The checking of any bags should be avoided as they slow down loading the plane, inflate the turnover time, and end up costing the airlines more than they are worth.
Are the benefits that significant? After all, boarding times are significantly slowed down by people trying to cram suitcases that ought to be checked into overhead bins. Also, quite a bit of carry-on luggage ends up being checked anyways once the overhead bins fill up. I would love to see some real analysis on this.
The problem with checked luggage first arises if somebody doesn't get onto the plane in time even though their luggage has already been loaded. This essentially means that somebody has to look through all the (already loaded) luggage to remove that specific piece, which, depending on how deeply it's buried, might take considerable amounts of time. This isn't a problem with hold luggage, since there cannot be any hold luggage aboard a plane without a corresponding person.
This isn't a huge problem for Southwest though, as checked baggage for domestic flights do not have to be pulled (and rarely ever are) in the United States. It'll be stored at the final destination printed on the tag until you pick it up, or you file a baggage claim to have it sent back.
Since airlines started to nickle and dime travelers for basic services, like luggage, I've definitely noticed a much more harried and long delay with people getting to their seats and getting situated. I used to remember being able to spend quite a bit of time leisurely reading from a magazine or a book, now I'm constantly getting jostled well after we've started to taxi.
well Wizzair has a simple solution: charge for carry on luggage that is larger than a laptop bag/tiny backpack.
Also consider that usually ground handling is a different company, the airline is paying the stewards wasting time on board anyway, but may have a per-bag price of the check ins.
This may vary by airline, but I believe stewards are generally paid an appallingly low rate (well under minimum wage) for any hours that aren't actually flight hours.
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Are the benefits that significant? After all, boarding times are significantly slowed down by people trying to cram suitcases that ought to be checked into overhead bins. Also, quite a bit of carry-on luggage ends up being checked anyways once the overhead bins fill up. I would love to see some real analysis on this.
This isn't real analysis. However:
The problem with checked luggage first arises if somebody doesn't get onto the plane in time even though their luggage has already been loaded. This essentially means that somebody has to look through all the (already loaded) luggage to remove that specific piece, which, depending on how deeply it's buried, might take considerable amounts of time. This isn't a problem with hold luggage, since there cannot be any hold luggage aboard a plane without a corresponding person.
This isn't a huge problem for Southwest though, as checked baggage for domestic flights do not have to be pulled (and rarely ever are) in the United States. It'll be stored at the final destination printed on the tag until you pick it up, or you file a baggage claim to have it sent back.
As the other poster alluded to, this is no longer a rule for domestic flights inside the US now that 100% of bags are screened.
It still applies to international flights (presumably for customs reasons).
Since airlines started to nickle and dime travelers for basic services, like luggage, I've definitely noticed a much more harried and long delay with people getting to their seats and getting situated. I used to remember being able to spend quite a bit of time leisurely reading from a magazine or a book, now I'm constantly getting jostled well after we've started to taxi.
well Wizzair has a simple solution: charge for carry on luggage that is larger than a laptop bag/tiny backpack.
Also consider that usually ground handling is a different company, the airline is paying the stewards wasting time on board anyway, but may have a per-bag price of the check ins.
This may vary by airline, but I believe stewards are generally paid an appallingly low rate (well under minimum wage) for any hours that aren't actually flight hours.