CEO Says Free Checked Bags to Stay
But Golfers Worry that Once Add-on Fees Start, They Won’t Stop
Golfers of the world have exactly one word of advice for Southwest Airlines:
Don’t.
In response to the growing drumbeat from Wall Street analysts for the airline to increase revenues through add-on fees, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly says the airline is working on new ways to generate revenue.
That has me and other golfers worried.
Methods of increasing revenues proposed in the financial media have included charging for expedited baggage handling for passengers buying higher-priced SWA tickets, and deviating from its open-seating policy by reserving exit rows and the first four rows for the exclusive use of business travelers most likely to pay more for legroom or the ability to deplane quickly. More