SW Carryon?

[cricketjamest]

When travelling, I like to pack light and avoid the time delays associated with checked baggage by using one carryon bag. However, the fight to find overhead space for my bag, with most airlines, is becoming a real hassle. Since SW allows two free checked bags per customer, do many people carry on luggage and is there a problem with overhead space?

 

[pamjb]

I have yet to encounter carryon issues with Southwest and I fly them pretty often. I was just on 2 full Southwest flights (Philly to Orlando and back). There was ample carryon space. I think the issues with carryon space occur with those airlines that do charge for checked bags.

 

[Jestocost]

Agree with the PP. Even before other airlines started charging for bags I ran into more problems with them than with SWA in terms of available overhead space. IMO, business travelers are more likely than leisure travelers to be using the larger roller boards that take up lots of overhead space and SWA has a higher percentage of leisure travelers than the others. So between that and the two free checked bags I would expect overhead space to less of a problem on SWA.

 

[walkdmc]

We flew SW last November and will be using them again in 2 weeks. I don't recall any problems with folks fitting their luggage overhead.

I agree that airlines that charge baggage fees seem to have more problems. I kid you not, we were at about the 1/2 way mark for loading on (I think) US Air and all carry-ons had to be gate checked. They ran out of space.

 

[bumbershoot]

I personally have never run into carryon space problems on ANY airline I've been on. Sure, I've heard announcements that "due to a full flight" they'll gate check carryons for you, but when I get on board, 1, it's rarely a FULL flight, and 2, there's never been space problems.

But, except for on SW if I can manage it, I rarely try to sit in the front of the plane, and there just aren't that many people running to the back, stashing their bags, then running forward to their seats.

 

[AlexDurrani]

I think with the newer 737s coming online in SWA's fleet the overhead bin space has been increasing. The Airlines are kind of enforcing the one carryon bag and personal bag rule these days to alleviate the space issues.

 

[cricketjamest]

Thanks everyone for your insight!

 

[K9pal]

Although I've never seen SW run out of overhead bin space, several times I have seen them move carry on bags from people in the front rows, to farther back in the plane. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[happymommy]

I have seen a couple of issues, where folks ended up having to check a bag or two. Those were always the last or later folks to get on the plane.

We try to get "A" boarding passes, and walk towards the back of the plane right when we board. We almost always just bring carry on luggage.

I don't like waiting for bags to come off the plane, and also I don't like how dirty the bags get from checking them! We always do laundry on vacation, so it's easy to just bring one bag plus a little backpack each.