Idle Thoughts Hot Take: give priority boarding to customers that don't have a carry-on.

[jenik]

If we could get 25% of the passengers to check a bag and just board with a backpack / bag / purse we would all board and deplane so much easier. Would knowing you will be a "High B" because you checked a bag be incentive enough to change your behavior? I'm not suggesting that a bag-checker would jump ahead of existing status holders or folks that pay for upgrades. Just ahead of general steerage folks that carryon.

I love checking a bag w/ SWA and have never once had a problem with a lost /delayed bag (I just jinxed myself). When I fly another airline and do carryon (because I'm a cheapskate) I don't really notice getting on or off airport property significantly faster. Yes, it's easier / faster but it doesn't seem tremendously so. At some inefficient airports (I'm looking at you, DEN) it's almost for sure a wash.

If that shift was to happen, would Southwest regret it due to the demands of having to handle that much more baggage?

I could see flight attendants all excited that we are boarding faster but baggage handlers seething and cranky due to increased workload. Who would win if it was a battle? Flight attendants can be pretty scrappy in a pinch. Don't rule them out.

[bballflyer]

I don’t typically check bags to be nimble, I often use the flexibility of standby and same day change and don’t want to worry about my luggage. I am not sure how this could be implemented because you can always add bags after you check in and have already received your boarding pass. 

[dfwskier]

You tried this survey on Reddit and pretty much got shut down. You'll get the same here.

[MarkF]

I think boarding would not be much different. I DO think though that passengers without carry-ons should be able to deplane as a group, before the group of passengers with carry-on baggage. They have to wait on everybody digging around for their carry-ons. They would speed things up just standing up and walking out.

I understand why people take carry-ons, but if it were up to me( and it's not ) I would not allow them on any flight. Those bins can't possibly contain those bags and boxes in the case of a serious incident. Purposely putting things in the cabin that would end up as projectiles dropping on people's heads and flying about the cabin is not too logical I think, but that's just me.

[williamsjen]

I agree with your statement. I also recommend that priority is given to those who do not have bags when it is time to exit the plane.  1st class should exit first and those without bags exit 2nd.  I hate sitting waiting on people to get their bags.  I have been traveling for 40 years and always check my bags and they have never been loss.

People who choose to bring on bags should enter last and exit last.  Please Southwest complete a study and see how this works out for your customers. This way everyone who want to bring their bags on the plane are happy and those that don't want to be inconvenience with bags are happy and not inconvenience because others have to get bags before they exit the plane.  Also, recommend this for all airlines. Thank you!

[dfwskier]

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@williamsjen wrote:

I agree with your statement. I also recommend that priority is given to those who do not have bags when it is time to exit the plane.  1st class should exit first and those without bags exit 2nd.  I hate sitting waiting on people to get their bags.  

???????????????????????????? 

Have you ever flown Southwest???

It does not sell a 1st class product.