I’ve flown bi-weekly for a year for work. I came back from a work conference this week with a bag one pound over the limit. I was told to pay $100 or to get a trash bag to check my items as a “separate package”. When I asked for a supervisor to clarify (since southwest allows for 2 free checked bags), the supervisor tried to guilt me by saying “you need to think of our staff who is on their hands and knees loading these bags. They don’t need to be moving overweight bags. Wouldn’t you agree? It’s unfair for a passenger to ask that of them?”
Ma’am- it was one pound and I know your policy allows for heavier bags for your elite members. Do you pay the employee the $100 you asked me to pay if they have to “get on their hands and knees” to lift a bag one pound over? I’ve seen how these bags are handled. Southwest broke a family heirloom on my last flight with them because of how rough they are. Don’t try to make me feel bad because I was told to put my items in a trash bag and hope they arrived. I’ll never fly southwest again.
I’m glad the supervisor could get one over on me and make me look like the inconsiderate jerk to win the argument- but check your reasoning. If your team members don’t get a bonus for handling larger sized bags- this policy is just to generate extra revenue for the airline. Don’t act like you care about your staff.