Southwest is now charging for checked bags
It was a policy too beautiful and too fragile to live for long: Southwest's beloved 'two checked bags free' policy ended today, as reported by ABC 10. We can expect to see suddenly emptied baggage carousels and a tougher seating situation when boarding, because now the stakes are higher for passengers. They'll not only be scouting for the best seats they can (Southwest doesn't assign seating but only releases passengers into the aircraft by boarding group to grab their preferred seats) but now also vying for overhead bin space.
Wait! I already booked a flight.
If you booked a flight before today, May 28, don't worry. You'll still get to check your two bags for free.
What is the new cost for checking bags?
It's $35 for the first bag and $45 for a second.
Does everyone have to pay the new rates?
No. If you're a Rapid Rewards A-List preferred member or are traveling on a Business Select ticket, you can still get two free checked bags. If you're an A-List member, you can get one free checked bag. If you hold a Rapid Rewards credit card, you'll get a credit for one checked bag.
Are there any other ways Southwest is changing how things work?
Yep, unfortunately. The way it organizes fares is changing. There's a new "Basic" tier, and the existing ticket tiers of "Wanna Get Away Plus," "Anytime," and "Business Select" will be renamed "Choice," "Choice Preferred," and "Choice Extra.' Ugh. Can't they come up with more fun names? This is supposed to be the wacky, edgy airline!
When do the new fare options start?
In the third quarter of 2025.
Anything else?
Yes. Your portable chargers and power banks will have to be kept in plain sight while you're using them. This means if they burst into flame, the fire can be quickly addressed. This seems like a good idea.
So, that's all?
No. Starting next year, seating will be assigned and the whole zany 'grab that window seat before that other person does' zoo will become a memory. We're relieved, to be honest. Human nature has become increasingly unpleasant, with people reserving seats for others by throwing down bags and deliberately boarding with a better group number. It therefore makes sense to assign seats.
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Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Axing of Southwest's 'bags fly free' will backfire in two major ways: 'No better than a bus'
The end of Southwest's much-loved free checked bags policy could have two unintended consequences. The budget airline, which announced it would be charging customers for their checked luggage earlier this year, could now face delayed departures due to longer check-in and gate lines. Customers must now pay $35 for one bag and $45 for the second, after the new policy went in to effect on May 28. Southwest estimates a 30 percent drop in checked baggage volume and a surge in carry-on as hard-pressed consumers try to evade the fees. But experts point out two problems. Check-in lines will grow as fliers take time to pay for bags at the airport. Gate-checking lines will also grow as Southwest planes have limited overhead locker room for carry-on bags, and will be unlikely to meet new demands. Southwest has the lowest cancellation rate among its US rivals so far this year and its on time rate is over 80 percent, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. If the airline is unable to mitigate the knock-on effects of its new policy then fliers could see a significant reduction in timely departures just as the summer travel season kicks off. Checking passengers' bags as they board the plane is a time-consuming activity and may cause flight delays as the airline and its passengers get used to the new system. On the airline's smallest planes, there tend to be five or six carry-ons that need to be checked, Justin Jones, executive vice president of operations at Southwest, told the Wall Street Journal But as bag fees go into effect, he predicts this could surge to 25. The airline has begun deploying new technology to speed up check-in and gate waiting times. This includes an AI 'Lobby Awareness Tool' that predicts airport wait times based on flight schedules and passenger-arrival patterns. This will help the airline know when to deploy extra employees to help deal with a bottle-neck and minimize delays. Another tool is the Baggage Estimation Based on Passengers, or Bebop, which will help to predict how many carry-ons will have to be checked at the gate. 'It was a curve ball that we were thrown,' Jones previously told the Airlines Confidential podcast. 'We always carry more bags than anyone else out there,' Jones said. The airline has introduced fees for checked luggage after 50 years Southwest bosses predict they will now need to take five times more bags at the gate and put them in the hold Indeed, customers have famously taken advantage of Southwest's generous policy to transport kitchen sinks and toilets across the country. 'We're going to need to do several things,' but 'we want to make sure the customer experience is still very high,' Jones told the podcast. 'So we're going to be extremely hesitant to go out and do heavy policing on bag size like some other carriers do.' However, the policy change 'will result in more gate checked bags and fees.' 'We're dependent on everything kind of flowing,' Jones said of Southwest's business model which relies on keeping aircraft in the skies rather than wasting time on the ground. Long-term Jones said the answer will be in the introduction of new planes to Southwest's fleet with more cabin bag capacity. Customers have criticized he new rules. 'The only reason people put up with no assigned seating was because they could check free bags. This is no better than a bus, now,' one wrote on Reddit. The fees are part of Southwest's efforts to boost its bottom line. In February the airline announced plans to cut 15 percent of its corporate workforce in a bid to cut costs. The layoffs - a first in the airline's 53-year history - will slash around about 1,750 jobs.
