

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...

I'm flying Southwest with my family of 6 before the change, BUT I've accumulated credits that I'll use after the change (or won't - we'll see).

For my before change flight, I was planning 4 checked bags and 2 carry ons. For after, we'll have as many carry ons as it takes (probably 8-12, depending what counts officially as one, and what doesn't)...so, 2 to 12 would be a huge effect, just for a party of 6...

 

[CamColt]

I will move this to the Transportation Board where it is a better fit.

 

[gottalovepluto]

... They are becoming just like the legacy carriers.

They were headed out of business if they didn’t.

Will be fascinating to see how they compete when they become like everyone else.

 

[SL6827]

I think they will see thier sales decline. What is going to set them apart now?

 

[disneydreamer1980]

This really stinks. When we fly domestically we always fly SW for the free bags. With a family of 7, it will really add up.

 

[Mle8308]

For me, it really doesn't matter because if I fly SW, I pay $35 for early check in. On other airlines I can choose my seat ahead of time, but pay $35 to check a bag. So basically six of one, half dozen of another. Now for those who risk it and don't pay for EBCI on SW, it's not good. In terms of cheap fares, I don't find them on SW from where I fly, SW is not usually less. However I prefer some of their flight times so I tend to look at booking with them first. This will be interesting!

 

[eticketplease]

For me, it really doesn't matter because if I fly SW, I pay $35 for early check in. On other airlines I can choose my seat ahead of time, but pay $35 to check a bag. So basically six of one, half dozen of another. Now for those who risk it and don't pay for EBCI on SW, it's not good. In terms of cheap fares, I don't find them on SW from where I fly, SW is not usually less. However I prefer some of their flight times so I tend to look at booking with them first. This will be interesting!

For your situation I would certainly agree it doesn't matter much.
I don't think it will matter to us either as we generally book anytime that includes early bird and have the CC that hopefully will include the bags for everyone.

However when looking at @disneydreamer1980 example I would assume a party of 7 is not buying EB and if all are bringing 1 bag that is an extra $490 round trip.

 

[BlueGreen5]

It's hard to run on time when you are fighting with passengers about gate checking bags and still boarding people 2 minutes before you are supposed to push back.

SWA built itself on being an operational marvel -- no assigned seats, free checked bags, and using alternative airports as its hubs were never planned with customer service in mind. They were all there to ensure operational efficiency. Now that SWA is moving into major hubs and changing over to the inefficient legacy carrier model, they are going to start playing on the same field as legacy carriers, but are about 30 years late to the game. They are just very ill-equipped for what they are about to try.

IMO, dump your LUV stock. Revenue might take a slight hit in 25Q3 and Q4 from customer loss and loss of goodwill, but they can probably absorb that. Where you're really going to start seeing earnings hits is in the 24 month horizon when on-time rates have consistently been way down and SWA has to make a decision whether to invest in expensive efficiency improvements - like the legacy carriers have been unsucessfully trying to do for decades - or accept real revenue loss from people who are now unwilling to accept SWA's poor on-time performance unless it's at a ULC rate.

 

[Genie+]

We are a family of 4. With JetBlue we each get 1 carryon and 1 checked free/included.

We take 4 Checked and 2 Carryon

This is because 1 carryon each doesn’t quite cut it. We’d need at least 1 checked bag. Since we’re going to dropoff/pickup 1, might as well just do 4. Then we have more than enough room if we buy stuff to bring home, and only 2 carryons switched off with 4 people makes traveling the airport easier.

If we had to pay for checked luggage?

We’d take 1 or 2 Checked and 4 Carryon.

Not a huge difference for us logistically for the big difference in savings.

 

[Jimsig]

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.

It's not exactly a partnership. IIRC Elliot's firm has purchased a bunch of SWA stock and is using that to leverage these changes.

 

[ibob52]

buh-bye swa it was a good first 10-12 years but the past 3 years have been bump-y . we would book a good flight only to have swa reschedule it by . dropping the airport . substitute a longer layover time and/or only have 2 connection flights . are you trying to go out of business (merger)

 

[SL6827]

Looking at various dates from Atlanta to Orlando, Delta and Southwest have identical pricing. I know which one I would go with.

 

[zemmer]

Be aware effective March 25 stricter baggage measurements are being enforced . SW has a picture diagram that includes the handle height and the roller wheels as part of the measurement !
Not sure if you will be stopped at security or at the boarding gate for the measurement inspection.

Where did you see this date?

 

[Weedy]

The thing that’s good about charging for bags is it keeps people from over packing if you have two free bags you’ll take extra
Every pound on an airplane uses fuel and equals cost.

 

[happycamper47]

I don't think it will hurt them as bad as many think. They have more flights to out of the way cities than anybody.

 

[DebbieB]

I checked PIT-MCO to see how much WGA+ is on current dates. It’s about $20 or 1500 points. With no changes on Basic, it’s worth to move up.