Traveling this summer? Popular airline drops longtime free bag policy
The change is the latest in a wave of moves by airlines across the country trying to cut costs and raise revenues.
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Starting today, Southwest is ending its decades-long policy of allowing travelers to check their bags for free.
"It's a little sad," West Babylon resident Carrie Sanchez said as she was preparing for her Southwest flight out of MacArthur Airport today.
Under its new policy, people who haven’t reached the upper tiers of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, purchased a business class ticket, or hold the airline’s credit card will have to pay for checked bags. The first bag will cost travelers $35 and the second $45.
"I'm pretty upset about it," Holbrook resident Peter Hudak said.
The airline made the surprising announcement in March but the policy change goes into effect today. That means if you booked your future flight before today you still don't have to pay the fees but the bag charges do apply to all newly booked flights today and going forward.
The airline estimated in September that charging bag fees would bring in about $1.5 billion a year but cost the airline $1.8 billion in lost business from customers who chose to fly Southwest because of its generous baggage allowance.
Another policy that will take effect on Wednesday is Southwest requiring passengers to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them because of concerns about the growing number of lithium-ion battery fires.
"I'd rather not pay than pay but you know, its not going to stop me from using them," Bayport resident Al Daddio said.
Competitors are hoping to take advantage.
In March, when Southwest announced its bag policy change, Frontier Airlines said it was offering free bags this summer to travelers who booked flights for the summer by mid-April.
A spokesperson for Southwest directed News 12 to an online statement outlining the new policy. News 12 has not yet heard back from Frontier.
