Latest news with #FlyFree
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Hidden Gem At DFW Airport: Inside The Employee Store Near Gate C2 With Airline Merch, Travel Gear, And Unique Gifts
The DFW Employee Store adjacent to gate C2 sells unique merchandise and travel equipment, and is open to the public. I thought I had seen it all at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. I fly through a couple times a month, always on American Airlines. It's an airport of great size and distance, where the journey between two gates can be formidable. But I've come to know the place pretty well. I've found my 'secret' bathrooms that always tend to be empty and chill, and I know which eateries offer the best bang for my buck, especially in Terminals B and D, which I often frequent. So it was with surprise that I discovered the DFW Employee Store in Terminal C, adjacent to Gate C2, on a recent layover. It caught my eye before I even knew what it was. I noticed its administrative-looking sign from a couple gates away. It was the first interesting store I'd seen at an airport in some time, and turns out, it's open to the public. So I wandered in. It immediately felt like I had flashed back to some golden age of travel; something about the store made it seem like it was a few decades behind (fittingly, its website is copyright 2018 but looks like it could be from 1993). The DFW Employee store sells a mix of airline merchandise, travel equipment, and model toys. The store was a mix of airline merchandise, travel equipment, and model toys. There were both branded and gag (Marry Me, Fly Free) airline t-shirts for sale, and a whole selection of luggage, tags, and footwear for pilots, flight attendants, and desk agents. The section that caught my eye was the destination sock collection, which popped with color. It had a big variety of cities and states and could make a good stocking stuffer for someone down the road. Pop by on your next trip through Dallas-Fort Worth to kill time; it's worth the wander. If you're looking for easier access to airline merchandise, you can shop a large selection online from the company behind the DFW Employee Store, who told me that the DFW Employee Store is the only brick-and-mortar location they have at the moment. If anyone knows of any other public employee stores in other airports, do find me below and let me know.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Free bags no more: Here's the last day to book tickets with free checked bags at Southwest
From overhauling in-flight service to introducing assigned seating and new priority boarding procedures, a lot is up in the air at Southwest Airlines right now. Earlier this year, the Dallas-based airline announced, with considerable pushback from Southwest loyalists, that it would end one of its most beloved perks: free checked bags. The airline said in March that its customers are no longer "allowed two free checked bags," and for the first time in its 54-year history, Southwest will begin charging for checked luggage. The airline's executives have long promoted the perk as a key differentiator from its rivals throughout Southwest's more than 50 years of flying, aiming to attract customers while maintaining revenue. However, CNBC reported that Southwest's decision follows months of pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management. The firm acquired a stake in the airline last year and secured five Southwest board seats, pushing for swift changes. Since the company was acquired by an investor, several changes have been implemented. In-flight service now ends about 10 minutes earlier than before, with passengers asked to prepare for landing at 18,000 feet instead of the previous 10,000 feet. In July 2024, Southwest announced plans to introduce seat assignments, with ticket sales expected to begin in the second half of 2025 and the first assigned-seating flights scheduled for early 2026, according to a company news release. The change will also bring the introduction of premium seating, which includes priority boarding access for those passengers, alongside the airline's most loyal customers. Additionally, the company cut more than 1,700 jobs at its Dallas Love Field headquarters — about 15% of its corporate workforce — including 11 senior leadership positions. More: Airlines are getting stricter about carry-on luggage. Here's what to do about it. Under the new Southwest baggage policy, most customers will pay to check baggage. Until now, Southwest's Bags Fly Free policy has allowed two pieces of checked luggage per person. Checked bags must weigh no more than 50 pounds and measure no more than 62 inches in total dimensions. Overweight bags between 51-70 pounds cost $100; bags 71-100 pounds cost $125. Oversized bags between 63-80 inches also incur a $125 fee. However, there are a few exceptions: Top-tier fare class passengers will receive two free checked bags. Formerly Business Select, this group is now branded as Choice Extra. Elite frequent flyers with A-List Preferred status will still get two free checked bags, while A-List members will receive one. Southwest credit card holders will also be eligible for one free checked bag. Southwest will begin charging for checked bags on flights purchased on or after May 28, 2025. If you book your flight by May 27, you'll still get up to two free checked bags, regardless of the date of the flight. As of May 16, Southwest has not revealed its baggage fee. American, Delta and United airlines charge between $35 and $50 for first and second checked bags. Southwest Airlines still allows free carry-on bags for all passengers. Each traveler is allowed one personal item and one carry-on bag. The carry-on bag, such as a roller bag or tote, must fit in the overhead bin and be no larger than 24 x 16 x 10 inches. The personal item, such as a purse, backpack, brief case or laptop bag, must fit under the seat and must not exceed 18.5 inches x 8.5 inches x 13.5 inches. More: Best Luggage of 2024: The All-in-One Carry-On by Nobl Travel is Going Viral Contributing: Tiffany Acosta, Arizona Republic This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: When is Southwest charging bags? Here's last day to book free luggage
