Southwest Airlines Ends Free Checked Bag Policy

It was a quiet Tuesday morning at Dallas Love Field, the birthplace and headquarters of Southwest Airlines, as travelers meandered in to check their bags. Some customers were unaware of Tuesday’s news that soon the service would no longer be free. Many others said they had learned of the change through social media only hours before their flights.

Southwest on Tuesday announced it would end its famed free checked bag policy in May, and customers of the airline are not happy about the change. Jeff Whitacre and his wife, Becca, of Waco were flying out of Love Field on Tuesday for a spring break vacation with their four daughters. With a large number of bags, Jeff Whitacre said the two free bag policy has made family trips less expensive.

Customer Reactions

“We love the two bag policy. It’s been really helpful,” Jeff Whitacre said. “I understand why the change, but it’ll make trips like this a little bit more expensive than they have been in the past.” Becca Whitacre said her family is not happy about the reversal of the policy.

“We love Southwest for their excellent customer service, and we love Southwest for the bag policy,” Becca Whitacre said. “So we would love if they would change their mind on that.” In an email CEO Bob Jordan sent to customers Tuesday morning announcing the change, the airline said it will still focus on delivering friendly customer service.

Reasons Behind the Change

“We recognize these changes may be a disappointment to some, but know we’re committed to building a Southwest that will continue to offer you low fares, convenient flights to destinations you want and a travel experience that is rewarding,” the email read. Since Southwest’s founding, the policy allowing customers to check two bags for free has been a hallmark of the airline.

The airline said the change will take place May 28 and is intended to return Southwest to profitability. It comes after a September announcement that the airline would be reversing its open seating policy, ending the practice in 2026. Two free checked bags will still be available to members of the upper-tier of Southwest’s loyalty program, as well as to flyers on Business Select fares.

Impact on Customers

Members of the lower loyalty tier will get one free bag, as will some other customers such as holders of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards Credit Card. Of the roughly 15 Southwest customers The Dallas Morning News spoke with on Tuesday, all expressed disappointment and many said they were frequent customers of Southwest because of the policy.

Denver Aranda said he usually flies out of Love Field because the airport is close to his home, leading Southwest to be his No. 1 airline. He said he learned of the news through Instagram and was frustrated to learn that he would have to pay for checked bags in the future. “It’s kind of annoying. Super annoying,” Aranda said. “It’s very frustrating. I wish they didn’t do that.”

Comparing with Other Airlines

Claudia Raimondo said the policy was a major reason she usually flies Southwest. She lives in Waco and said the free bag policy was enough of a perk that she chose to drive up from Waco to Love Field, roughly an hour and 45 minute away, as opposed to flying out of Waco Regional Airport, which has flights through American Airlines.

For bags up to 50 pounds, Delta Airlines charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second. American charges $40 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second, while United Airlines charges $40 for the first checked bag and $50 for the second. Both United and American offer discounts for paying for bags online ahead of time.

Future of Southwest Airlines

Southwest has not yet said how much the airline will be charging for checked bags. Customers on Tuesday said they will wait to decide if Southwest will remain their preferred airline until the new prices are announced and they can compare with other airlines.

Blake Batte of Odessa said Southwest has always been the go-to airline for him for the ease it provided in traveling. He said he has enjoyed how easy the airline makes it to change your flight, how it had an open seating policy that allowed families to sit together without stress and the free bag policy.

Batte said the new leadership at Southwest has been focused on becoming too similar to other airlines and thus is losing what set it apart and made it better than other airlines. “Southwest Airlines is losing its focus on what made them unique and successful,“ Batte said. ”The legacy of Southwest Airlines’ program is what sucked me in, and the change of this program is going to push me out.”

The decision to end the free checked bag policy has sparked a lot of debate among customers, with some expressing disappointment and frustration, while others are willing to wait and see how the changes will affect their travel plans.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the end of Southwest Airlines’ free checked bag policy has been met with disappointment and frustration from customers. While the airline claims that the change is necessary to return to profitability, many customers are worried that this will make their travel more expensive and less convenient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will the free checked bag policy end?

A: The free checked bag policy will end on May 28.

Q: Why is Southwest Airlines ending the free checked bag policy?

A: The airline claims that the change is necessary to return to profitability.

Q: Will I still be able to check bags for free if I am a loyalty program member?

A: Yes, members of the upper-tier of Southwest’s loyalty program will still be able to check two bags for free, while members of the lower loyalty tier will get one free bag.

Q: How much will I have to pay for checked bags?

A: The airline has not yet announced how much it will charge for checked bags.

Q: Can I still get a discount on checked bags if I pay online ahead of time?

A: Yes, some airlines, such as United and American, offer discounts for paying for bags online ahead of time.