Personal Finance News
Survey: Southwest Flyers Defecting After Baggage Fee Updates
A recent survey shows that a significant percentage of formerly loyal Southwest customers are seeking alternatives after the airline’s controversial policy changes.
About the Survey and Results:
According to Thrifty Traveler, two-thirds of those who describe themselves as regular Southwest flyers report moving on to other carriers now that the budget airline has begun charging for checked luggage. This survey was conducted in May and June, just as Southwest began rolling out its new rules for bookings made on May 28th or after.
About Southwest’s Changes:
In March, Southwest announced that it would retire its long-held “bags fly free policy.” Now, most guests will need to pay $35 for their first (normal-sized) checked bag and $45 for their second checked bag. Meanwhile, a third checked bag continues to cost $150. This pricing puts the carrier in line with several other domestic airlines. As mentioned, these fees apply to bookings made on May 28th or later.
Despite these fees applying to many passengers, there are some freebies for different affinity groups. First, those with Rapid Rewards A-List status can enjoy one free checked bag for themselves and up to 8 of their travel companions on the same booking. The same offer applies to those with Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred status, although they’ll earn up to two free checked bags for themselves and their party.
On top of that, Southwest has added a key perk to its Rapid Rewards Credit Card lineup. Now, cardholders can enjoy one free checked bag. Once again, this applies to the primary cardholder as well as up to eight additional guests on the same intinerary.
What They’re Saying:
Commenting on the survey, Thrifty Traveler executive editor Kyle Potter stated, “Southwest shocked the travel world earlier this year when it announced it would end its ultra-popular ‘Bags Fly Free’ policy. While the airline will no doubt make good money charging passengers $35 or more per bag, it’s also clear they will lose some business from once-diehard fans who no longer see a reason to book Southwest over other carriers.”
My Thoughts:
It’s completely understandable that loyal Southwest fans would feel betrayed by these updates and threaten to go elsewhere. That said, it’s too early to tell whether there will be any significant exodus — as there’s a big difference between saying you’ll stop flying Southwest and actually doing it. Plus, even with this negative update, chances are Southwest may still be the cheapest option in some cases and/or will operate some unique routes that flyers might prefer.
Overall, as I’ve said before, I think the best path forward for Southwest flyers is to pick up one of the airline’s co-branded credit card offerings. With that “first checked bag free” perk applying to you and your whole family, a single trip could easily make up for the annual fee you’ll face for the card.
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