(If you need a captioned version of this video, please click here.)
In addition to Ming’s post below, we have this video starring some Southwest Airlines Employees (with fellow blogger Bob Hurst behind the camera) to help you with your packing. Clayton and Michelle are the Flight Attendants in the video, but my office neighbor, Katie Coldwell, plays the somewhat confused but soon to be enlightened packer. And, her friends, Ashley and Christi are just down the hall in our office. (My Christmas gift is to work with these three ladies!)
Per your Baggage webpage effective June 17th
"Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Effective June 17, 2009, overweight items from 51 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches will be accepted for a charge of $50 per item."
My second bad most of the time is a golf bag that most would consider normal in size for a golf bag or a curling bag that also will not meet the new(?) 62 inch requirement.( both are conservatively around 70 inches each).
I'm not sure what previous restrictions you may have had but I have traveled with both on seperate occasions before without comment. Having to pay $50 after buying a ticket is not what I look for in this airline. Is this something that I will have to consider adding to the price?
Whatever happened to your no charge for a second bag policy. If this is a price increase you should ask the question before checkout.
Is there an trick to getting a low number and Row A. I tried last time 30 seconds ahead of time and couldn't get in. immediately after that I was number 35?
I am flying for the 1st time, and would like to know the rules on
bringing my laptop.... Can I take it onboard as a carryon in its own
case? How many carryons can I take on with me? Will it count as
a carryon?
Please email me
Thanks
I loved your cute instructional video. I love "what not to wear" and you guys were so creative with how you tied it into how to fly. Great job and I will use your tips just like I use the tips on "what not to wear", because I am a serious over packer.
My 14 yr old daughter is flying out on Saturday--June 13th---Does she need a photo ID? She has a temporary state ID until the photo one arrives, in 3 more weeks! Will that do, with her school photo ID & birth certificate? I'd really appreciate an answer---the airport is 2 hours away, really don't want to be turned away after that long drive! Thanks 🙂
Hi Diane,
Anyone who appears to be under 18 doesn't have to show an ID at the airport. On the other hand, it is always good to provide your child with some kind of ID, but it isn't required.
Brian
I will be traveling with my husband and 8 yr old and we havnt flown for at least a few years and I know things have changed. When going through security, do we have to take out the plastic ziplock containing toiletries *sorry for misspell* from our carry on? Can my husband have a carry on AND laptop? Also my laptop needs a separate disk reader...does that have to be taken out as well as the laptop for security? I as because Id really hate to be that uninformed family that holds up the line. Thank you so much!!
I used to fly other airlines, and after one airline lost my luggage, and another delayed me in a airport for 12 hours, I decided to try southwest. I am I did, They are the best. The flights are smooth and hardley bumpy. I am about to fly next month in July. I go out every year to Ohio. I love the new seating policy now. I alway's get the first group, because I am on the computer five minutes to checkin. Great airlines. Keep up the good work. The only problem I have is the TSA at the airports. I hate going thur them. They are always pulling my carry on to the side. I even travel with a child. I think they pull the wrong people to check.
I bought a luggage set that came with 5 pieces of luggage. The largest piece measures 30 x 20 x 12 inches. This is exactly the 62 in. limite for checked baggage. However this does not include the wheels on the bottom or handle on top of the luggage. So my question is will this bag exceed the 62 in. limit because of the wheels and handle on top? Thanks!
I have seen a couple of questions regarding fishing poles and have yet to see an answer. I just purchased a rod tube (specificly designed for air travel) for my 7ft. fishing rods. The length is 86 in. and the diameter is approximately 5.5 inches and will not weigh more than 5 lbs. Will I have to pay an additional fee to check this baggage? I will be flying from Albuquerque to Seattle. Thanks.
I'm traveling to see my family for a week on Southwest before flying out of Seattle to my job in Asia. I'm taking everything that I own so I've got some baggage questions.
Esentially I would like to check one large suitcase that weighs about 65 lbs, one duffel that is under 50 , one medium sized suitcase that weighs about 50 lbs and my guitar. Then I'd like to carry on my messenger bag and a purse.
Will I be charged a fee for the bags being overweight as well as over the #of free bags? What will the total fees be? I'm calculating $100 for the guitar and the heavy suitcase. Is that correct?
Also I'd like to know if it would be better for me to just ship these items.
Thanks for your response I love flying Southwest. The flight attendants are the best, the booking staff is polite, the website is easy to use. I just messed up my dates on accident and was able to fix my flight without any hassle at all! I always book my own Southwest flight to whatever major hub my international flight is departing from and save a bunch.
Rachael,
First off, the two bags 50 pounds and under are free. The amount of the excess fee/overwt feedepends on when you purchased your ticket. If it was purchased prior to June 1, the charge is $25. If you purchased after June 1, the charge is $50. From what I can tell, a bag is subject to only one charge.
