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Home › Airline Baggage Fees › Southwest Airlines Check in and Baggage Size & Fees
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Southwest Airlines Check in and Baggage Size & Fees


Category: Carry On Luggage Size, Airline Baggage Fees, Airline Check-In

Regarded as a biggest airline in the U.S. with relatively low cost, Southwest Airlines is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
It boasts over 3400 flights every day which are mainly applied in intrastate flight service. Up to now, Southwest has stretched out its realm to 37 states with 72 destinations. Other than the traditional way of flight routing system like other airlines, Southwest Airlines has adopted unique "point to point" system. It adopts secondary airports with lower costs and more convenience compared with main airports for the same destination. According to the report from the Department of Transportation, Southwest maintains excellent customer satisfaction ratings.

How to proceed check-in?

When is Suitable for Check-in?

Basically, different airlines have their own rules on check-in schedule. Southwest suggests you to arrive the airport between 60 minutes to 90 minutes prior to the departure. If you choose online check-in, you are allowed to have your latest check-in one hour before it closed. The convenient thing is, online check-in opens 24 hours due to departure, which means you have plenty of time to prepare your online check-in.

Online Check-in Process in Southwest

When mentioning the check-in details, someone may ask whether Southwest Airlines provides online check-in. Without any doubt, Southwest Airlines offers online check-in within 24 hours prior to your departure. What you need is internet and a printer available. In view of the convenience for the passengers, Southwest Airlines presents another access of mobile site for online check-in, the website: mobile.southwest.com.

1) What to Notice before Online Check-in?

Obviously, Southwest Airlines sets limitation on its convenient online check-in. Here are the specifics.

• Southwest Airlines requires you an electronic ticket for online check-in.

• Make sure you finish on-line check-in in at least one hour prior to the departure.

• The costs vary by different groups, such as senior, child or infant. The infant rates are only applied with an infant fare. Any passengers carrying a infant less than two years old should prepare documentation of infant's age and receive Boarding Verification Document at ticket counter prior to security checkpoint.

• Some special reservations such as groups, military fares or customers who require additional seat should purchase an eligible fare type and proceed check-in at the airport.

• A security document is needed while you are meeting problems of unqualified reservation for online checking.

• If you are planning online checking of Southwest Airlines, make sure you are not a special needs passenger.

• Prepare you enough time at airport for security check.

• Online check-in allows you to print your boarding pass right at your home and drop your luggage at Southwest sky cap or check-in desks.

• Keep it in mind that Southwest Airlines does not allow you to choose or change your seat via on-line check-in. People who need to book seating should order it at airport counter by themselves.

Apart from the basic notices of online check-in, we'll probably meet other problems that might be happened in the check-in desks. To avoid unnecessary problems in the check-in process, you are advised to get information from listed contents.

2) Can I have Mobile Device Check-in?

With a mobile device available, it's just duck soup for printing your boarding pass via nearest E-Ticket Check-in Kiosk or airport. Your mobile system will reflect your check-in conformation and you are required to reprint a boarding pass. The boarding group in the boarding pass will be recognized by your mobile device. Plus, the boarding pass can be obtained from Skycap, Ticket Counter or southwest website.

What is EarlyBird Check-in?

As the proverb goes, the early bird catches the worm. In Southwest, EarlyBird check-in allows you to be checked automatically and you can be the first customer to check in for Southwest flight with a better seat selection, that is to say, as a customer of Southwest, you needn't to be so nervous with watching your clock all the time. You have the option to score an early boarding position with only $10 for one-way fare.

As a newest product, EarlyBird check-in is a nice supplementary part of online check-in and offers you a boarding position which can be reserved automatically for up to 36 hours prior to check-in. Same as online boarding, EarlyBird check-in allows you 24 hours to print boarding pass before the departure time. The boarding pass can be obtained from Southwest ticket counter, Skycap Podium or Southwest website at southwest.com. Of course you are also required to print your boarding pass before departure.

After a fluent EarlyBird check-in, ask yourself how many bags you are going to take on airplane. Anyway, don't forget baggage charges if you have your baggage checked in Southwest.

How about the Baggage Policies?

Generally speaking, the charge varies from airlines to airlines. According to the new law issued in this early year, the overweight and oversized baggage fees are increased especially for international travel. As a respond, US Airways firstly carried out this policy. Accordingly, other major flights increased the fees for second checked baggage. Now how about Southwest?

