So, did you know that airlines are changing the size bags that they allow their customers to check and if they are more than 61 inches (LxHxD … including wheels) they are going to start charging more? I learned this the other day when flying Southwest Airlines and found out that the airline will now charge an extra $200 for a bag larger than 61 inches starting May 28, 2025.

As you know, I sold my house and am starting a world adventure house sitting and everything I will need for this trip…my entire life…is in two suitcases. One was a slightly larger than 61 inch bag and the other is a carry on. Two months ago I bought a nice big suitcase (Big Blue) for my trip to Thailand…guess what???…it is too large to fit the newly imposed 61 inch rule. Not only that, Southwest broke the handle on my carry bag on from my flight from San Jose to Nashville. When I went to complain I was handed a card with a QR code and told to take pictures and use the card to start a claim. Unfortunately, the Southwest baggage personnel neglected to tell me that you had to make your claim within four hours of claiming your bag from the carousel. Seriously, how many people are going to start a claim immediately upon being given a card after a long day or two of flying? Seems like dirty politics to me.

I remember well when checked bags were flown for free and I have wondered why the flying public has allowed this to happen to us. I mean…YOU ARE FLYING SOMEWHERE AWAY FROM HOME…of course you need to bring clothes with you as YOUR CLOTHES ARE AT HOME. You are buying an airline ticket for a trip that involves being away from home and everything that you own is there. Why are we being forced to pay baggage fees on top of the price of a ticket?

This trip has proved a rude awakening for me as it has already cost me $350 for luggage and/or fees. If this continues I will be walking to South America. Already, I discarded clothes three times before leaving trying to par down what I was taking. Believe me, trying to decided what to take with you when you travel to places still unknown is vexing….I will be in some very cold, very hot and all places in between kinds of places for the next year and already I have had to buy three suitcases through no fault of my own. In addition, the first leg of my trip on Delta from Medford to San Jose cost me an extra $100 in addition to the normal bag fee as my bag was 10 pounds over the weight limit which was not the case when weighing it on my bathroom scale.

Since my new suitcase is smaller than Big Blue, I spent today removing more clothing including a pair of socks, two pairs of pants, a pajama set, a belt, Flonase, a secondary razor, various toiletries, and six shirts. At this rate I will be flying naked wrapped in the same Saran Wrap that is often used to wrap the luggage. That said, Saran Wrap is probably not an option either as I will be over the 50 pound weight limit and will be charged accordingly.

I don’t know when it was that the airlines conspired to take the fun out of flying but with extras for food, booze, suitcases, seat assignments and the like; it seems to me that its time to try something more efficient and consumer friendly… like a horse and buggy.