In concern to swa boarding procedure,I always thought that family can sit with each other,on
any Air travel,I have booked two tickets a month in advance,An i've just come to find out that you
can't arrange for family members to sit with each other,Could someone at SW AIRLINES confirm
if this is true or false,Thank you much, kirk
I'm hesitant to book another trip on SWA because the last trip was quite unenjoyable for the following reasons: 1) my husband and I were unable to sit together during at least one leg of a lengthy multi-leg trip; 2) I was forced to sit in the middle seat with an extremely large gentleman who was sitting in my seat as much as in his own; 3) we weren't allowed to disembarc the plane during a "layover" so I wasn't able to eat for about 9 hours (our flight left so early from MCO that nothing was open at the airport concessions). How should I handle these issues should they re-occur? Checking in online 24 hours ahead isn't always available while traveling - will SWA ever allow auto check in to insure priority boarding?
Anonymous
Sorry to hear that your Southwest trip was less than enjoyable. While there may not be time to deplane to purchase food, you may always bring your own food onboard with you. Incidentally, you are now able to check in online by using wireless devices like PDAs, iPhones, and BlackBerrys. All you have to do at the airport is reprint your boarding pass at the kiosk or at the ticket counter.
I am flying to Austin, Texas on June 30th 2009 for a week and I have perscribed medications, I for simpicity and less space I put them in weekly pill holders and put them in my checked baggage is this ok? Also I have a small 4oz. plastic bottle of hemp lotion is that not ok in my purse or do I need to put it in checked luggage cause I am reading 3 0z is the limit put in a plastic bag to go through security is that correct?
Thanks for a promt answer so I am clear on both issues as I am packing today.
Thanks, Nancy
Nancy,
Yes, no, yes. Yes your pills are okay from a security viewpoint in checked bags, but I would recommend you put them in your carryon, in case your bags might be delayed. No, 4 oz is too much for a liquid in a carryon, so it would need to go in a checked bag., and yes you are correct on the amount.
I have to use a cPAP machine at night and need to take it with me on my trip to Arizona. I was wondering if it counts as a carry on and/or check in baggage or is it accepted as a personal item. I will being carrying my purse also.
Thanks. ~Tina in CMH
Hi, I am about to be traveling from Chicago Midway to Louisville in a couple of days. I was wondering about a few things. First, is a State I.D. acceptable for the airport checkpoint? I am only 17, so all I have is a State I.D. since I have not had time to get my license yet. Second, what would be a good time to arrive to check my baggage so that I am garunteed a seat on the plane? This will be my first time flying, and I do not want to come to the airport unprepared, since my flight leaves around 7 a.m. Also, I bought my ticket online through your website, and I was wondering how I receive the ticket, or what I have to do to get it? And are there any other travel tips for a first time flyer, plus I am flying solo? Thank you for your help.
Chris,
You can find out the suggested arrival times for your airport here: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/suggested_arrival.html
You won't have a paper ticket, you are flying Ticketless. You checkin by referencing your reservation (it helps if you know the Confirmation Number that is printed on your receipt). You may checkin online 24 hours prior to departure at http://www.southwest.com/content/travel_center/retrieveCheckinDoc.html?ref=ckin_hp_wl_tt
Your state id is fine.
Tina,
according to our baggage page at southwest.com assistive/mobility devices are not a part of the carryon limit. (http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html) The TSA has a page on their web site with some good info for you: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/cpap.shtm
I did not see an answer for question about bringing small container of perfume or cologne?
Also I checked on TSA and could not find an answer to bringing Mascara? Should it be in 1 quart bag? Thank you.
anonymous perfume is considered a liquid, so to be sure I would put in the quart ziploc bag, plus the bottles need to be under 3 ounces. I am not sure about mascara because it was at one time considered a liquid. To be sure on it too probably should go in the quart bag.
I am looking forward to my first flight ever!!! However, I am confused on two things. It's unclear what the 10x16x24 dimensions apply to. Does this apply to LxWxH or HxWxL, etc.? What's considered height (suitcase standing up on legs/rollers or laying flat on it's back? see my point. Also, I received my tickets by mail from the SWA Vacations Online site. I did not see an option for ticketless travel or I would have selected one. Can I still check in online? I will be flying from DAL to MDW, thursday around 7 am and feel very encouraged by ALL the comments I've read. Hopefully, I can get a quick response.
Jair, you are overthinking the dimensions. Your item can't exceed those dimensions. Your width can be 24, the height 10 and the length 16 or the width can be 10, the height 16 and the length 24--or any other combination. SWA Vacation folks with a paper ticket can check in online 24 hours in advance. The only difference is that, while you will save your boarding position) it won't print a boarding pass (just a security document to get you through security). You can stop by the ticket counter or use the security document that you will receive when you checkin online to go to the gate and pick up your boarding pass.