In the U.S., most of airlines charge a fee for your bags, which ranges from $25 to $35, or even higher. Fortunately, Southwest charges no baggage fees for first and second checked baggage. Though you can enjoy its lenient policies, don't disregard its valid policies for your preflight preparation.

How about Baggage Size and Costs?

The following part will disclose the details of checked and carry-on baggage.

Checked baggage allowance

In Southwest, you are allowed to take the first and second pieces of baggage for free on condition that the maximum weight is 50 pounds and the size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per baggage. Apart from this, there are other rules.

• Your 3rd to 9th baggage will cost you $50. More baggage over 10th or more costs $110 thereafter.

• Overweight baggage weighing 51-100 pounds will be required to pay charges of $50 compared with the previous half charges.

• Oversize baggage or items exceeding 62 inches but less than 80 inches will occur a charge of $50 per item. So make sure the total is less than 62 inches in case the ticket-counter does not measure your bag for check-in. Plus, if the dimension of your bag exceeds the standard size you will be fine.

• Any items with over 100 pounds should be shipped by Air Cargo. Keep in mind that you may not use a cargo which is not designated by TSA.

Are There any Baggage Limits for Different Flights?

Southwest set different charges according to various airlines both for mainland and international flights. Here are the details.

• International flights

Likewise, you are heading to international flights with two checked bags less than 50 pounds and allowed free of charge.

• Europe

Things get different if you are departing to Europe, you will have free charge for your first bag with less than 50 pounds and $55 for the second bag.

• U.S. & Canada

For flights to U.S. and Canada, your first bag will be charged with $25 and the second with $35. Both of your bags might have weight of less than 50 pounds.

Carry-on Baggage Allowance

There is a limitation set on your carry-on baggage according to TSA regulations. The carry-on items include:

• One bag

• Purses

• Hand bags for men and women

• Reading material

• Briefcases

• Cameras

• Laptops(with case included)

• Book-sized backpacks

• Food containers

Among those items, the dimension of carry-on bag is limited to 10x16x24 inches according to Southwest. Apart from this, there are other limitation and rules that help to maintain the carry-on items.

• Any of your carry-on items should be small enough to fit the floor beneath in front of your seat or contain in your overhead compartment with less than dimension of 10"x16"x24". If you have no idea on whether your bag is suitable with the size limits, try a sizing box which can be found in Southwest airport facilities to have a quick measurement.

• Your roller bag can meet the 10"x16"x24" dimension as long as the wheels can be removed.

• If your bags and personal items have strange shape or they protrude out from one side of the sizing box, this may add the risk than the normal ones.

• Some items are considered to be personal items, e.g., fishing poles, musical instruments, artworks, media cameras, video equipment and map tubes. These items are allowed to put in the passenger cabin as long as there is enough room. Make sure these items on your overhead bin would not deprive other passengers' deserved overhead bin space. By the way, putting a heavy bag in the overhead bin might not be the smart choice.

• You and all of your belongings are titled to security check.

• Apart from "one-bag" and personal items definition, there are other items which exceed the content mentioned above. Here are the details.

A. Umbrellas, food with disposable packaging, outer garments or other types of clothing

B. Walking canes, mobility or assistive devices for disabilities which can be brought into the aircraft without limit.

C. Child restraint device which is available for ticked child, or child with a reserved seat or any available space.

D. Your musical instruments can be carried on as long as they meet the requirements of carry-on items. In case your dear instrument is fragile, you can pay a rate for a child's seat.

Additional Details

Following are some exceptions from the limitation on the carry-on rules.

• If you decide to carry your pet on airplane, please notice that Southwest only accepts small type of cats or dogs that can fit the place under your seat. For sure you should pay for your pet and it will cost you $75 each one. Don't count on Air Cargo because your pet is not allowed to be carried by cargo. Perhaps you need to make a reservation for your pet prior to departure.

• On condition you are carrying an infant and you can put them on your lap, it is important to notice that the infant under two years of age can be carried on Southwest for free. Children between 2 and 11 will be charged. Moreover, you are not suggested to book seat for your infant or children online.

• For senior airfares, it varies in different cities. Southwest prescribes that a senior passenger who is aged 65 or older can be fully refundable and exchangeable. Senior's ticket can be booked online.

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