The news from Southwest Airlines this week is the buzz around town for sure.
It’s not a surprise with so many flights in and out of San Diego International, with thousands and thousands of passengers every month.
The news that Southwest will begin charging customers a fee to check bags ends decades of the airline that built and promoted itself as different from other airlines, with campaigns touting its policy of letting passengers check up to two bags for free.
With that ending at the end of May, Southwest passengers will feel the impact as the travel season kicks up around Memorial Day and into the summer.
But like everything in business it’s about business with the statement from the CEO at Southwest saying it’s about a “return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect.”
The other big change at Southwest Airlines happens next year when it does away with another of its traditions, the A-B-C open-boarding system and starting assigned seating.
That may be something that a lot of Southwest passengers will like because they won’t have to rush to get a boarding pass and wait or scramble in line hoping to get a decent seat.
That may make for friendlier skies in spite of the new baggage fees.
(Photo Getty Images)