JetBlue to drop its one free bag next week: Will Southwest charge for 2nd bag?
#16
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 506
I went to Asia last year with my boss with 1 checked bag because I was planning on stopping by to visit my relatives but man did that make me feel like I was a giant holdup already.
#17
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ONT
Programs: AA Gold, WN A-, UA S, HH ♦, IHG Spire, Hertz Prez O, TSA Disparager
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I frequently travel with two checked bags so that I have all of my essentials I need while away from home. I might be a crappy packer or my size 13 shoes just take up more space. Therefore, I fly airlines that do not charge for two bags. For me it's WN, US, AA and AS.
#18
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So what about people who use TrueBlue points instead? Are those treated as "cheapest tickets" or not? Does TrueBlue have multiple levels of redemption the way that Southwest does?
#19
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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Posts: 21,619
Every other airline that has bag fees charges them for coach award tickets. It's one of the stealthier devaluations these programs have accomplished. Jetblue will likely exempt Mint class (a superb first class product comparable to top tier international business class) redemptions only.
#20
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Count me among those who do.
I fly several times a year to visit family, attend conferences, etc. (I'm a graduate student). One bag is my clothing, for trips up to two weeks in length. The second is full of books that I either plan on reading (like I said, graduate student...) or need to have available for the work I hope to try and get done while I'm away from home. This one is probably small enough to be a carry-on, but why bother (especially with what nine or ten books can weigh) with lugging it aboard the plane and dealing with the struggle for bin space when I'm going to have to wait at baggage claim for my first bag anyway?
That said, I'm probably a minority.
I fly several times a year to visit family, attend conferences, etc. (I'm a graduate student). One bag is my clothing, for trips up to two weeks in length. The second is full of books that I either plan on reading (like I said, graduate student...) or need to have available for the work I hope to try and get done while I'm away from home. This one is probably small enough to be a carry-on, but why bother (especially with what nine or ten books can weigh) with lugging it aboard the plane and dealing with the struggle for bin space when I'm going to have to wait at baggage claim for my first bag anyway?
That said, I'm probably a minority.
#21
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CMH, West Coast
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, oneworld emerald
Posts: 2,741
If bag fees mean lower fares, I'm all for it. I literally never check a bag and generally carry on only one backpack, so I'm essentially subsidizing everyone that hauls half their closet to MDW. I like the ala carte pricing model; if I don't need or use a service, I'd rather not pay for it.
#22
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Houston (HOU/IAH)
Programs: WN, UA, DL, AA, Chase UR, Amex MR
Posts: 2,267
I typically check two bags but one is my girlfriend's bag and the other is my own that I might as well check if I'm already going to be at the counter. Besides, I usually check my own even when flying solo as I just don't care to drag it around with me and worry about bin space but if they did reduce the check bag allowance then I will adapt.
#23
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
If bag fees mean lower fares, I'm all for it. I literally never check a bag and generally carry on only one backpack, so I'm essentially subsidizing everyone that hauls half their closet to MDW. I like the ala carte pricing model; if I don't need or use a service, I'd rather not pay for it.
#24
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They won't. Checked bag fees are not about the cost of transporting the bags, they're about generating ancillary revenue for the airline. Those who think fares and fees have any relation to cost of transport fundamentally misunderstand airline pricing.
#25
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,123
Not when you are traveling for business. I am and I always have two pieces maxed to 50lbs. The 'two free' is the only reason I remain with LUV. The dismal on time arrival performance and frequent cancellations in the last two years is trying my patience. They add luggage charges and I suspect there will be fist fights for bin space for the 'C' crowd. And they will increase the turn time since more luggage will be carried on.
They are no longer the lowest cost. If LUV makes me pay for checked luggage and I probably have to bolt to UA. How low is that?
They are no longer the lowest cost. If LUV makes me pay for checked luggage and I probably have to bolt to UA. How low is that?
#26
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: MR LT Titanium, SPG LT Plat & Plat 100, SWA A+ & CP
Posts: 1,093
I'd much rather them charge for the second bag vs raise fares. In reality, your bags don't fly free, the cost is included in your ticket price. As for marketing, they can say "Your bag flies free" or they can keep it the same as your carry-on is free.
#27
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Fares are set based on the market, not the cost of providing transport. For example, SFO-LAX, WN fares typically match UA, even though UA does not give free bags for non-elites. And when airlines do charge baggage fees, they generate ancillary revenue, i.e., revenue that is not directly tied to the fare (and is treated differently for taxation purposes).
#28
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,120
Untrue.
Fares are set based on the market, not the cost of providing transport. For example, SFO-LAX, WN fares typically match UA, even though UA does not give free bags for non-elites. And when airlines do charge baggage fees, they generate ancillary revenue, i.e., revenue that is not directly tied to the fare (and is treated differently for taxation purposes).
Fares are set based on the market, not the cost of providing transport. For example, SFO-LAX, WN fares typically match UA, even though UA does not give free bags for non-elites. And when airlines do charge baggage fees, they generate ancillary revenue, i.e., revenue that is not directly tied to the fare (and is treated differently for taxation purposes).
For example, with Frontier and Spirit covering PHL-ORD and PHL-ATL, Southwest has lowered it's PHL fares to MDW and ATL. But flying PHL to the Bay Area through a hub has higher fares now on Southwest than years ago when AirTran offered competing service on cross country trips. AirTran would be competitive for routes like PHL-ATL-SFO/LAX/SEA. Lately, I've seen US and DL being about $100 cheaper each way on connection flights than Southwest, but US is being competitive through SJC. Perhaps US wants to funnel some traffic on it's ORD-SJC flight so it's discounting PHL-ORD-SJC even though PHL-SFO fares are pretty high. Of course, there are some itineries that Southwest will not be competitive perhaps by choice.
Last edited by rtalk25; Jun 28, 2015 at 6:20 pm
#29
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My point is that fare prices do not reflect cost of transporting bags. They are set based on the market. So it's a fallacy to say that "I'm paying for your free checked bags." You're not. If WN were to add checked bag fees, fares would continue to price as they price now - based on the market. WN would also collect ancillary revenue in the form of checked bag fees. Which might or might not make up for the pax they lose due to the reduced benefits.
#30
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This is a key point. WN relies on quicker turns than any other major airline. If pax start carrying on the kitchen sink to avoid baggage fees, it's going to affect boarding time, on time performance, and ultimately, WN's ability to schedule industry-leading turns.
They won't. Checked bag fees are not about the cost of transporting the bags, they're about generating ancillary revenue for the airline. Those who think fares and fees have any relation to cost of transport fundamentally misunderstand airline pricing.
They won't. Checked bag fees are not about the cost of transporting the bags, they're about generating ancillary revenue for the airline. Those who think fares and fees have any relation to cost of transport fundamentally misunderstand airline pricing.