Ask Grandpa what flying was like in the ’60s, and he’ll tell you it was pretty fancy. The cabin was full of cigarette smoke, but they treat, but they treat you like royalty. Not anymore.
Southwest just buckled and announced they’ll start charging for checked bags this spring. They were the last major U.S. airline that didn’t charge. So it’s official, every airline is Spirit now. (Spirit is the O.G. They started charging for checked bags in 2007. NBC News called it an “unusual step” at the time.)
Starting May 28th, you won’t even get one bag on Southwest. They haven’t said how much they’re charging yet. But other airlines tack on around $35 for your first bag, and more for additional bags.
Southwest’s “Two Bags Fly Free” policy was a big selling point. But their CEO said they’re ditching it to, “return to the levels of profitability that we and our shareholders expect.”
Frequent flyers and Business class passengers will still get two free bags, but everyone else will have to pay.
It does sound like you’ll still get one CARRY-ON for free. But everyone will do it now, so they’ll run out of space quick. (We assume they’ll check your carry-on for free if that happens, but no official word on that yet.)
“The Boston Globe” ran the story as an obituary. Their headline was, “Free checked luggage on domestic flights, 1925 – 2025.” 1925 was when air travel really started to take off. It’s the year Delta was founded.
(USA Today / CNBC / Boston Globe)
