Fee Survey Shows Why Southwest Airlines is Loved

Monday, 27 September 2010 | by Pat's Picks

Southwest Airlines announced today it’s buying competitor AirTran. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Southwest in New York, because its fee structure makes it the most customer-friendly airline around.

The stock ticker symbol for Southwest Airlines is “LUV.” That comes from the airline’s Texas roots at Love Field in Dallas. And I think customers should show Southwest some love as appreciation for the airline’s resistance to the nasty fees imposed by almost every other airline.

USA Today’s lead headline today says airline fees have risen 50% compared to just a year ago.

Along with that story there’s a detailed breakdown of airline-by-airline fees, and it’s remarkable how far ahead of the competition Southwest is. The survey breaks down fees for reservations, changes, frequent-flier redemptions, check-in and inflight. At every stage, Southwest leads.

Here are some examples:

Ticket Change:  American $150 Southwest $0
Change a frequent-flier award destination:  Delta $150 Southwest $0
Check two bags:  Continental $60 Southwest $0

Southwest isn’t perfect. The no-frills thing can wear thin quickly when you’re flying with no seat-back TV and nothing to eat. But the airline deserves credit for its fair dealing with customers. The price you pay up front on Southwest is an accurate reflection of the cost of your trip. On most of the other airlines, the ticket price is just the beginning of a costly relationship.