SouthWest adding fees!

[aircowboy]

Industry forces Southwest to add fees for pets, baggage and unaccompanied minors

Southwest Airlines, which has long bragged of no hidden fees, joined other carriers fighting industry economic challenges and grouped several fees into one announcement today, the Dallas News reported. The airline will allow small cats and dogs as carry-on items and charge $75 each way. It will increase bag fees to $50 from $25 for a third checked bag or a bag weighing between 51 and 70 pounds, and will charge unaccompanied minors $25 each way.

 

[GuppyWN]

If you can't beat 'em - join 'em.

Gup

 

[Sedona16]

Funny. Some SWA guys on here said they would never follow the so called nickel and dime crowd. Just goes to show the bottom line will always dictate what a given business will and wont do.

 

[QOL_is_great:)]

It was only a matter of time

So now SWA will almost be like the rest of the industry.

The only thing constant is change and the wind of change is upon SWA. Hope it stops with only these fees.

 

[OurMoney1]

They are leaving money on the table and they see it. I just can't believe they would start adding fees before developing a single engine taxi procedure.

LGA is gonna cost them some silver with 2 motors burnin for the taxi.

 

[CA Calypso]

Southwest currently does single engine taxi when necessary.

 

[Colonel Savage]

Southwest currently does single engine taxi when necessary.

Single engine taxi is restricted in certian areas of LGA.

 

[waka]

I could see a 3rd checked bag fee increase and adding an unaccompanied minor fee but, an extra charge just because you have something alive in a carry-on??

Southwest just joined the rest of the crowd.

 

[Benjamin Dover]

Southwest currently does single engine taxi when necessary.

Right Calyspo!. We piss away millions in fuel $ because we taxi on two engines routinely when NOT necessary. I know the SWA coolaid is great and all - I work at SWA too - but it's o.k. to admit that maybe some of our procedures aren't the best. Second engine starts just fine from the right seat during taxi also. Industry standard.

 

[mt2]

Single engine taxi in LGA isn't always possible anyway. How often have you been stuck in a pothole/dimple in the pavement waiting in the lineup to get to 13 with a full load on a hot day ?? You need two burning on those days just to get moving -- that is until you get the shut em down call on the "doubles" on a weather day. Really though, when there are no lines is there any advantage to single engine taxi ??

 

[relief tube]

Really though, when there are no lines is there any
advantage to single engine taxi ??

uhhh.....yeah. if it's over 3 minutes from towbar gone to takeoff, hell yeah. that's over 50% of the time for the places I go to. not to even mention ground telling of a slot time once you call for taxi

here's an equation for ya: time to the end of the runway - time to start and warm up engine. If that even gets you just one minute its anywhere from 1 to 5 gallons saved.

 

[hockeypilot44]

I guess first checked bag is still free. That is the big one.

 

[B727Driver]

Actually the first 2 bags are free along with other stuff. Charging for babysitting, 3rd bag and fido is not unreasonable.

 

[Benjamin Dover]

Really though, when there are no lines is there any advantage to single engine taxi ??

Yes, much. I'm sure the data is there. You might be number one in DEN and 10 minute taxi at least. Many other places (long list) our terminal is at one end of the runway, if taking off other direction, how long is taxi? If more than 3 -4 minutes, then big advantage to single engine taxi. Add up five minutes of engine time at idle per flight per day and I would bet savings is pretty significant.

 

[onewithwings]

Actually the first 2 bags are free along with other stuff. Charging for babysitting, 3rd bag and fido is not unreasonable.

AGREED!

I would gladly pay the fee for the UM and the animal. The responsiblity is priceless. Having a third bag (in my opinion) is excess anyways.

 

[N1atEcon]

Peanuts and pop are still free too.

 

[clippyrip]

No hidden fees still applies....they have come right out and said they will charge you for the extras.

 

[pilotyip]

They recently raised the advance purchase tickets prices held them for a week. Probably saw a sharp drop off in advance booking and lower the prices. Now they have to look at a new way of generating revenue in order to remain profitable. They are no longer the low cost carrier.

 

[Paul R. Smith]

nevermind

 

[Andy Neill]

Industry forces Southwest to add fees for pets, baggage and unaccompanied minors

Southwest Airlines, which has long bragged of no hidden fees, joined other carriers fighting industry economic challenges and grouped several fees into one announcement today, the Dallas News reported. The airline will allow small cats and dogs as carry-on items and charge $75 each way.....

Is allowing dogs and cats as carry-ons a new policy that comes with a charge or were they previously allowed free and are now being charged? If the former, then this is not a very good indicator of SWA following the herd.