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
Southwest is now charging for checked bags
It was a policy too beautiful and too fragile to live for long: Southwest's beloved 'two checked bags free' policy ended today, as reported by ABC 10. We can expect to see suddenly emptied baggage carousels and a tougher seating situation when boarding, because now the stakes are higher for passengers. They'll not only be scouting for the best seats they can (Southwest doesn't assign seating but only releases passengers into the aircraft by boarding group to grab their preferred seats) but now also vying for overhead bin space. Wait! I already booked a flight. If you booked a flight before today, May 28, don't worry. You'll still get to check your two bags for free. What is the new cost for checking bags? It's $35 for the first bag and $45 for a second. Does everyone have to pay the new rates? No. If you're a Rapid Rewards A-List preferred member or are traveling on a Business Select ticket, you can still get two free checked bags. If you're an A-List member, you can get one free checked bag. If you hold a Rapid Rewards credit card, you'll get a credit for one checked bag. Are there any other ways Southwest is changing how things work? Yep, unfortunately. The way it organizes fares is changing. There's a new "Basic" tier, and the existing ticket tiers of "Wanna Get Away Plus," "Anytime," and "Business Select" will be renamed "Choice," "Choice Preferred," and "Choice Extra.' Ugh. Can't they come up with more fun names? This is supposed to be the wacky, edgy airline! When do the new fare options start? In the third quarter of 2025. Anything else? Yes. Your portable chargers and power banks will have to be kept in plain sight while you're using them. This means if they burst into flame, the fire can be quickly addressed. This seems like a good idea. So, that's all? No. Starting next year, seating will be assigned and the whole zany 'grab that window seat before that other person does' zoo will become a memory. We're relieved, to be honest. Human nature has become increasingly unpleasant, with people reserving seats for others by throwing down bags and deliberately boarding with a better group number. It therefore makes sense to assign seats.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
I tried supermarket Cornish pasties – my 99p own-brand winner tastes better and is cheaper than Ginsters
A WHOPPING 120 million Cornish pasties are baked every year in the UK, making them one of the nation's favourite snacks. Genuine bakes must be made in the namesake country, contain at least 12.5 per cent beef and 25 per cent root veg. 9 But not all of us can make it to the South West to try one, so how do the supermarket options measure up? LYNSEY HOPE finds out: Ginsters Original Cornish Pasty (227g) £1.95 (£1.95 each) Nutrition: 597 calories, 35g fat, 3.7g sugar, 2.1g salt Lynsey says: "Given the high price and the somewhat shocking calorie, fat and sugar content, I didn't want to like these. "But I did. "There was a good filling with 15% British beef as well as the traditional potato, swede and onion. "It was big with a staggering 35g fat and nearly 600 calories - and very filling - definitely a meal as opposed to a snack. "The pastry was rich and flavoursome though I didn't like the added turmeric. "Why mess with a classic?" Taste: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Overall score: 8/10 Shopping discounts - How to make savings and find the best bargains Tesco Cornish Pasties (520g) £2.50 for 4 (62.5p each) Nutrition: 364 calories, 23.3g fat, 9.5g fat, 2.6g sugar, 0.98g fat 9 Lynsey says: "These pasties came out smelling very appetising and they had a lovely pepperiness on the tongue. "They are huge, proper wedges, and I liked the flakiness of the puff pastry. "There's a good helping of beef at 18 per cent and these had one of the highest levels of swede, at