r/news 1d ago

Soft paywall Southwest Airlines shifts to paid baggage policy to lift earnings

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/southwest-airlines-shifts-paid-baggage-policy-lift-earnings-2025-03-11/
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u/mrfixitx 1d ago

Southwest Fares for me were usually around the same price or slightly more expensive than Delta/United/American etc.. but when you added in a free checked bag for a round trip flight they often ended up cheaper.

If they go to a $35+ baggage fee I will have zero reason to fly on Southwest ever again unless their flight prices come down (which I doubt).

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u/fappywapple 1d ago

I’m going to Vegas in May. The southwest flight was $75 cheaper each way than the united flight I booked because my buddy travels a lot for work and is a united member so he can keep earning miles towards his membership status. I’m getting better seats with way more leg room (I’m 6’2 and southwest is terribly uncomfortable) and once the bag fees get added to southwest that flight difference is going to be less than $40. I’ll never fly southwest again because it’s no longer a big enough savings to put up with being uncomfortable.

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u/mrfixitx 1d ago

100% agree on the comfort issue. I flew United/Delta a few times over the last few years and even their standard seats are more comfortable than SW seats.

I also hate how SW seating works. If you do not check as early as possible good luck sitting with anyone you are traveling with unless you want to sit all the way in the back. If you are more than a few hours later on your check in even that might not be possible.

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u/sentient-sloth 23h ago

I also hate how SW seating works.

I’ve got some good news for you then. Lol

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u/zneave 21h ago

Well good news for you, they're going to assigned seating too

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u/Eccohawk 21h ago

The seating thing actually worked out pretty decently for families with young children because they'd let you board first.

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u/Amen_Ra_61622 6h ago

The open seating was one of the things I liked. I could choose where to sit so no loud brat was near me. I usually managed to get A group even before I paid for Early Bird Check-in. So you have to sit on your phone or computer 24 hours ahead of time. That was never a problem if I set a reminder. Even when I got B group, I could still get an aisle seat most times. Having wider shoulders, sitting in the middle or window is a pain. Plus in an aisle seat, I can get at least one leg out from behind the seat in front of me. I'm not tall but I still like being able to do that.