Southwest passengers fire back at airlines over – Business News
Travelers who declare to be loyal prospects of Southwest are sounding off after the airline introduced modifications Tuesday to its fashionable passenger perk.
The Texas-based provider revealed a number of modifications are being made in an effort to drive income growth and return to profitability shareholders anticipate, FOX Business reported.
These modifications will embrace an adjustment to its checked bag coverage, which permits all passengers to test two baggage without spending a dime.
Southwest has not but introduced how a lot vacationers might be charged, although the price for a third checked bag is listed at $150 on southwest.com.
The transfer, introduced Tuesday, is triggering sturdy reactions from vacationers on social media, with some even threatening to stop flying with Southwest if they’ll no longer obtain free checked baggage.
“Call it what you will — boycott, mass exodus, defecting. Can we do that in a massive wave right now?” one individual wrote in a Southwest Reddit thread.
“Nail in the coffin,” one other individual wrote.
Southwest Airlines passengers test in at a kiosk at the ticketing counter at Denver International Airport on Feb. 27, 2025. AP
“This was literally the last reason I still flew Southwest. Now it’s just Spirit with different colors,” one other person commented in a completely different thread.
“I used to favor [Southwest] for the lack of baggage fees. They definitely will not be my first choice if their prices stay the same,” a Reddit person wrote.
Fox News Digital reached out to Southwest for remark.
A Southwest passenger checks in a bag at Chicago’s Midway International on March 11, 2025. AP
Starting May 28, solely Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members and prospects touring on Business Select fares will get two free checked baggage.
Rapid Rewards credit card members will obtain their first checked bag without spending a dime.
Any different prospects who don’t fall into these two classes might be charged for each checked baggage, in accordance with Southwest’s press release.
“It makes sense to be angry at Southwest because they have literally announced an intention to reverse their brand promise, that they have promoted as ‘transfarency’ regarding lack of fees or charges for checked baggage,” Gary Leff, a Texas-based journey industry professional and writer of the weblog “View From the Wing,” advised Fox News Digital.
“They have dealt [with] a decades-long relationship with prospects primarily based on a easy and honest worth proposition that they’re altering, and dependable prospects do really feel betrayed.
A bag sits on the belt at the Southwest Airlines baggage declare at Midway International Airport. AP
“For five decades, Southwest has been a pioneer and a maverick, and they’ve announced that legacy has ended.”
Other social media customers stated they’ll contemplate flying with different airlines, despite the fact that they had been as soon as loyal Southwest prospects, however they don’t assume a boycott is the reply.
“I won’t boycott. I’ve flown SW a lot — but simply because I had to get from point A to point B — and SW could often provide that to me at the cheapest rate and/or the most convenient times and routes. If SW can still provide that on any particular trip, then fine. But, now other airlines will be considered more often,” one other Reddit person commented.
“Sure this sucks, but like everyone has already pointed out, they’re like every other airline now, so no use in boycotting for another just like it. It’s going to come down to cheapest fair, and most convenient or direct route for me. Based on my home airport, it’s likely going to still be Southwest,” a social media person added.
Leff stated Southwest as soon as had customer-friendly insurance policies like versatile rebooking or its free checked baggage, which helped differentiate it from the opposite main airlines, however these latest modifications seem to have broken the connection between the airline and plenty of of its prospects.
“Now they’re introducing basic economy fares that will not come with seat assignments prior to check-in, even as they charge fees for such assignments to customers buying more expensive tickets. They’ve reduced points-earning on the cheapest tickets. They’re introducing checked bag fees. And they’re upending their boarding process,” Leff stated.
“They will be adding extra legroom seating at the expense of legroom in standard seats,” he added.
A Southwest Airlines airplane sits at a gate on the tarmac at the Indianapolis International Airport on March 6, 2025. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Images
Leff stated, in comparison with different airlines, Southwest lacks some facilities, like seat-back leisure screens, fast Wi-Fi and seat choices with further legroom, all of which can discourage vacationers from buying a ticket with the provider.
“At the same time that Southwest minimizes the differentiation between their product and the rest of the industry, they will be behind other airlines as they chase that same model,” Leff stated.
“In other words, Southwest Airlines is giving up its competitive differentiation while positioning itself at the bottom of the industry for the model they’re chasing.”
FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.
