Southwest Airlines prepares to implement new bag policy: “We do expect a decrease in checked bags at the ticket counter”
Southwest’s new checked bag policy set to take place at the end of May expected to irk passengers as more will likely plan to travel with carry-on bags.
Southwest Airlines announced in March that it would be changing its checked bag policy. Beginning 28 May, all travelers with the carrier will have to pay to check bags, except for Business Select passengers who will still get two free checked bags.
A spokesperson for the airline told Investopedia: “We do expect a decrease in checked bags at the ticket counter.” The move is expected to result in a roughly 30% drop in volume of checked bags by the company’s estimates with passengers likely attempting to squeeze most of those bags into the cabin as carry-ons, which could lead to some headaches.
Southwest passengers should expect more bags to be checked at the gate when boarding
A growing problem at other airlines, and source of complaints from passengers, will be coming to the experience of flying with Southwest, being told that you must check your bag at the gate before boarding. This has been done by other carriers to preempt overhead bins filling up with baggage but then passengers get to their seats only to see plenty of space available to store their luggage.
Executive Vice President of Operations at Southwest Airlines Justin Jones said during an interview on Airlines Confidential that his company is going to try avoid being like other carriers and be “extremely hesitant to do heavily policing on bag size.” However, he was candid about the fact that the new policy will result in more gate checking of bags as passengers attempt to bring oversized luggage into the passenger cabin as carry-ons.
The current policy for luggage in the cabin is one carry-on bag that goes in the overhead that is limited to 24 inches in length, 16 inches in width and 10 inches height. Passengers are also allowed another personal carry-on item that can fit under the seat. These include “purse (including crossbody bags), briefcase, laptop computer case, backpack, pillow (neck pillows do not count toward the carryon limit), blanket, small camera.”
New luggage policy will likely create delays
Jones also is “very concerned” about an increase in gate checked bags slowing down operations during boarding as the process takes time. However, the carrier is taking steps to deal with issues that are expected to arise from the policy change. “We did think through some of this ahead of time,” the operations executive said.
“We are working to keep the travel experience seamless and as hassle free as possible for our customers and our employees,” the airline said in a statement to Investopedia.
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