Southwest Rapid Rewards - back to back ticketing

Hi! I am so glad I found these boards. They have been a wealth of information! I have a question I hope someone can answer. I needed to book a ticket from SAT to STL. It is a direct flight with a brief stop in DAL but I would remain on the plane as it continued to STL. I found a great Ding fare from SAT to DAL and another one from DAL to STL for these flights so I booked it as 2 one ways ( Booking the SAT to STL ticket would have cost more money for the exact same flights.) I won't have any checked baggage, only carry-ons. I was wondering how I would handle the flight from DAL to STL. Would I have to gather my luggage, get off of the plane and jump in line to reboard? Is there another way to turn in my boarding pass and just stay seated since this is the plane I need to be on anyway? I hope this made sense. Can anyone offer any advice for this situation? Thanks!

First, welcome to FlyerTalk, traveler02!

You will need to gather your things, deplane and reboard.

Thanks for the welcome, Curbcrusher!

Do you think it would be OK to just leave my bags in the overhead storage bins and only take my essential bag with me? That would make things a bit easier.

Practically speaking, I don't see that leaving your bags in the overhead would cause a problem. However, in the worst case scenario (perhaps a mechanical at DAL that requires the plane to be taken out of service) you wouldn't be able to get back on to get your bags. The chances of that occurring are very slim IMO.

Personally, I would ask an FA before I left anything on the plane on purpose, but understand the point of view that some questions are better left unasked. ;)

As they are carry on and, I assume you would have an A BP -- best to be last off with bags and then reboard at end of the A line.

But if there are a number who are going thru (by being last off (linger a while) you will know that as thru pax will stay on board), leaving bag in overhead is ok as they do not match those on board with luggage in overheads.

If the aircraft did get taken out of service, I bet you would be able to board to get bags after explaining.... or at least have someone bring them off.

By the way, they almost always check bags thru to end destination if you show both BPs at origin. I have done this often.