Skip to main content

Southwest Airlines Community

Summertime

Bill
Employee
Employee
In the key of G-Flat-minor, please, to the tune of Gershwin's "Summertime".... Summertime, And the airport is busy, Carts are tumpin', 'Cause the luggage's too high, Let's check our bags, And not carry 'em onboard, Then we'll breeze through the checkpoint, And off we'll fly….. It's another busy travel summer, and while I've been out and about the crowded airports and large amounts of carryon luggage made me think of the "Porgy and Bess" opener, hence my erstwhile rewrite of the first stanza (my personal favorite rendition of this classic was Fantasia Barrino's performance on "American Idol" a couple of seasons ago). With the peak travel season upon us, I thought it might be a good time to remind everyone that checking luggage is the easiest way to get your bags from point A to point B. It embodies that most American of work ethics–get somebody else to do the work. 🙂 Southwest's helpful Customer Service Agents and Ramp Agents will take excellent care of your luggage, and will work like crazy to have it available for you in the bag claim area quickly when you arrive at your destination. Besides, checking your bags means you don't have to carry/drag/push/wheel them around. No bags to deal with means you can focus all your attention on whatever you want–from trying to catch the eye of the attractive fellow voyager in the security line next to you, to keeping the kids from running from gate C18, where you are, to gate C481, where the nearest ice cream vendor is. We've had other blog posts about the "correct" way to check luggage, most recently Bert Stevens' post from last month (click here for the link), so no need to replicate that information here. Just follow the instructions and try it–believe me, checking luggage is simple, it's easy, and the sacroiliac you save may be your own. Happy travels, everyone!
29 Comments
Leah4
Frequent Flyer B
Great post, Bill! 🙂 I have one check in bag & one carryon (well, two carryons coming home-one is a bag with some of my souvenirs); that's not including my purse. I put certain things in my carryon, such as a change of clothes, 3 oz. or less of liquids-perfume & lotion (in a quart size bag, of course), my camera, my book Nuts!, & other things. I always do that, just to be safe.
joe-mdw-plane-d
Frequent Flyer C
Good choices Leah! Pack light and check the rest. Check me out on the radio today at 12noon est! One hour of my selected songs will play. Mrs ding! boy song's will be played at 6pm est http://www.foxspacelive.com/pages/ondemand2.html click on the listen live button! The famous ding! boy Joe
joe-mdw-plane-d
Frequent Flyer C
Psst Leah, Go over to "My kind of town Chicago is." I have an update for you. Topic deviator Ding! boy on the radio Joe
Will2
Explorer C
Just a thought gang. When I travel, and shop, shop, shop, I Fed Ex my presents home. This way I don't have to lug them into the rental car, on the shuttle bus, through the airport, check or carry them on, port them onto the parking shuttle......you get the point. They're DELIVERED to my door!! US Mail would work the same, and if you bought beach towels, or other fluffy stuff, you have the packing material with you. Small investment in a UPS store or other packing service, and you're home free. My goal is always to not need a vacation, from my vacation, when I get home. My .02. Will Browne MDW Flight Attendant
Traci_Lyn_Stanl
Explorer C
Hi! I just flew home from Ft. Lauderdale yesterday and swiped a copy of the Spirit Magazine which talks about this blog! I love it! And, I LOVE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES! I'm a lite traveler. My children are not. It's tough to fly with kids...but Southwest ALWAYS makes it easier. THANK YOU! My trip from Philadelphia to Ft Lauderdale was absolutely the worst travel experience EVER. I did not fly Southwest. BIG Mistake. I flew USA3000. Huge Mistake. I arrived at check in two hours prior to my flight. I was traveling alone with my 2 children--ages 3 and 13 months. I was told that I could not have any assistance to the gate, and that if I needed it, I should have had someone fly with me. Was this woman (a supervisor) kidding? I explained that my I didn't wish to be flying alone, but my husband was deployed....and I needed some help to the gate. I even brought a friend with me...but to no avail. I also tried to explain that my baby has a ton of food allergies and I would need help with getting the medications and foods through security. The supervisor told me I should have flown another airline. I agreed! And, I WILL NEVER fly anything but SOUTHWEST again!!! Thanks for all you do to make airline travel fun and pleasant!
joe-mdw-plane-d
Frequent Flyer C
Will, you don't use swacargo??????? Or don't you buy anything that large? ;-) Please have your account number ready when calling our office Ding! boy Joe
Leah4
Frequent Flyer B
Thanks, Ding! boy Joe. I replied to your comment under "My kind of town Chicago is. " 🙂
Charlie_G_
Explorer C
Is it so very wrong of me to congratulate myself for checking my bag when I see some poor unfortunate soul in group C struggling the length of the aisle with a well-stuffed roller bag just as it's announced that the bins are full? What about the frazzled parent who is trying to keep control a bag as well as a child? When I get off an airplane, I usually need to visit the restroom. I might need a quick snack if it was a longer flight or if I won't get a chance to eat on the way to my final destination. It's easier to take care of these things without a bag in hand--and how much time are you really saving by carrying it all on? A bag in the hold doesn't mean that I have nothing left to put under the seat in front. Did I mention that my feet are size 12?
Leah4
Frequent Flyer B
Don't forget to carry on important items, such as whatever medication you can bring on board, as well as keys! When I fly alone, I leave my keys with my parents, because they take me to the airport & pick me up when I arrive home. However, when I went to MCO last month, a friend of mine took me to the airport & my parents picked me up. I left my keys & apartment gate remote at home, & before I went, made an extra copy of my apartment key, which I carried in my purse. Then, when my parents picked me up, they had their remote & I used my own key, rather than using theirs!
vanlakecentral