My daughter is traveling from ALA. to CALIF. How should the wedding dress go with her? We do not want it in cargo, we want it carry on but it is not a thin dress and has a large train on a mermaid style dress. Is there room in a closet inside or should she mail it to the destination?
Her flight is the day before the wedding. Thank you, we love Southwest
Marilynd...this is what Paula Berg from Southwest posted in Dec 08. I doubt it has changed.
Penny - Congratulations on your engagement! A New Orleans wedding sounds fabulous!
While we don't have anywhere onboard for you to hang your dress, we should be able to secure your dress in one of the overhead bins. My advice would be to try to secure an A boarding pass by either purchasing the Business Select upgrade or checking in online 24 hours prior to boarding. When you board the aircraft, notify the Flight Attendnant in the front of the plane that you are traveling to your wedding, and see if they can help you secure a bin of your own. If needed, we can usually convince a few Customers to let us move thier bags around in order to accomodate a bride. If not, laying the dress on top of a couple of bags and closing the bin, should help keep it in place.
Again, congratulations and best of luck to you and your future spouse!
Paula Berg
Southwest Airlines
i'll be traveling from san antonio to slc in sept 2009 with 3 other adults a 11yr old, 3yr old, and a 18month old. i was told that the 18mo old did not need a ticket since he's under 2yrs old. is this true? will he have to sit in one of our laps or will he have a seat of his own? also, will we be allowed to sit together?
I am a former Motor Coach Driver for Omega Charters and I did an awful lot of fight cancelations for Southwest Airlines during the first five years of the twenty first century. The business with Southwest included the black out in the wonder City of Detroit, Michigan in 2004.
By being in the transportation business myself, with the exception of flights coinciding with bus connections I have not flown much since the 1960's. I am proud of the work I experienced with Southwest Airlines and now proud to sit back and relax.
REW
I have only flown AA before and am encouraged that everyone that has flown SW was happy (for the most part) I am going with SW as you are about the only airlines that go nonstop from St Louis to Philly. I only want to fly nonstop as getting on and off at different airports is kind of intimidating so thanks for having a nonstop. I hope it stays that way as my son lives in NJ and I visit once or twice a year.
Hi..This is my first time flying with Southwest. I just read on this website that carry on baggage has to be 10 x 16 x 24. What parts of the bag do I measure to see if my carry on is the correct size of 10 inches x 16 inches x 24 inches? I fly tomorrow and I have a bag with wheels and I want to measure it to may sure I can take it on as a carry on. Is 24 inches how tall the bag is when standing? Also does Southwest have gate check?
Thank you
Janet LaLone
I want to check in online for my flight in October. But I am from Canada. Will the website allow Canadian IP Address to access the online check in in order to get a good boarding number?
Tanya, your IP should make no difference, so you should be able to check in online.
Janet, it doesn't matter which side you measure as long as one side is 24" or less, another is 16" or less, and the third is 10" or less.
Angela G, yes you would.
were flying tomorrow ... Just wonderin if I can bring Perfume??some colognes?? and Liquid powder??
Im with an infant ,like 7 months old... Can i bring Diaper bag?? plus my shoulder bag?? 2 baggage like 10 and 20 lbs. and 1 box weighing about 30lbs??? can i bring these??? thanks
I will be flighing from Indianapolis to BWI for the first time by myself. I am 21 and would want to know what are some things that i can do to make this trip a trip to remember. I havent flown since 2004, so i am a little anxious. PLEASE HELP ME!!!
thanks,
Jess
My suitcase measures 10 x 21.5 x 30, not including the wheels or the handle. Will this size fit? Or do we have to include the wheels and handles? Flying in a couples of weeks. Would appreciate fast reply, cause I'm afraid I need to buy more luggage. We used this pc of luggage 10 yrs ago to fly to Hawaii. Did luggage dimension restrictions change since then? Have been afraid to use and and get told too late at check in that it was oversize. Thanks.
Hi! I have a couple of "baby" related questions. My 1 year old daughter will be traveling with me (on my lap) and I was wondering if her diaper bag could be considered as the "personal" carryon item or does it have to count as my one carryon. Also, I understand that I can check two baby items for one of my two checked bags. I also read however that strollers can be checked in addition to these items with no fee. "Customers traveling with infants will be allowed to check one stroller per infant without charge (this is in addition to the regular free baggage allowance)" So I can check a pack n play, her car seat, AND her stroller for no additional fee, right? Does the stroller need to fall within the size and weight specs?
Also, am I able to bring juice in a sippy cup for her? I think I read that it was allowed?
Thanks for all your help!
