[willcrockett]

(aka. "two bags fly free unless we figure out how to clip you for $50.")

Checking in two bags on one Business Select ticket sometimes leads to what I call the Underwear Rodeo with Southwest Airlines. On special occasions, it can be the super special Sidewalk Edition of the Underwear Rodeo. That's a very special day.

Let's say that one bag to check is 52 pounds, two pounds over the limit…. no problem.
If I was traveling with only that one bag, I'll pay the $50 penalty fee / fine with a smile. No kidding, check my record.
I know the rules, understand them, have no big issue with them. The more weight you put in the cargo hold the more fuel it takes; fuel is expensive; got it.

But here's where we saddle up and I do have a problem…
If the second bag to check is 38 pounds, twelve under the weight limit, my options are to move my underwear from the heavy bag into the lighter bag, in a public place, a crowded, busy, mildly intolerant public place like the sidewalk of the Las Vegas airport on a busy Saturday morning, or I can pay a $50 fine fee.
Yeah, there's where I have a problem that we need to lasso.
That's two bags, totaling 90 pounds. Just in case math is a problem (other than counting the money you took from me for the fine) that comes out to 45 pounds per bag and well under the 50 pound limit.

Well, Southwest, just so you know, when a business traveller pays extra for a premium ticket, and they are asked to play the underwear rodeo on your curbside check in or pay a $50 fine, it makes them agitated. Now before you copy and paste me a boilerplate response that will undoubtedly say "all airlines enforce the 50 lb limit with a fee.." please keep in mind that travelers like me that have over a million miles with a big airline get their bag fees waived. So I do have choices here on which bull to ride.

As I head back to the office Monday and turn in my expense report, I am preparing my response to the accounting folks who will ask about why I spent $50 on a bag fee when I can fly AA for zero fees and usually get upgraded to First Class too.
My reply will be that when you're in Vegas the underwear rodeo is fun! Unlike Minneapolis in February where the cold Underwear Rodeo is not so fun.

BTW, I have called about this issue, spoken nicely to the ticket counter guest services folks and made my point. I'm no a whiner and I don't want a courtesy waiver. I would like you to change your rules or, loose me as a customer. It's your rodeo, I'm just a cowboy.

WC