First time flying Southwest:What to know – Flying & Checking Your Luggage
Welcome back!
Last week I talked about what to know when flying with a carry-on piece of luggage with Southwest Airlines. To check out that post, click here! Now, in this week’s post, I am going to talk to you about flying with Southwest Airlines when you check a bag, and what that experience was like. So, grab a drink and or a snack if you’d like, and let’s jump into it!
Flying Southwest was easy if I am honest, and I would consider flying with them again. As I had never flown with them before I didn’t know really what to expect. I opted to fly once with all items being carry on which I talked about previously, and I opted to also fly with my suitcase as a checked bag and only taking personal items onto the plane with me where I’d sit. One thing I liked in contrast with some of the other airlines I have flown is that you get to take two carry-on items for Free and you also get two checked bags for Free. If there was anything I was specifically nervous about when checking my luggage on my Southwest flights it was the fact that both days, I traveled with Southwest they had connecting flights. So, it wasn’t simply a non-stop flight, and I wasn’t sure how it would go in terms of if my bag would make it to my next plane okay and on time, etc. When I checked my suitcase, they weighed it like you normally would have done on other flights, and they added the plane tag sticker with the barcode on it and handed you the barcode receipt you usually get. But, the one thing that was different, is that they added a special-colored tag in addition that said transfer on it. To signal that my suitcase would be going on two separate planes. That’s great to know they put that extra marker on there for me, but then there’s a question of, “well, how do I know where my bag is, or if it made it to my next plane?” Especially with the consideration that the last time I took a flight with a connection we didn’t get our luggage until the next day because of an issue that occurred with the airline(s) I believe it was. And the answer to the previous question is, in the Southwest Airlines app that you can download onto your phone, it has a tracker for your bag(s) that you check. So, you can see and monitor the progress of where the bag is at.
All in all, my experience checking a bag when flying for the first time with Southwest Airlines on my second flight(s) on my return home, was very easy, and a pleasant experience. For the price of the flights and the fact you get your first two checked bags and two carry-on items for free is great! In a future post, I plan to cover some changes that will be coming to Southwest airlines very soon, with some starting as early at the second half of 2025. Stay tuned and let me know in the comments below if you’ve ever flown Southwest Airlines before, and if you enjoyed it! See you again real soon!
Best wishes,
Megan at Polaroid Travel, LLC
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Your checklist reminded me of my very first Southwest trip last summer, when I was terrified of missing my connecting flight because I’d never handled their open‑seating system before. I arrived at the gate early, grabbed a boarding group, and then watched the rows fill up like a puzzle. The tip about confirming your luggage drop‑off window saved me from a frantic sprint to the curb; I had my bag tagged at the curbside kiosk and it was on the conveyor before I even found my seat https://www.betstop.gov.au/ I also appreciated the reminder to download the app ahead of time—without it I would have missed the text about a gate change that added ten minutes to my layover. By the…
Your rundown brought back a memory from my first Southwest flight two years ago. I was nervous about the open‑seating policy, but the crew’s quick “board early, grab a window” tip saved me from a cramped middle seat. I remember the surprise of the “Bags fly free” sign—my suitcase slid right onto the belt without a fee, which felt like a small victory after years of paying for checked bags elsewhere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_(poker) The reminder about arriving 30 minutes early was spot on; I cut it close and still made it, thanks to the streamlined security line at the smaller regional airport. One thing I didn’t expect was the friendly banter from the flight attendants; they made the short flight feel…
Reading this guide brought back the memory of my very first Southwest flight two summers ago. I was nervous about the open‑seat policy and whether my carry‑on would actually fit in the overhead bin, but the crew’s friendly “boarding groups” system made everything feel orderly https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/ I remember pulling my suitcase out of the car, hesitating at the curb, then realizing the free checked‑bag allowance saved me a small fortune on a trip to Austin. The tip about checking in online and printing the boarding pass saved me a few minutes in the line, which was a relief when the gate agent announced a slight delay. The Pokies I also appreciated the reminder to label your bags clearly—my sister once…