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Southwest Airways Ends Free Checked Luggage, Faces Backlash as Clients Revolt
Monday, March 17, 2025
Southwest Airways, lengthy identified for its customer-friendly insurance policies, has sparked main backlash after asserting that it’s going to finish its “two bags fly free” coverage and start charging for checked baggage. The transfer, revealed on Tuesday, March 12, 2025, marks a major departure from one of many final remaining perks that set Southwest aside from opponents.
Southwest Faces Buyer Outrage
The U.S. Division of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulate airline insurance policies, together with baggage charges, and have beforehand scrutinized comparable modifications at different airways. Nevertheless, Southwest’s resolution has infuriated loyal prospects, lots of whom selected the airline particularly for its free baggage allowance.
Frequent flyers have been fast to react, with one A-Checklist Most well-liked buyer holding over a million rewards factors expressing their frustration:
Southwest’s Response and the Public Response
The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) studies that baggage charges have grow to be a serious income supply for airways, with U.S. carriers accumulating over $6.8 billion from baggage charges in 2023. Southwest had lengthy marketed itself as a customer-first airline, however this shift indicators a brand new deal with income over passenger satisfaction.
Amtrak Will get Dragged Into the Debate
Whereas frustration over Southwest’s baggage payment coverage was the principle focus, Amtrak additionally discovered itself caught within the crossfire. Many vacationers in contrast the price of prepare tickets to airfare, declaring that in some instances, Amtrak fares are dearer than flying—regardless of longer journey instances.
This isn’t a brand new situation—in keeping with the U.S. Authorities Accountability Workplace (GAO), Amtrak struggles with excessive working prices and fare competitiveness, making it a much less engaging different to air journey regardless of its environmental advantages.
What This Means for Vacationers
With Southwest eliminating free checked baggage and Amtrak dealing with criticism over pricing and journey instances, vacationers are left with fewer budget-friendly choices. This shift underscores a bigger development within the transportation trade the place passenger perks are being diminished in favor of revenue-driven insurance policies.
The DOT and shopper advocacy teams will doubtless monitor public response to Southwest’s baggage coverage change, as comparable strikes at different airways have resulted in requires regulation and larger transparency in airline pricing.
For now, vacationers trying to keep away from baggage charges might want to think about different packing methods, loyalty packages, or price range airways that also provide some free baggage perks—although these choices are dwindling quick.
