Right this moment marks the ultimate day for vacationers to guide a Southwest Airways flight with out incurring baggage charges, because the provider ends its long-standing free checked bag coverage. The change, which takes impact with flights booked beginning Wednesday, marks a significant shift for the airline recognized for permitting passengers to test two baggage at no cost.
Starting Wednesday, Southwest will cost $35 for a primary checked bag and $45 for a second. Commonplace weight and dimension restrictions will apply.
For years, Southwest constructed its model across the promise of free checked baggage, a function that set it aside from different funds carriers. However going ahead, solely a choose group of consumers will proceed to get pleasure from free bag allowances.
Passengers eligible at no cost checked baggage beneath the brand new coverage embody:
- Speedy Rewards A-Listing Most popular members and Enterprise Choose fare vacationers (nonetheless get two free checked baggage),
- A-Listing members and a few choose prospects (one free checked bag),
- Holders of Southwest’s co-branded bank cards will obtain a credit score for one checked bag.
Everybody else can be required to pay. The airline additionally plans to launch a brand new “primary” fare class for its lowest-priced tickets when the luggage payment coverage takes impact.
Southwest estimated final yr that the brand new baggage charges might generate round $1.5 billion yearly. Nonetheless, executives warned it might additionally lead to $1.8 billion in misplaced income from prospects who beforehand selected Southwest particularly for its free bag coverage.
The coverage overhaul comes alongside different modifications on the Dallas-based airline. Beginning Wednesday, passengers should hold moveable chargers seen when in use, because of rising security considerations over lithium-ion battery fires.
Moreover, Southwest is making ready to part out its open seating system, a observe it’s used for over 50 years. Beginning subsequent yr, passengers can count on assigned seating on some flights.
Different modifications on the horizon embody:
- Charging further for added legroom,
- Introducing in a single day red-eye flights.
These shifts come as Southwest faces rising strain from activist traders to spice up earnings. In October, the airline reached a truce with hedge fund Elliott Funding Administration, which had been pushing for main reforms. As a part of the settlement, Elliott gained a number of seats on Southwest’s board.
Earlier this yr, Southwest additionally introduced it will be reducing 1,750 company jobs, about 15% of its workplace workforce—the primary large-scale layoffs within the airline’s 53-year historical past.
Regardless of the continued turbulence, Southwest shares rose 3% in early buying and selling Tuesday, monitoring positive factors throughout the airline sector.
Final Probability to E-book A Southwest Flight Earlier than New Bag Charges Take Impact
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