NEW ORLEANS — Starting Wednesday, Southwest Airlines is ending one of its most popular perks — free checked bags. For years, passengers who flew Southwest Airlines could travel with luggage for free.

You’re a smart packer. You can squeeze all of your belongings into a personal item and carry-on bag. Both pieces comply with the airline’s luggage and fare restrictions. When you test them in the ...

Airlines tighten sizes and weights, EU pushes a free hand-luggage floor, and flyers learn bag math as bins grow and fees ...

Southwest speaks after creating controversy. Just before the start of summer, Southwest Airlines instituted its new bag policy, which was previously announced in March. “For reservations booked and ...

Southwest Airlines has put a price tag on checking bags, a coveted free perk that is about to disappear as part of substantial changes the carrier is making to its service. For flights booked on May ...

Southwest had built years of advertising campaigns around its policy of letting passengers check up to two bags for free. Under its new policy, people who haven't either reached the upper tiers of its ...

Southwest Airlines will begin charging for checked bags on new reservations starting May 28th. The fees will be $35 for the first bag and $45 for a second. These changes are part of a larger overhaul ...

As an avgeek and frequent traveler, I usually have a pretty good sense of when my carry-on bag isn’t going to make it with me onto my flight. I can often tell just by knowing what kind of plane I’m ...

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Gate-checking luggage is primarily due to limited overhead bin space or smaller aircraft. Passengers should be aware of aircraft type and boarding position to anticipate potential gate-checking. Treat ...

Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page. As an avgeek and frequent traveler ...