How fast is WN baggage-wise?
Apr 18, 2014, 7:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chile
Posts: 326
How fast is WN baggage-wise?
I'm flying southwest for the first time in 2 weeks. I'm flying from LAS to LAX and connecting to LA, flying to LIM. I have exactly 2:10 to make my flights, and I know WN doesn't do baggage interline, so I wanted to know your opinions on how to make this connection.
Can I be confident that Southwest will deliver my bags in a timely manner?
I'll probably walk from T1 to TBIT with a couple bags, but I need to be there for bag drop at least an hour before...
Can I be confident that Southwest will deliver my bags in a timely manner?
I'll probably walk from T1 to TBIT with a couple bags, but I need to be there for bag drop at least an hour before...
Apr 18, 2014, 10:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MCI
Programs: CBP Global Entry, WN A-List Preferred, WN Companion Pass
Posts: 2,007
I'm flying southwest for the first time in 2 weeks. I'm flying from LAS to LAX and connecting to LA, flying to LIM. I have exactly 2:10 to make my flights, and I know WN doesn't do baggage interline, so I wanted to know your opinions on how to make this connection.
Can I be confident that Southwest will deliver my bags in a timely manner?
I'll probably walk from T1 to TBIT with a couple bags, but I need to be there for bag drop at least an hour before...
Can I be confident that Southwest will deliver my bags in a timely manner?
I'll probably walk from T1 to TBIT with a couple bags, but I need to be there for bag drop at least an hour before...
Apr 18, 2014, 11:06 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,531
It has NOT been quick lately at LAX. I waited nearly 40 minutes for my luggage in early March around 10 PM when my flight from Phoenix and another from Oakland came in at the same time. Both were packed flights on a Tuesday night.
Do also remember that the remodel construction is really ramping up at T1 at LAX right now.
Southwest still has only two carousels at LAX...that will will change next year.
Do also remember that the remodel construction is really ramping up at T1 at LAX right now.
Southwest still has only two carousels at LAX...that will will change next year.
Apr 19, 2014, 12:28 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: My opinions are my own and not that of my employer(s)
Posts: 1,411
Apr 19, 2014, 2:47 am
#7
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
OP: I last checked a bag to LAX in 2012 and the wait was unremarkable. Haven't had any outrageous waits at SMF, SAN, PHX or PDX over the last year. I rarely check bags--most are when taking different flights than I booked that are out of overhead space--so my data is pretty limited.
Apr 19, 2014, 6:28 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chile
Posts: 326
I had a ticket in another carrier who would transfer the bags with similar connection time, but the flight time was changed and I found this one, only to later find out southwest doesn't transfer bags.
Apr 19, 2014, 6:40 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
How fast is WN baggage-wise?
It is all about your risk tolerance. If the WN flight is delayed and you miss your connection on a separate PNR on a different carrier, you will probably have your LAX - LIM ticket canceled.
Last fall, I had a similar situation in LAX connecting to a separate LAX-SYD flight and I booked a flight that gave me more than 5 hours in LAX over one that gave about 3.
Also, what day of the week and time of week will you be going through TBIT Security? I went through on a Saturday night about a month ago and the line was very long...granted, the 60 minute bag check is probably the biggest hurdle.
Since WN has no change fees, if I was in your position, I would change to an earlier flight.
Last fall, I had a similar situation in LAX connecting to a separate LAX-SYD flight and I booked a flight that gave me more than 5 hours in LAX over one that gave about 3.
Also, what day of the week and time of week will you be going through TBIT Security? I went through on a Saturday night about a month ago and the line was very long...granted, the 60 minute bag check is probably the biggest hurdle.
Since WN has no change fees, if I was in your position, I would change to an earlier flight.
Apr 19, 2014, 9:38 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
Keep in mind that it will be necessary to go through security again at TBIT; combined with the walk from T1, 2:10 will go by fast, little room for delays - quite common on WN these days.
Why not AA? They should interline with your LIM flight (no need to deal with luggage), T4 is MUCH closer to TBIT, fare should be competitive.
Why not AA? They should interline with your LIM flight (no need to deal with luggage), T4 is MUCH closer to TBIT, fare should be competitive.
Apr 19, 2014, 2:14 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
That is a good solution. Minimum connect time AA domestic to LA international at LAX is 90 minutes, and interlining the bag makes for much less hassle.
Apr 19, 2014, 2:18 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,733
Plus if for some reason the AA flight is late and the OP missed his LAN flight, AA has a policy of treating separate tickets on oneworld as one ticket, so AA would find a way to get him to LIM.
Apr 19, 2014, 3:03 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ONT
Programs: AA Gold, WN A-, UA S, HH ♦, IHG Spire, Hertz Prez O, TSA Disparager
Posts: 2,159
True, but it's a little too late to judge the OP's decisions. The OP was looking for piece of mind and we've provided it. Worst case is the WN flight is delayed and he/she misses the connection to LIM and has to deal with LA to reroute.
Apr 19, 2014, 7:41 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Given that the risk is that your LAX-LIM is cancelled if you noshow and that you would also be stuck with a hotel + food for at least a day, I would not risk this. You can still buy a ticket on an earlier WN flight for $69 and that is well worth it no matter what you paid for your existing WN ticket.
Apr 19, 2014, 7:57 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,733
But if the OP misses the flight, it may not just be reroute but rather buy a last minute full fare ticket to LIM