Does southwest airlines transfer luggage

Short answer: If your itinerary is on a single-ticket booking operated entirely by this U.S. low-cost carrier, checked bags are normally tagged to the final airport. If any flight segment is on a different operator, plan to reclaim and recheck baggage unless an interline agreement is explicitly confirmed at check-in.

Allowance and size limits: This carrier includes two free checked bags per paying passenger. Each bag must not exceed 50 lb (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (length + width + height / 157 cm). Overweight or oversize pieces typically incur a fee (commonly around $75 each way for 51–100 lb or for dimensions slightly over 62 inches); items above 100 lb are generally not accepted as checked pieces. Carry-on allowance: one carry-on (approx. 10 x 16 x 24 in) plus one personal item.

What to do at check-in: Ask the agent to print baggage tags that show the final three-letter airport code for your destination. Confirm audibly that tags are issued to the final stop; if the agent says only to the connecting airport, expect to pick up and recheck. Photograph the tag(s) and retain the claim stubs. For itineraries involving another operator on the same reservation, request verification of through-check service in writing or on the boarding pass.

Connection planning and timing: For same-carrier connections allow at least 45–60 minutes for tight domestic gate changes and 90–120 minutes when you must reclaim and recheck with a different operator. For international connections involving customs/immigration, budget 2.5–3 hours to collect, clear customs, and recheck bags. If you have separate tickets, build extra time; responsibility for missed connections and bag recheck usually falls to the passenger.

If a bag is delayed or misrouted: File a Property Irregularity Report at the airline’s baggage service office immediately upon arrival and keep all receipts and baggage claim tags. For time-sensitive or valuable items carry them in the cabin. Check the carrier’s baggage policy online before travel for the latest fees and operational notices, and consider travel insurance that covers delayed or lost checked items.

Checked-bag handling for connections

Answer: On a single-ticket itinerary operated entirely by the carrier, checked bags are generally tagged to the final ticketed destination – confirm the final airport code on your bag tags at check-in.

If any segment is on a different carrier or booked on separate reservations, expect to collect and re-check bags between flights; interline check-through is not guaranteed and must be confirmed with both operators before travel.

International connections: passengers arriving into the U.S. must usually retrieve checked bags at the first point of entry for customs clearance and then re-check them at the transfer desk; allow extra time for this process (see timing guidance below).

Practical steps to avoid problems: 1) verify final-destination bag tag and keep the claim stub; 2) place essentials and documents in your carry-on; 3) photograph the tag and boarding pass; 4) ask the agent if bags will be through-checked when you check in or at the gate.

Recommended connection windows: for same-carrier domestic connections allow at least 45–60 minutes if bags are through-checked; if a bag drop, re-check or customs clearance is required, build 90–120 minutes or more depending on airport and terminals.

Baggage allowance summary: two free checked bags per ticketed passenger under the carrier’s standard policy; weight limit 50 lb (23 kg) per checked piece; maximum dimensions 62 linear inches (157 cm). Typical fees: $75 for overweight items 51–100 lb, $75 for oversize items or for each additional piece beyond the two free; items over 100 lb are not accepted as standard checked pieces.

If a bag is misrouted or delayed, file a Property Irregularity Report at the carrier’s baggage service office before leaving the airport, retain all claim tags and boarding passes, and request estimated delivery and a written reference number for follow-up and any reimbursement claims.

Automatic handling of checked bags on connecting itineraries

If all segments are on one reservation with the same carrier, checked bags are usually tagged to your final destination and automatically moved between flights. Verify the three‑letter airport code on the bag tag at check‑in; if it matches your final city code, no action is required during the connection.

When bags will be through‑checked

Through‑check applies when: (1) every flight is booked on a single PNR with the same operator; (2) the operator accepts interlining for the other carriers on your itinerary; (3) no customs reentry is required at the connection point. Expect automatic handling for domestic-to-domestic itineraries on the same carrier unless the agent states otherwise.

When you must reclaim and recheck

Claim and recheck if: your flights are on separate tickets; the carrier has no interline agreement with the connecting carrier; or you arrive from an international airport without U.S. preclearance (you must clear customs and then recheck for the onward domestic leg). For inbound international connections at airports with U.S. preclearance, bags can often be checked through to the U.S. final city.

