Southwest Airlines: Pay Extra $40 To Board First Print


Remember all those TV commercials by Southwest that bragged about “bags fly free”? Now, the bargain flyer has joined other airlines in tacking on bothersome extras. Bags still fly free, one or two each, but if you want to board your flight ahead of all the in-line peasant passengers, you’ll need to pay an extra $40.

Used to be that if you checked in at the desk early enough, you were assigned to the A line and got in to grab choice seats and find room for your carry-on in the overheads. Or if you were a member of the SW loyalty program, you could proudly march past all the waiting lines.

Now, for non-member Southwesterners, it’s put up $40 or go to the back of the line.