This was posted on FB by Deke Dickerson, a roots-rock guy I’ve been a fan of for decades, and a long-time touring musician. A killer player, producer, impresario/festival curator, and author. I don’t know him directly, but we have mutual friends, and I’ve chatted with him at gigs whenever possible. His account points out that, even with certain Federal rules in place, dealing with a cranky gate person can make things go sideways. Why he doesn’t use a hard ATA case and check it, I don’t know, but in light of the recent video of baggage handlers tossing bags/cases around, and the resultant comments that the heavy duty ones aren’t necessarily proper protection, that might be why he carries it on.
Anyway, ironically I just flew SW yesterday, my checked bag was one pound and change over the 50 limit, but my desk person let it slide and didn’t tack on the extra fee. I know those gigs can be stressful, plus dealing with all the Karens and Chads circulating these days, but the ditching of the free luggage was a suckerpunch I wasn’t too happy about myself, and I couldn’t care less about the seat assignment. Still, I’m disconcerted about the hassle he recieved. He really is a reasonable person, and I on my own have observed the little games they play with carry-ons in general.
His words…
“I’m done with SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. After 30 years of being my preferred airline, sticking with them even after they took away the two free checked bags, after they took away the fun free-for-all open seating (I ALWAYS snagged an aisle seat, exit row), after they took away this perk and that perk, after they robbed all the FUN that the company was known for, I still stuck with them. No more.
For 30 years, I’ve got on the plane with a carry-on bag and my guitar. Never ONCE had a problem. Traveled with them hundreds upon hundreds of times. Part of the reason I chose them is because they were COOL WITH GUITARS.
Today, as I boarded my plane to Houston en route to Florida, a mean old Southwest employee lady informed me I couldn’t take my guitar on the plane. I informed her that federal law said I could, as long as I got on early enough to find bin space. Which wouldn’t have been a problem. I’ve done it hundreds of times.
She told me this was incorrect and against company policy. I told her that she was wrong and I would be happy to show her the federal statute that said that she was wrong. She then said that I had to check my carry-on bag because it wouldn’t fit under the seat… Even though it would. My carry-on bag is full of all my medical stuff… Insulin, insulin pumps, stuff to get me out of a low blood sugar episode, all my post-surgery meds that I’m supposed to take after the surgery I had.
She said I had to go talk to the lady at the gate desk. The lady at the gate desk said she didn’t know what their woman was talking about, and she said that I should be fine. You know, like all the hundreds of flights I have taken on Southwest over the last 30 years. Since the lady at the gate desk said it was ok, I just got in my designated line to board the plane, with my carryon bag and my guitar.
As I boarded the plane, the mean old Southwest lady found me in the jetway and stopped me once again, and told me that I could not get on the plane with my carry-on bag and my guitar. She then took me out of the line, which ruined my chances to find bin space for both items (remember, the federal statute says that I am allowed to take the guitar on if I can find space in the overhead bin--by pulling me out of line she revoked that right that I had and violated the law). Then she pulled me out of the line and out of the jetway, and when I protested, she told me that I was not going to be allowed to fly because I "would not comply." I told her that I had to fly.
She said I had to check either the guitar or the bag, but they couldn’t do a gate check, it would be checked all the way to Florida and would come out on the beltway. My guitar? In a gig bag? I frantically begin digging stuff out of the bag and shoving it into my pockets and my guitar gig bag.  So much for all of my post-surgery meds. So much for all the medical stuff I usually have to keep me going on a flight. Taken out of my hands. Down on my knees in the jetway, treated like a dog by the company I have flown with almost exclusively for 30 years.
This is the way that Southwest treats their long-term, faithful customers now. Well, they have one less to worry about now. It’s a shame that an airline that once literally brought me joy is now a garbage airline. I’m done.
Bottom line: Southwest Airlines hates musicians. They wouldn’t let me travel with my guitar as a personal item- even though FEDERAL LAW STATES THAT I CAN. Tagging all the important guitar folks I can think of—spread the word.”
Anyway, ironically I just flew SW yesterday, my checked bag was one pound and change over the 50 limit, but my desk person let it slide and didn’t tack on the extra fee. I know those gigs can be stressful, plus dealing with all the Karens and Chads circulating these days, but the ditching of the free luggage was a suckerpunch I wasn’t too happy about myself, and I couldn’t care less about the seat assignment. Still, I’m disconcerted about the hassle he recieved. He really is a reasonable person, and I on my own have observed the little games they play with carry-ons in general.
His words…
“I’m done with SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. After 30 years of being my preferred airline, sticking with them even after they took away the two free checked bags, after they took away the fun free-for-all open seating (I ALWAYS snagged an aisle seat, exit row), after they took away this perk and that perk, after they robbed all the FUN that the company was known for, I still stuck with them. No more.
For 30 years, I’ve got on the plane with a carry-on bag and my guitar. Never ONCE had a problem. Traveled with them hundreds upon hundreds of times. Part of the reason I chose them is because they were COOL WITH GUITARS.
Today, as I boarded my plane to Houston en route to Florida, a mean old Southwest employee lady informed me I couldn’t take my guitar on the plane. I informed her that federal law said I could, as long as I got on early enough to find bin space. Which wouldn’t have been a problem. I’ve done it hundreds of times.
She told me this was incorrect and against company policy. I told her that she was wrong and I would be happy to show her the federal statute that said that she was wrong. She then said that I had to check my carry-on bag because it wouldn’t fit under the seat… Even though it would. My carry-on bag is full of all my medical stuff… Insulin, insulin pumps, stuff to get me out of a low blood sugar episode, all my post-surgery meds that I’m supposed to take after the surgery I had.
She said I had to go talk to the lady at the gate desk. The lady at the gate desk said she didn’t know what their woman was talking about, and she said that I should be fine. You know, like all the hundreds of flights I have taken on Southwest over the last 30 years. Since the lady at the gate desk said it was ok, I just got in my designated line to board the plane, with my carryon bag and my guitar.
As I boarded the plane, the mean old Southwest lady found me in the jetway and stopped me once again, and told me that I could not get on the plane with my carry-on bag and my guitar. She then took me out of the line, which ruined my chances to find bin space for both items (remember, the federal statute says that I am allowed to take the guitar on if I can find space in the overhead bin--by pulling me out of line she revoked that right that I had and violated the law). Then she pulled me out of the line and out of the jetway, and when I protested, she told me that I was not going to be allowed to fly because I "would not comply." I told her that I had to fly.
She said I had to check either the guitar or the bag, but they couldn’t do a gate check, it would be checked all the way to Florida and would come out on the beltway. My guitar? In a gig bag? I frantically begin digging stuff out of the bag and shoving it into my pockets and my guitar gig bag.  So much for all of my post-surgery meds. So much for all the medical stuff I usually have to keep me going on a flight. Taken out of my hands. Down on my knees in the jetway, treated like a dog by the company I have flown with almost exclusively for 30 years.
This is the way that Southwest treats their long-term, faithful customers now. Well, they have one less to worry about now. It’s a shame that an airline that once literally brought me joy is now a garbage airline. I’m done.
Bottom line: Southwest Airlines hates musicians. They wouldn’t let me travel with my guitar as a personal item- even though FEDERAL LAW STATES THAT I CAN. Tagging all the important guitar folks I can think of—spread the word.”
