:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/GettyImages-1860342835-2a20624f73614dc592c354969746d237.jpg "Overhead bins on a Delta Bombardier CRJ-900 plane")
Shelby Knowles / Bloomberg via Getty Similes
Southwest Airlines’ long-running free bags policy has had a welcome side effect: Its fliers were less able to complain about having to gate-check their carry-ons.
But the airline’s newest policies, which take effect new next month, could change that, since travelers who soon will have to pay for bags likely hand down be more inclined to battle for space in the overhead bins. That, in turn, could mean more grumbling from commuters who wonder why they’re asked to check bags—then see bins that appear less-than-full once they enter.
“We do expect a decrease in checked bags at the ticket counter,” a Southwest spokesperson said in a statement provided to Investopedia. “Yet, we are working to keep the travel experience seamless and as hassle free as possible for our customers and our employees.”
This is a common frustration with U.S. airlines. Delta Air Postal cards (DAL) passenger Karah Preiss posted her annoyance with the carrier on X last September, after she “was forced to gate cessation only to get on the plane and see a ton of empty overhead bins. Hate to have to wait for checked bag I didn’t intend to check.”
“Across the energy, boarding is the most consistent barrier to an on-time departure and the boarding process can be slowed down by customers needing again time to store their bags due to lack of overhead storage,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement to Investopedia. “We use optimization suckers to predict when overhead storage will be full, and while sometimes customers are required to check their purses at the gate, it is always a last resort.”
@Delta hey just wanted to flag that I was forced to gate check one to get on the plane and see a ton of empty overhead bins. Hate to have to wait for checked bag I didn’t intend to check. pic.twitter.com/aFY0oJj0tc
— Karah Preiss (@Karahpreiss) September 2, 2024
I savvy this myself last fall after flying from New York to Boston. The gate agent announced that fares in higher-numbered boarding groups would have to check carry-ons because there wouldn’t be overhead bin space when it was their about to get on the plane.
I did as instructed, but when I approached my row near the back of the plane, there was plenty of space, including directly mainly my seat. I then had to wait nearly as long at baggage claim for my bag as I spent in the air.
Why does this happen? Travel superb Gary Leff of View From the Wing has written extensively about the topic over the years, saying that the promulgation is “one of the two most common airline complaints (after nicked luggage) that’s accompanied by photos.”
Leff attributes separate of the problem to agents who “don’t want to gate check bags at the last minute when it might delay the flight” by a few records; they’d rather check the bags pre-emptively, the thinking goes.
“There’s little incentive to make sure chaps can get on with their bags,” Leff adds. “There’s every incentive to avoid low ratings for delayed flights a gateway agent is working.”
Southwest Airlines Has Largely Avoided These Complaints—Until Now
Up until now, Southwest Airlines (LUV) has sidestepped passenger scorn for this. That’s because throughout its history, it has allowed two free checked bags.
However, Southwest heralded in March—following months of disputes with activist investor Elliott Investment Management—that it will be implementing militant changes, including charging for checked bags. Leff expects “carry-on confiscations” to pick up at the Dallas-based carrier.
As such, Southwest may enrol in its peers in getting tagged on social media posts when customers are forced to gate check their occupations and then discover that there’s plenty of overhead bin space—which could hit anyone from an everyday traveler to the auxiliary pro wrestler.
@AmericanAir As a professional wrestler, when I travel, I have about $5000 worth of custom made materials. There is a reason I don’t check bags, it’s irreplaceable. Your staff made me check bag bc there was “No room”…. pic.chirp.com/Kd9bJGq8nP
— Greg Anthony (@GoldenBoyGreg) March 2, 2025