A topic "almost" as controversial as Resort Fees, "Airline Checked Bag Fees." In a recent LVA Travel Article, we talk a "bit" about how to avoid checked bag fees. For sure, this is one reason why Southwest (WN) Airlines is a favourite of many.
Me? Personally, I'm (mostly) a carry-on bag guy. I like to save time by not checking and retrieving bags.
Do you often check bags? Do the fees bother you, or what do you do to avoid the fees?
We fly almost exclusively on Southwest Airlines so our first 2 bags fly free.
Originally posted by: westie
We fly almost exclusively on Southwest Airlines so our first 2 bags fly free.
I think the "free" changes and "free" checked bags keep a lot of people loyal to Southwest Airlines. My only "gripe" about Southwest is the open seating. I *dislike* open seating since I don't always want to get to the gate and queue. Otherwise, I feel that Southwest runs a really great operation for US Domestic.
I don't care for open seating, either, but SW typically flys non-stop to where I need to go. And they're usually cheaper even without considering the fact I would get popped for checked bags on other airlines.
We like SW but from MSP or least expensive and nonstop is Sun Country. Since my wife packs enough to live out of, we check our bags and with there credit card you get half price on seats, first checked bag for each and a free cocktail and combine with booking one of the front seats you get another cocktail. It would be great to get 2 bags each half price like SW gives free.
Frontier charges for carry on, and it's more than they charge for a checked bag!
Originally posted by: antennanut
I don't care for open seating, either, but SW typically flys non-stop to where I need to go. And they're usually cheaper even without considering the fact I would get popped for checked bags on other airlines.
Nonstop *always* wins. (well, almost always, as long as the price is decent)
Originally posted by: Bob Orme
Frontier charges for carry on, and it's more than they charge for a checked bag!
It is a similar situation with Spirit (NK), for carry-on bags.
I avoided Southwest for the longest time fearing the "cattle call" rumor, but found it not as bad as I feared. Hey, I'm from back in the day when people got to the gate hours ahead trying to get exit row, sat on the floor against the wall. Then SW instituted the ABC system. Then Early Bird which was, what $10, then $15, now $25 each way.
One solution if you fly often, you can "buy" position A 1-15 (what's left after A listers) for $40. Sounds bad, but you get it returned in points if you use the SWA credit card. They allow you to do this 4 times a year, I think. I did it once, but didn't really improve our position that much. And you need to do it soon as you get there.
Overall, if you get an A or B boarding position you can usually get an aisle seat.
Candy, the old cattle call made me avoid SW, too. Even if it was non-stop to Vegas, getting to the airport hours in advance didn't sit well with me at all. So I did my own form of "protest" and flew other airlines until they finally got a better system. I couldn't believe it when they conducted a study, and supposedly the passengers they surveyed didn't want assigned seating. But now they have something that's at least workable, even if not ideal.