Practical recommendations: confirm bag tag destination at check‑in, allow at least 45–60 minutes for same‑carrier domestic connections and add 30–45 minutes if terminal changes are required; plan 90–120 minutes for international connections involving customs; if tickets are separate, build 2–3 hours and assume manual baggage handling. If unsure, ask the check‑in or gate agent to confirm that your bags are tagged to the final stop and request a reissue if the tag is incorrect.

How to verify your bag tag shows the final destination at check‑in

Check the printed bag tag at the counter or kiosk immediately: the three‑letter IATA code on the tag must match your final arrival airport – if it shows only a connection airport code, ask the agent to reissue the tag with the correct final code before the bag leaves the desk.

Confirm these specific fields on the tag and on the attached baggage receipt: 1) three‑letter destination code (e.g., JFK, LAX), 2) flight number and date for the segment that goes to the final airport, 3) the unique tag serial/claim number (usually 8–10 digits), and 4) any routing line showing “via” or intermediate airports – every printed code should match your itinerary and boarding pass.

If you used a self‑service kiosk, request that the agent show the printed tag before it is affixed; if the itinerary involves more than one carrier, insist the tag displays the final airport code rather than only the first carrier’s connection. If staff at the counter refuse to reissue a tag, escalate to a supervisor and obtain a written note or stamped receipt confirming the bag will be checked through to the final airport.

Photograph the tag on the bag and the baggage receipt (front and back) and keep the receipt until you collect the item at the destination. Note the claim number and agent initials; those details speed any tracing request. If a tight connection exists, request a short‑hand notation from the agent indicating the bag is checked onward to the final airport and confirm the tag shows the final code.

For oversized or special items, check carrier size/weight rules at check‑in and prepare documentation for handling; for guidance on selecting equipment for seasonal gear transport, see how to determine the right size air compressor to blow out sprinklers.

What to do immediately if your bag doesn’t arrive at the connecting airport

At the connecting airport

Report the missing bag at the carrier’s baggage service desk before leaving the terminal and insist on a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Record the PIR number, the agent’s name, the counter phone number, and the estimated delivery window.

Show your boarding pass, bag-tag receipt (sticker stub), and ID; copy or photograph the tag stub and boarding pass on your phone. Ask the agent to confirm the final destination code on the tag and the current routing status in writing or by text/email.

Provide a delivery address and mobile phone where you will be reachable (hotel or home). If you are staying at a hotel, get written confirmation that the carrier will deliver to the desk and note any required ID for handoff.

Steps after leaving the airport

If you could not file at the desk, submit the delayed‑bag report online within 24–48 hours for domestic itineraries; for international travel, follow the carrier’s online process and note international claim deadlines. Always keep the PIR or online reference number.

Photograph the bag-tag stub, boarding pass, and any damaged packaging. Create a short itemized list of high‑value contents with approximate purchase dates and values; keep original receipts for items you buy while waiting (toiletries, medications, one change of clothes) and attach them to your claim.

Track status using the PIR/reference number via the carrier’s baggage-tracking page or the global tracking tools that use that reference. If no update within the agent’s promised window, call the baggage desk number you were given and follow up by email so there is a written record.

If delivery is delayed beyond 24–48 hours, request interim reimbursements per the carrier’s delayed-baggage policy and submit receipts promptly. For international itineraries, note that the Montreal Convention limits carrier liability for delayed or lost bags (liability expressed in Special Drawing Rights); include the PIR and receipts when filing a formal claim.

If the agent cannot provide a delivery commitment or you receive inconsistent answers, ask to speak with a supervisor and save that person’s contact. Escalate by sending the PIR number, photos, and receipts to the carrier’s baggage email and, if useful, to the booking agent or credit-card benefits desk that covered the fare.

Interline checked-bag handling on tickets with multiple carriers

If your reservation is issued on a single ticket and an interline agreement exists between the carriers, your checked bags can be checked through to the final ticketed destination; if not, expect to collect and recheck them at the connection point. Confirm before travel rather than assuming through-check will occur.

When through-check is permitted

Conditions required: (1) one ticket number covering all segments; (2) an active interline or baggage-through arrangement between the operating carrier and the connecting carrier; (3) compliant baggage allowances and size/weight limits across all segments. Codeshare flight numbers alone do not guarantee baggage handling across operators. International itineraries may still require baggage customs clearance and recheck at the first U.S. entry point despite interline agreements.

