PASSENGERS on Southwest Airlines have found a sneaky way to swerve the new $35 fee on every flight.
Last month, the airline made a switch to charging customers for checked bags.
Southwest Airline passengers have a sneaky way to avoid new $35 fees[/caption]
The big change was introduced earlier this year[/caption]
Southwest changes
Customers who aren’t A-list preferred members or flying certain business classes will now need to pay $35 for their first checked bag.
Pssengers with a second checked bag will need to pay an additional $45.
Fliers’ tactic
With a sneaky tactic, passengers are attempting to swerve the extra fees.
According to Chron, this involves fitting belongings into their carry-on luggage – which they can bring onto the plane for no cost.
Southwest Airlines previously allowed customers to bring two checked bags on board with no additional cost.
The perk stood out among competitors, with other airlines, such as Spirit, charging as much as $65 to check one bag.
The baggage fees charged by other companies brought in nearly $7.3 billion for U.S. airlines last year, according to CNBC.
For years, Southwest has maintained its “two bags fly free” policy.
“Bags will still fly free,” Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said back in September, CBS News reported.
“It’s the third thing customers look for after fare and schedule: Bags fly free, on us. Ninety-seven percent are people who are aware of our policies.
“So it’s a huge consumer advantage. So bags will absolutely fly free.”
At the time, Jordan mentioned that it wasn’t a guarantee that bags would always fly free.
The decision to end the “fly free” bags policy sparked major outrage – from both customers and professionals.
Professional reaction
Airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt, of Atmosphere Research Group, told CBS News: “This is how you destroy a brand.
“This is how you destroy customer preference.
“This is how you destroy loyalty. And this, I think, is going to send Southwest into a financial tailspin.
Southwest’s recent changes
- Baggage fees introduced – For the first time in over 50 years, Southwest will start charging passengers for checked bags. This applies to tickets purchased on or after May 28, except for top-tier fare classes, certain credit card holders, and elite frequent flyers.
- New economy fare – Southwest will launch a basic economy fare, similar to competitors, offering lower-priced tickets with fewer perks.
- Rapid Rewards changes – Frequent flyer miles will now be based on how much customers spend, rather than the number of flights taken. Flight redemption rates will also shift to a dynamic pricing model, meaning they’ll cost more during peak times.
- Flight credit expiry – Flight credits for tickets purchased after May 28 will expire after one year, or sooner, depending on the ticket type.
- Layoffs and cost cuts – Southwest recently announced its first mass layoffs, cutting 1,750 corporate jobs, about 15% of its headquarters staff, to reduce costs.
- End of open seating – In July 2024, Southwest announced plans to ditch its open seating policy, a core part of its brand for over 50 years, and move to assigned seating with premium options for extra legroom.
- Executive shakeups – The airline parted ways with its chief transformation officer Ryan Green, who warned against baggage fees. It also replaced its long-time finance chief and chief administrative officer earlier this year.
- Route and program cuts – Southwest has cut unprofitable routes, summer internships, and employee team-building events, long-standing traditions the airline held for decades.
Source: CNBC
“Southwest, with these changes, becomes just another airline.”
It comes as the airline also introduced another major change for fliers.
Southwest was famous for its open seating policy, where there were no assigned seats.
Now, customers can pay for chairs with extra legroom and will be assigned specific seats.
The changes at Southwest sparked controversy among fliers and professionals[/caption]
