Southwest to start charging for bags

[Disnsyncey]

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

But.....my ATL flights to catch a Disney cruise with comparison to MCO and JAX (where my parents live), the TIMES were AWFUL for SW and more expensive than Delta for both.....I went with Delta to JAX....

 

[connie254]

Can someone clarify something for me? I have the Southwest credit card. Do I need to use it to pay if I want to take advantage of the free checked luggage? Or is it enough that I have it-I usually buy SW and Disney gift cards at my grocery store to pay for my trip.

 

[SL6827]

But.....my ATL flights to catch a Disney cruise with comparison to MCO and JAX (where my parents live), the TIMES were AWFUL for SW and more expensive than Delta for both.....I went with Delta to JAX....

Wow! SW higher than Delta and with crappy times.

 

[mmouse50]

Another clarification please, if anyone knows, do you get the baggage credit back on the Southwest Credit Card for the entire party or just for the card holder?

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

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.

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.

This statement is so true. SW is really stripping away their brand identity. We were so loyal to SW for years because of low prices, free checked bags, generous time for reusing travel funds, no fees for cancelling/rescheduling flights, many nonstop flights to our preferred destinations, and the super friendly/fun personalities of their employees and their brand "quirkiness." We looked past no assigned seating because there were so many positives.

Sadly, no more. We started flying Delta during the pandemic and realized we were getting a better flying experience for our money. Assigned seats REALLY lowers trip anxiety. Their seating is more comfortable and most planes have seatback entertainment. They have more destinations and more flights for those destinations. There are WAY fewer "wheelchair" miracles....LOL Delta even refunded our tickets a few years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer and we had to cancel our trip for my medical care. They didn't give us ecredit. They actually refunded to our cc. Incredible customer service.

We will now only consider SW if its a nonstop flight at a good price WITH all of the new nickel-and-dime charges added on. Otherwise, its Delta for us. Their Delta AMEX gives us just the right amount of perks to make it worth the cost.

 

[han22735]

Another clarification please, if anyone knows, do you get the baggage credit back on the Southwest Credit Card for the entire party or just for the card holder?

They havent released any info on that yet.

 

[Disnsyncey]

Wow! SW higher than Delta and with crappy times.

yeah boo.....my trip on SW in May to RI used all my points except for 215.....so with none of the perks I had come to love, I might be defecting to Delta for my travel now! (gotta go look into the Delta AX now ugh hahaha) I loved AirTran to MCO from ATL and then went to SW when they took it over, but now.....sad....

Also, I used to SW to NYC all the time, but this next trip (also in May haha) was $100+ MORE than JetBlue even AFTER I paid for my bag.....

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Can someone clarify something for me? I have the Southwest credit card. Do I need to use it to pay if I want to take advantage of the free checked luggage? Or is it enough that I have it-I usually buy SW and Disney gift cards at my grocery store to pay for my trip.

Another clarification please, if anyone knows, do you get the baggage credit back on the Southwest Credit Card for the entire party or just for the card holder?

This level of detail isn't available but hopefully soon.

 

[jo-jo]

I'm surprised they didn't say with one free checked bag and charge for second.

Years ago when food delivery was very sparse at disney, we checked 4 bags. One was food. One was kids stuff (toys, diapers , etc) , two were clothes. And we had a backpack and gym roll bag. Now with kids older, and 20 choices in food service, we have two checked bags about 35 lbs. The same backpack and roll bag and a DVC tote bag, that carries his medical needs comes onto the plane. Our checked bags look about the size of some of the carryons I see.

SW had to know with the years of free bags, lots of people would be saying why bother staying with SW.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I'm surprised they didn't say with one free checked bag and charge for second.

Years ago when food delivery was very sparse at disney, we checked 4 bags. One was food. One was kids stuff (toys, diapers , etc) , two were clothes. And we had a backpack and gym roll bag. Now with kids older, and 20 choices in food service, we have two checked bags about 35 lbs. The same backpack and roll bag and a DVC tote bag, that carries his medical needs comes onto the plane. Our checked bags look about the size of some of the carryons I see.

SW had to know with the years of free bags, lots of people would be saying why bother staying with SW.

Yeah, we always flew SWA and packed a duffle devoted to pillows and a feather comforter because we can’t stand the sparse bedsheet Disney covers!

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Yeah, we always flew SWA and packed a duffle devoted to pillows and a feather comforter because we can’t stand the sparse bedsheet Disney covers!

Now… we’ll drive the ~9 hours and spend fewer nights at WDW, which means I need fewer DVC points.

 

[focusondisney]

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...

What you get is 1 item that fits under the seat in front of you..so a backpack, purse or small roller case plus 1 carry on roller case or large back pack per person. Note, your purse counts as a personal item, not matter how small.

 

[TwoMisfits]

What you get is 1 item that fits under the seat in front of you..so a backpack, purse or small roller case plus 1 carry on roller case or large back pack per person. Note, your purse counts as a personal item, not matter how small.

Yeah, but purses fit in backpacks...

For now, we were gonna have 2 backpacks (1 for my meds and folks' purses/phones, and 1 for lunch and needs if luggage is lost) and the rest checked.

Now, we'll have 12 items - 6 backpacks and 6 rolling items...

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Yeah, but purses fit in backpacks...

For now, we were gonna have 2 backpacks (1 for my meds and folks' purses/phones, and 1 for lunch and needs if luggage is lost) and the rest checked.

Now, we'll have 12 items - 6 backpacks and 6 rolling items...

Yeah. I've never really felt the need to invest, but I know they make bags specifically designed to maximize that foot space. So, you buy one of those and plan to place your smaller bag in that main one for the things you need on the plane (snack, device, reading material, etc). Then the rest of that underfoot bag is filled with things that you otherwise would have checked if the bags were still free.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

Can someone clarify something for me? I have the Southwest credit card. Do I need to use it to pay if I want to take advantage of the free checked luggage? Or is it enough that I have it-I usually buy SW and Disney gift cards at my grocery store to pay for my trip.

I have not been able to find anything there this has been specified if you are required to book your flight on your SWA CC, but I would imagine that is coming.

Additionally, you would need to decide of the $70 annual fee is a better deal than paying for your bags. If you fly once a year, probably not. If you travel multiple times a year and you get a free bag each time, then yes.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

Another clarification please, if anyone knows, do you get the baggage credit back on the Southwest Credit Card for the entire party or just for the card holder?

Card holder only. I called and asked.

800-I-FLY-SWA

 

[BrightMorningStar]

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

For credits issued after May 28th.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

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

And quantity.

I have flown with people who bring a massive "carry-on" that will not fit under the seat, a 21" rolling suitcase and a personal backpack (Loungefly size) and they put 2 of them in the overhead compartment.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

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

There was already a thread here on the Transportation board. Are you able to merge it so we have all the conversation in one place?

 

[Brian Noble]

my ATL flights [...] I went with Delta

If you live in a hub city (I do too) it's pretty hard to beat the dominant airline in all three of routing, time, and price.