Dallas, Texas—Out of all the airlines in the United States, Southwest is the best choice for skiers and riders.
Created back in 1966 as a way of making commuting between major Texas cities easier, it’s become a beloved low-cost carrier among consumers. Southwest has been known for a few things: a great employee culture that leads to friendly staff-customer relationship and a positive customer experience thanks to two free bags. When most airlines have gone to charging bags, Southwest has kept them free.
That was until yesterday, which was when Southwest CEO Bob Jordan announced that bags no longer fly free. This was the latest change that the controversial CEO has made following feisty investors wanting changes to increase profitability over the past few years. If you purchase a Wanna Get Away or (the new) Basic package, you’ll have to pay extra for bags. While it led to an increased stock price, it led to many unhappy customers, including myself.
I’ve leaned towards using Southwest as my primary airline because a ski trip can become a costly endeavor. A couple of bags are essential, which can add up from the base fee for a flight. With Southwest’s two bags fly free policy, this included the combination of the ski and boot bag as one, making what can become an expensive trip affordable.
Southwest offers flights to various ski destinations. One of their hubs is at Denver International Airport, which is the state that receives the most ski visits yearly. With these changes, it’s challenging to figure out what Southwest’s competitive advantage is anymore, especially as a skier who preferred using them despite my home airport (Boston) being a JetBlue hub.
So it’s probably back to JetBlue for me full time for flying. While I’ve enjoyed flying Southwest over the years, it’s clear that the Southwest Airlines people have grown to love is dead. What it stands for now doesn’t seem any different from Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, or United.
Image Credits: Denver International Airport, Southwest Airlines