Explorer B
Interesting post as many airlines due everything they can discourage checking bags. The key issue of course is getting luggage through the system on a timely basis. You can help passengers be more comfortable with this process, in situation where there is long lines to check luggage (see Midway every morning, Monday-Saturday) by posting have much time before flight time you need for the luggage to make the flight at the check in counter. I bet a lot of people in long lines could make but leave worried that the luggage will not make the flight.
Mary_C
Explorer C
Carrying luggage doesn't work too well out of SW LAX office. Sunday morning there was a 3 hour wait to check bags. Ugh! I won't be flying that again. Everyone was blaming it on someone else, but when I got through and got my bag weighed, I only had to wait 10 min. for security. Hmmmm. I was not impressed. One agent finally admitted that they were grossly understaffed, which I observed to be true. Carry on folks went straight through. mc
Randy_Wolf
Explorer C
I flew from San Antonio yesterday and I really like the new boarding program - letter plus number. It was much more organized and comfortable. They really need it in LIT.
Aimie1
Explorer C
Hi Bill, I'm still keeping up with your blogs, only now I have to wait until they're posted to read them 🙂 Every single day I wonder to myself... (sometimes outloud), what in the world did we do before roller bags? Were overhead bins just as crowded? Did customers even bother worrying about what to pack, just for the sake of their backs? Was it a world of backpacks, filled with nothing but a swimsuit and a toothbrush? See, there I go, wondering outloud! Aimie BWI F/A
Tom111
Explorer C
Keep you keys, money,blood pressure meds., reservations, cell phone, and anything you may need for 1 full day with you. Thats it. pack everything else. Thats 137 bags every flight. Please. Thats easy.
Chuck_Miller
Explorer C
On 10 Aug we took SW 3240 PHL to TPA. Great flight, great service by the LUV crew, and at the gate 25 minutes early! Could not be better! We received a survey from SWA on-line the next day. The first question lumps TSA screening with check-in checking baggage, etc. The TSA experince should be a separate item. I do not want to lowere my ratings of the SWA experience due to TSA problems. TSA in PHL took about 45 minutes. Very long line. The physical space to doing passenger screening is totally inadequate! SWA and the other airlines need to push on PHL management to improve the situation.
Teresa6
Explorer C
Travel with Southwest all the time. Love it.......Keep the specials coming. I book for all my friends and haven't had any complaints yet....
Elena_Zamora
Explorer C
Dear Southwest Airlines, I am writing in this blog to pled for your help. For the last ten years I have lived out side of Philadelphia, PA. However, I am orginally from Buffalo, NY where my entire family still lives. For the last ten years I have been paying about $400 a ticket to fly home, it's a 40 minute flight, where they don't even service a drink. I know Southwest flys out of Philly, and out of Buffalo but I despartely need you to fly from Philly to Buffalo. The demand for this flight is growing, everytime I fly to Buffalo or to Philly from Buffalo the airplane is packed!!!! I am talking NO EMPTY SEATS..... It's not fair that one airline runs the monopoly. It's unfair to the comsumer, it's not right that a 40 minute flight is that much money. I have spoke to many people that are flying back and forth and they all agree that we need a change!!!! Southwest Please Help... And for all those Philly to Buffalo flyers or vice versa please add to this blog.... Thank You
diana_sundeen
Explorer C
Why is Southwest not offering a way to get rid of their various obnoxious Ding advertisements that seem to be permanently lodged in my computer?
diana_sundeen
Explorer C
I will await Southwest's moderation with its advertisements,
diana_sundeen
Explorer C
Am I being punished for something?
diana_sundeen
Explorer C
You have my address - please remove your Ding! advertisements. Thank you for your consideration.
Dean_Adams
Explorer C
I would like to add to the comment about Southwest Flying from Buffalo to Philadelphia. IT IS LONG OVERDUE. USAIR has been steeling our money far to long. Packed delayed flights all the time. PLEASE HELP..
Mark4
Explorer C
Hi- Has anyone heard of Southwest pulling out of Buffalo Airport. I have family there and southwest is the only reasonably priced airline to fly there? thanks for any help!
Wayne11
Explorer C
comment about southwest vacations, booked a vacation to las vegas yesterday.And found out after. If I book a flight seperate can get boarding pass on interent, do the package and have to get it in person at the ticket counter prior to flight. Come on southwest less just be equa land fair to all who fly with you. Yes did cancel this package within hours.
Liz_Richards
Explorer C
Make sure that if you are travelling in a group that when you check in you do not allow the South Western employee to put the wrong labels on bags. If one bag goes missing South Western will then use that as an excuse to not return your bag to you. As my insurance details are in my bag I am now bagless and have no way of claiming insurance.
Anonymous3897
Explorer C
I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP ME, I AM GOING ON A 3 DAY TRIP TO NY. I WILL BE TAKING A UNDER THE SEAT TOTE, AND NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS ALLOWED FOR THE OVERHEAD, DIMENSIONS, AND WEIGHT, I HAVE LOOKED SO MANY PLACES FOR THE ANSWER, IS THERE SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP, I AM FLYING SW
pberg
Frequent Flyer B
Dear Anonymous - All of Southwest's baggage policies can be found at http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html. All carryon items must be 10x16x24 inches or smaller. Have a safe and enjoyable trip! Paula Berg Southwest Airlines
pberg
Frequent Flyer B
Dear Anonymous - All of Southwest's baggage policies can be found at http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html. All carryon items must be 10x16x24 inches or smaller. Have a safe and enjoyable trip! Paula Berg Southwest Airlines
Marty_Zeiss
Explorer C
Southwest, can you start flying from Buffalo to Philadelphia soon please? I'm tired of waiting for US Air eSavers. I need a discount carrier that will service this route! HELPPPPP!