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Watch out Flying Southwest

bigshiny

bigshiny

Nov 18, 2010
697
822
St Louis MO
#1
Yep,
Flew out from St. Louis on Friday morning to San Francisco. Checked my slim Hardshell case. Fender precision 34” scale. No problem, $35. Standard fee. Yesterday morning, I go to check my bass at Southwest again, I had already paid the standard $35 fee online. The guy goes and gets a tape measure and tells me it’s 5” too long and I will have to pay an additional $200 on top of the $35. Going to call Southwest today to see what I can do and look into a short scale bass.
This is just an FYI.
Good luck to all of you guys that fly.
 
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#5
Thanks for the info. I will be more vigilant myself. I perused the SW checked baggage requirements. Never flown with my bass, but there’s always a first time.

Yeah, I’m thinking you got misled by the size limitations listed as 62 “linear” inches which is the combined length x width x height measurements. If you had wheels, you’d have to add those inches too. I can’t believe how grubby this is. Yeah, I know it’s business.

I had look at for a few minutes too. I’d definitely argue how confusing it is. Maybe they’ll give you at least a part refund. As for the additional fees, man oh man.


 
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#7
ClassicJazz said:
I never check my bass in. I have flown Southwest many times and never had an issue. I do buy the early boarding so I make sure I get a overhead to put my bass in. I use the Mono Vertigo gig bag. Have flown with my Fodera and 1972 Jazz and never had any worries.
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I've done the same a number of times, but I have had heard rumors that this will no longer be the case (pardon the pun!), so I would check if you fly Southwest again.
 
#8
roccobass said:
Thanks for the info. I will be more vigilant myself. I perused the SW checked baggage requirements. Never flown with my bass, but there’s always a first time.

Yeah, I’m thinking you got misled by the size limitations listed as 62 “linear” inches which is the combined length x width x height measurements. If you had wheels, you’d have to add those inches too. I can’t believe how grubby this is. Yeah, I know it’s business.

I had look at for a few minutes too. I’d definitely argue how confusing it is. Maybe they’ll give you at least a part refund. As for the additional fees, man oh man.


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I have too much time on my hands, so I did a deep dig on the Southwest site. Looks like they waive the size limitations for various sports equipment, but not for musical instruments.

We get no respect. :(
 
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#10
Southwest's musician-friendly policies are a thing of the past. Sometimes you can get lucky, but it's been a roll of the dice since they were bought by private equity. You can try checking at the curb with a $10 in your hand. When I flew regularly with a folding upright that usually worked.

I stopped flying with them midway through this year and have had better experiences with Delta.
 
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#13
I played in a band that had a freight account with Southwest. I think they mainly got it to get a better rate on bringing drums along. Might not make sense for just a bass. Sometimes these baggage charges are up to the discretion of a particular employee. I found if you travel with at least a couple of other band members most airlines will waive additional fees for oversize baggage.
 
#14
gln1955 said:
I have too much time on my hands, so I did a deep dig on the Southwest site. Looks like they waive the size limitations for various sports equipment, but not for musical instruments.

We get no respect. :(
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That’s because people who fly with sports equipment are professional athletes, but people who fly with basses are …….people who fly with basses.
 
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#15
The $200 is technically the new standard SW policy, but they don't always enforce it. I curb check and I've never been charged yet, but I am expecting it. I try to make sure whoever I am playing for knows that they might be paying that much.
 
#16
If I'm on a fly date, the artist/group I've been hired by is paying for the checked luggage fee for my bass in a Gruv Gear Bass Kapsule, regardless of the price. That said, I've had very good luck with Delta and Alaska for checking a bass recently. In fact, Delta didn't charge me anything at all to check on my last flight. That may have been a clerical error on their part, but either way the bass flew for free.
 
#17
A good reason to have a neck attached with threaded inserts and machine screws. It might be a slight PITA at your destination, but it puts you well within carry on size, early boarding or not. It seems like a better solution than a short scale. But, I’ve only flown with a bass once, so take that with a grain of salt…
 
#19
If you’re not A-list, it’s worth paying a little extra for it to get earlier boarding and free bags. You can also request to board early, they legally can’t question why you need extra time. Have your bass in a nice soft case, board early or in A group, smile and say hello to the attendants on board, and find an open bin for your bass.

Another option, if you’re stuck thinking a hard shell offers more protection, is to bring it to the gate and gate check it. Get the pink tag from the gate agent, wait for the person down the ramp taking the strollers / etc by the plane door and have a visible $5 ready and ask them to hand carry the bass to the hull to make sure it’s safe as it’s fragile and that you very much appreciate it.
 
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#20
anightintunisia said:
You can also request to board early, they legally can’t question why you need extra time.
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Source for that? As an experienced frequent flyer with status on multiple airlines, as well as several friends and relatives who are airline employees, I don't think that's correct in the USA. They can't ask for disability details, but they can ask if you need assistance, a wheelchair, etc... If you simply ask to board early and state that you need to store an instrument in the overhead or closet, they very well may grant your wish, but they can certainly ask why.

As an example, American now kicks people out of line if the ticket is scanned and your group has not yet been called.
 
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