Southwest Airlines vs. Hidden Fees on Other Airlines

[Rik Brown]

I like the Southwest Airlines (USA) TV ad that highlight the hidden fees now being tagged on by many airlines:

$69 base one-way fare

$15 first checked bag fee
$25 second checked bag fee
$20 window or aisle seat fee
$ 2 curbside check-in fee
$15 phone reservation fee
---
$146 total one-way fare for the "other guys" vs. $69 on Southwest

You've really got to keep on top of these new hidden fees when comparing airline fares. While the above doesn't show the whole picture (yes, its one-way and excludes taxes) it points out the need of paying attention to the matter. Guess I'm planning on checking out Southwest more often!

-- Rik

"Rik Brown" <Rik.Brown.3g03x9@no-mx.forums.travel.com> wrote in message
news:Rik.Brown.3g03x9@no-mx.forums.travel.com...
>
> I like the Southwest Airlines (USA) TV ad that highlight the hidden fees
> now being tagged on by many airlines:
>
> $69 base one-way fare
>
> $15 first checked bag fee
> $25 second checked bag fee
> $20 window or aisle seat fee
> $ 2 curbside check-in fee
> $15 phone reservation fee
> ---
> $146 total one-way fare for the "other guys" vs. $69 on Southwest
>
> You've really got to keep on top of these new hidden fees when
> comparing airline fares. While the above doesn't show the whole picture
> (yes, its one-way and excludes taxes) it points out the need of paying
> attention to the matter. Guess I'm planning on checking out Southwest
> more often!

Actually, the above missed a lot of things. Now - on to the real world.

Let's say I have to get to Chicago, on Monday 9/22. (This is reaistic for
me.)

Houston to Chicago, with a carry-on and computer case.
Southwest - $ 349.00 one way. (Some flights have a stop in St. Louis)
Continental - $ 349.00 one way.
I'll take CO and get a sandwich & bag of chips too.

"Janet Wilder" <kelliepoodlem> wrote in message
news:48d45822$0$9659$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Southwest has a little program you can download called "Ding!" It alerts
> you to cheap flights for cities you have set up. I flew in to Philadelphia
> last August from Harlingen, Texas via San Antonio for the outgoing and
> Houston Hobby for the return trip and got a really good price as compared
> to straight website booking.

Southwest is great if you know where you're going 21 days in advance, and
don't mind extra time for a few stops. If your plans can tolerate it, it's
the best way to go. Some of us travel on last minute one ways. In our
case, Southwest can, at times, be more expensive and time consuming.

> All 4 flights came in early and my luggage traveled perfectly even though
> I had to change planes.

They've always been great with luggage. I never lost a bag while flying
with them.

> I'm really happy with Southwest. I only wish they flew more places and
> could use IAH.

They *do* (or did) have a flight or two at IAH, but thinking about it, I
don't recall seeing their ticket counter in Terminal A lately. (Maybe I
just haven't paid attention.)

In article <JOadnWEaK-B6x0nVnZ2dnUVZ_rbinZ2d@supernews.com>,
Jim Davis <sky.dancer1m> wrote:

>Southwest is great if you know where you're going 21 days in advance, and
>don't mind extra time for a few stops.

It's exactly the other way around, in my experience. Their last-minute
walk-up fares are usually lower than those of legacy carriers,
and they have more nonstops from my local airport than the next two
carriers combined.

In general, Southwest is so far ahead of other airlines, it's not
even funny. Too bad they don't fly international.

[Rik Brown]

In general, Southwest is so far ahead of other airlines, it's not
even funny. Too bad they don't fly international.

They are on the verge of doing so with the first country being Canada and a codeshare with Westjet. With their 737 fleet, you'd expect them to follow up with Mexico and some of the Caribbean. At least its a start.

Cheers! -- Rik

[Rik Brown]

Actually, the above missed a lot of things. Now - on to the real world.

Let's say I have to get to Chicago, on Monday 9/22. (This is realistic for
me.)

Houston to Chicago, with a carry-on and computer case.
Southwest - $ 349.00 one way. (Some flights have a stop in St. Louis)
Continental - $ 349.00 one way.
I'll take CO and get a sandwich & bag of chips too.

For those of us that live in St. Louis <hand raised>, many Southwest flights indeed do stop here giving us a mini-hub that takes us direct to many other Southwest cities. Guess we're more lucky than some<smile>. -- Rik

ps: They also keep the prices on the legacy carries somewhat lower for us on the cities that they serve.