checking bag on southwest

[seany bo]

Does it cost extra to check your golf clubs via southwest?? you get 2 free bags with southwest and I was wondering if anyone has brought their clubs and been charged extra or not

[Scratch2Plus]

No charge unless its over 50lbs
Not sure about SW policy but I know for a fact that American Airlines WILL NOT reimburse you for damaged clubs if you use a soft side travel case, it must be a hard shell case.

[gr8blueheronbird]

Golf bags fly free on SWA. They have had numerous commercials on TV about this especially when they opened up
a Nashville/Pensacola,FL route. You can go to their site to verify,but they have never charged me and I travel with
an SKB hard case. Just need to keep it under 50 lbs.

[jshel]

Yep, sticks travel free. That fact is part of the reason why I try to fly Southwest when I can. I like to support people who don't try to rip off golfers.

[labillyboy]

Yes they just count as one of your two free checked bags. Make sure it's under 50 lbs.

OT I have been using a Club Glove Last Bag travel bag with the Stiff Arm for years and have never had a damaged club or bag. I hate the hard side cases since they don't fit into many rental cars and take up a lot of space. The one I had wore out very quickly and was a pain in the tail to store and use.

[sompin2do]

[quote name='jshel' timestamp='1338569018' post='5012042']
Yep, sticks travel free. That fact is part of the reason why I try to fly Southwest when I can. I like to support people who don't try to rip off golfers.
[/quote]

+1 Ever since the major airlines started using fuel prices as an excuse to screw customers with baggage fees I always look to SW first.

[churnd]

Maybe it's just me but Southwest's prices have been kinda high lately. 2 people round trip for $980 (I hate their one way prices). Delta was $750. Seems like their baggage fees are added back into the ticket prices.

[golfernut78]

[quote name='churnd' timestamp='1338571213' post='5012286']
Maybe it's just me but Southwest's prices have been kinda high lately. 2 people round trip for $980 (I hate their one way prices). Delta was $750. Seems like their baggage fees are added back into the ticket prices.
[/quote]

i live/work in the dfw area and do a lot of business travel to austin and houston and will fly down. everyone says to fly southwest, but i can get cheaper tickets on american if i purchase a week in advance, sometimes up to a $100 difference.

[idrive]

Pays to shop around but with the "web only" fares on SW nobody else is close.

You must go online to get their best fare.

[deadsolid...shank]

They do (or did us anyway) make you sign a damage waiver if your travel bag is soft-sided. But as the others have said, no charge if under 50 pounds.

[dmboak]

[quote name='golfernut78' timestamp='1338572284' post='5012414']
[quote name='churnd' timestamp='1338571213' post='5012286']
Maybe it's just me but Southwest's prices have been kinda high lately. 2 people round trip for $980 (I hate their one way prices). Delta was $750. Seems like their baggage fees are added back into the ticket prices.
[/quote]

i live/work in the dfw area and do a lot of business travel to austin and houston and will fly down. everyone says to fly southwest, but i can get cheaper tickets on american if i purchase a week in advance, sometimes up to a $100 difference.
[/quote]

SW jacked up their prices after their fuel hedge advantage ran out.

[Hateto3Putt]

I just got back from Vegas yesterday.

Flew Southwest with clubs packed in my well worn Clubglove, about the millionth trip with that combo, never a fee, never an issue.

All the airfares with every airline have dramatically increased in the last year. For my money, Southwest still is the best.

[dmboak]

[quote name='Hateto3Putt' timestamp='1338677517' post='5019114']
For my money, Southwest still is the best.
[/quote]
Same here except they fly out of the wrong airport here in Chicago.

[golfernut78]

[quote name='dmboak' timestamp='1338678669' post='5019198']
[quote name='Hateto3Putt' timestamp='1338677517' post='5019114']
For my money, Southwest still is the best.
[/quote]
Same here except they fly out of the wrong airport here in Chicago.
[/quote]
same issue here - they fly out of the wrong airport here in Dallas.

[vinomerch]

[quote name='golfernut78' timestamp='1338696425' post='5020308']
[quote name='dmboak' timestamp='1338678669' post='5019198']
[quote name='Hateto3Putt' timestamp='1338677517' post='5019114']
For my money, Southwest still is the best.
[/quote]
Same here except they fly out of the wrong airport here in Chicago.
[/quote]
same issue here - they fly out of the wrong airport here in Dallas.
[/quote]

as i'm sure you probably know, SWA doesn't have a choice over which airport to use in Dallas…the Wright amendment prohibits them at DFW

[deadsolid...shank]

Funny, wrong airport in Houston also. In-laws live north in Montgomery, have to use Bush, SW only flies into Hobby.

[golfernut78]

[quote name='vinomerch' timestamp='1338702670' post='5020526']
[quote name='golfernut78' timestamp='1338696425' post='5020308']
same issue here - they fly out of the wrong airport here in Dallas.
[/quote]

as i'm sure you probably know, SWA doesn't have a choice over which airport to use in Dallas…the Wright amendment prohibits them at DFW
[/quote]

wright amendment restricts what can and can't fly in and out of love field. swa made the choice to fly in and out of love instead of moving to dfw which is why they created the wright amendment, in hopes to force swa to dfw. course, the wright amendment is slowly fading away as they are opening up other states.