nine per cent. "A crowd-pleasing family pack for a good price." Taste: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Overall score: 9/10 Asda Cornish Pasties (520g) £2.74 for 4 (68.5p each) Nutrition: 364 calories, 23g fat, 2.3g sugar, 0.86g salt Lynsey says: 'Not the tastiest but they are good value and they are filled with a generous 18 per cent beef. "The filling was dense but a lot of it was onion and it was definitely lacking in swede. "It's alright for a meal or snack but I fear pasty purists would not like this.' Taste: 2/5 Value: 2/5 Overall score: 4/10 Morrisons Cornish Pasties (520g) £3.20 (80p each) Nutrition: 373 calories, 25.1g fat, 2.1g sugar, 1.16g salt 9 Lynsey says: "Very similar to the Tesco pasties with a generous 19 per cent beef. "The pastry was well cooked and they gave a nice peppery hit on the tongue. "Perhaps too much spud - I'd have preferred more vegetables. "Whilst there was seven per cent swede, there was no carrot that I could detect and too much onion. "Overly salty, too. "Over 17p more each than the Tesco pasties and not as nice." Taste: 3/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 6/10 M&S Cornish Pasties (300g) £3.50 for 2 (£1.75 each) Lynsey says: 'Unlike lots of other pasties we tried, this one was made with flaky pastry. "It was a little fragile with lots of pastry breaking off when I tried to heat it in the oven. "It was incredibly tasty though. "The pastry was well-baked and the pasty itself was generously filled with heaps of meat, potato and swede. "The meat is beef skirt, as per the traditional recipe, which made this juicy and lovely. "Pricey - but a cut above the other supermarket options.' Taste: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Overall score: 9/10 Aldi Crestwood Beef and Vegetable Pasty (200g) 69p for 1 (69p each) Nutrition: 544 calories, 28.5g fat, 3.1g sugar, 1.55g salt Lynsey says: 'Aldi's pasty has a Devon 'crimp' which means it is sealed on the top rather than traditional Cornish-style on the side. "It looks great, very substantial and you can't argue with the price. "But the filling was bland and sloppy. "It was lacking meaty flavour and the chunky texture you'd expect. "Although there was 17 per cent beef, it was potato heavy and the carrots and swede inside were a bit mulchy. "Very high in fat and calorific too." Taste: 2/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 5/10 How to save money on your supermarket shop THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop. You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket. Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too. Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund. Waitrose Mini Cornish Pasties (180g) £3.75 for 6 (63.5p each) Nutrition: 90 calories, 5.60g fat, 0.60g sugar, 0.19g salt Lynsey says: "Little pockets of delicious pastry but filled with air. "The filling was nice but there was really only a teaspoon in each one. "I enjoyed them immensely and loved the tiny size for a snack. "They were incredibly moreish and I kept eating one every time I opened the fridge. "I liked the meaty flavour of the beef and there was lots of swede. "Whilst they contained palm oil like many of the others, it was sustainable. "However, for the price, I'd have liked them to be fuller." Taste: 4/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 7/10 Lidl Chef Select Cornish Pasty (200g) 99p (99p each) Nutrition: 597 calories, 35g fat, 3.7g sugar, 2.1g salt Lynsey says: " Lidl 's pasty was hefty and one of the most appetising on offer. "After 20 minutes in the oven, the pastry was really nice and flaky and the filling was hearty and flavoursome. "The meat was tender and not chewy and there as no gristle. "Surprisingly, it was more expensive for a single pasty than many others, but it was huge so I still felt for less than a £1 it was excellent value for money. "You could easily make a meal out of this."
