<p>Travel to and from the U.S. is the only time you get 2 checked suitcases. Between other countries, it is 1 suitcase. London to Cape Town, eg, 1 suitcase. So thank your stars you reside in the good old U.S. where everything is super sized.</p>
<p>This out just today:</p>
<p>"United Airlines will limit travelers who are not among its most frequent fliers to one free checked bag, charging them $50 round trip for a second bag, the carrier said Monday.</p>
<p>The change affects customers who buy nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. The Chicago-based carrier's best frequent fliers still will be allowed to check two bags free.</p>
<p>United's policy change follows a switch made last week by Southwest Airlines, which lowered its free checked baggage limit from three to two."
<a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/350014_united05.html%5B/url%5D">http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/350014_united05.html</a></p>
<p>We're beginning to rethink the whole 2,000 mile away college thing.</p>
<p>I wonder how that extra charge is going to work when they make you check your carry-on at the gate.</p>
<p>That's happened to me several times even though my carry-on is clearly within the size limits. Yet they let people with huge overstuffed duffle bags (easily the size of two of my carry-on) glide right through, duffle bag on shoulder.</p>
<p>Doesn't anyone remember the 40# weight/bag limitation? </p>
<p>I can't weight until the airlines reduce fares for those who are in the standard height-weight tables. An extra bonus discount if passengers are in the preferred weight category.</p>
<p>^ Wouldn't that make my traveling easier ha.. I'm thin & short and always am using SWA.. It's the easiest way for me to travel by myself if I go to my dads in Raleigh, or my cousins in Pittsburgh, or when I lived in Nashville.. If I were for some unforseen reason get to go to college far away I'd hope SWA flew there.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Maybe this is old news to you experienced parents, but what I learned this year (mom of college freshman) is that you never really lose your money on Southwest.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So true. I fly SWA pretty frequently, but I'm always so impressed. Last summer, I missed my plane in Seattle. I'd been coming from Canada, and something had happened so that the border lines were insane<a href="hours">/i</a>. They put me on the next flight (the next morning) with absolutely no trouble at all, no fees (flight was same price), and then they gave me a voucher for a discounted room at an airport hotel. Just this past week, my parents had to change travel plans and leave a week earlier than expected. No change fees...forget that, SWA *refunded the difference, b/c their changed flights were cheaper! I love it. The baggage restriction is a little sad (also came in handy during college), but still far more reasonable than some other airlines' policies.</p>
<p>Random, tangentially related anecdote: I know a man who once flew with overweight baggage, and was of course asked to pay. He responded by pointing to a much larger passenger at a nearby kiosk, and reasoning that even though this other man had a smaller bag, he'd be bringing more total weight onto the plane, and yet he didn't have to pay, sooo... And the woman at the desk agreed and let him through! Knowing the guy who pulled this off, I'm sure it was very suave (and still against plenty of rules)...I just can't imagine actually presenting such an argument (let alone winning) :p</p>
<p>Maybe it depended on the airport, but I thought SWA always had a 2x50# limit. They have been pretty generous on the carryons. My W seems to routinely make it through with a roll on, a backpack and a "purse." That is in addition to the checked luggage.</p>
<p>Just heard that United will be charging $25 for the second bag, with other airlines to follow!</p>
<p>As to others carrying on larger bags, I watched as a gentleman was trying to go on with a largeer bag, and they asked for it, but he said he was in business class, and a member of their frequent flyer club, and they waived him on through. Many airlines allow for more and heavier bags the more you pay.</p>
<p>Well, I have multiple reactions to this thread.
1) it's about time the airlines starting charging for services that only a few people use.
2) shoot, that's going to make that next dive trip expensive, an extra $25/bag... oh well, guess I'll skip a couple of beers.
3) another reason to pack light.
4) how come no one has mentioned the $10 solution to overweight bags: check at the curb and tip $10.... and guess what, they don't weigh your bags!</p>