Practical steps if through-check may not be available

Before departure, call the ticketing carrier to confirm interline status and request a notation on the reservation if through-check is permitted. Allow extra connection time: plan at least 90 minutes for domestic recheck and 2–3 hours for international connections (longer if terminals change or customs is involved). Pack valuables and one change of clothes in your carry-on, and consider refundable fares or travel protection that covers delayed or misrouted checked bags. At the airport, insist the agent explain how your bags will be handled so you can make alternative arrangements if necessary.

Rules for oversized, sports equipment, and fragile items

Declare any oversized or specialty item at the ticket counter and arrive at least 60 minutes earlier for domestic departures and 90 minutes for international so staff can inspect, tag, and route the item correctly.

Size, weight, and acceptance criteria

• Standard checked-bag thresholds encountered on U.S. carriers: 50 lb (23 kg) weight limit and 62 linear inches (length + width + height / ~158 cm). Items exceeding those figures will usually incur oversize/overweight charges or require cargo handling.
• Items over 80–115 linear inches are commonly treated as freight; verify the carrier’s maximum linear-inch and single-piece weight allowances before booking.
• Single-piece weight limits above 100 lb are frequently prohibited for regular checked handling and must be shipped via cargo or freight services.
• Any specialty item that changes the piece-count allowance (e.g., a set of clubs or a boxed bicycle) should be counted as one checked piece unless the carrier’s policy states otherwise.

Sports equipment – packing and declaration

• Skis/snowboards: use a padded ski bag; cushion bindings and tips; place them on the check-in scale as a single piece. If length exceeds carrier size limits, arrange cargo or ground shipping.
• Bicycles: remove or secure pedals, turn and tape handlebars, protect derailleur, and partially deflate tires (release most air). Use a rigid bike box or well-padded soft case; present the packed bike at check-in for inspection.
• Golf clubs: padded or hard-sided travel case recommended; clubs generally count as one checked piece but must meet weight/size rules.
• Surfboards/stand-up paddleboards: pack in rigid or thick padded board bags; oversized fees or freight handling apply for very long boards–confirm length limits in advance.
• Firearms and ammunition: must be unloaded, declared at check-in, secured in a locked hard-sided case, and packed following federal and carrier-specific rules; verify magazine/ammo limits before travel.
• Always declare specialty items at the ticket counter. Failure to declare can result in refusal of acceptance or denial of damage claims.

• Label packed items with a visible name, phone number, and final destination address; keep receipts or serial numbers for high-value gear.

Fragile items – protection, handling, and claims

• Use a rigid, hard-shell case for glass, ceramics, instruments, and electronics; wrap each item individually with bubble wrap or foam and fill voids with soft materials.
• Fragile tags do not guarantee special handling; carriers accept liability only under their terms and applicable law.
• Carry irreplaceable valuables (cash, passports, medications, cameras, laptops, jewelry) in the cabin whenever allowed.
• Document condition with time-stamped photos before check-in and keep the bag receipt/tag stub until the claim process completes.
• If damage is discovered, report it at the airport ticket counter and obtain a written report (Property Irregularity Report or equivalent) before leaving the terminal; follow the carrier’s written-claim deadlines (many require notification within days to weeks depending on the issue).

Liability, fees, and alternatives

• Domestic statutory liability for checked items is limited by law (around USD 3,800 for many carriers under U.S. rules); international limits may be governed by the Montreal Convention or other treaties–verify the applicable regime and the carrier’s contract of carriage.
• Purchase supplemental insurance or declared-value coverage for equipment that exceeds the carrier’s liability cap or for irreplaceable items.
• If size, weight, fragility, or value makes checked handling risky or expensive, compare costs for ground freight or a specialist sports-equipment shipper before travel.

Quick pre-flight checklist

1. Confirm the carrier’s published size/weight limits and any sport-equipment rules tied to your booking.
2. Pack in a hard case or heavy-duty padded bag; photograph contents and tag items with contact info.
3. Declare specialty items at the ticket counter and allow extra check-in time for inspection.
4. Keep receipts, serial numbers, and the bag tag stub; carry high-value or fragile items in the cabin when feasible.
5. If damage or loss occurs, file the airport report before leaving and submit a written claim within the carrier’s stated deadlines.

How to file a missing-bag report with the carrier and typical resolution times

Report at the airport Baggage Service Office immediately; if you’ve already left, submit an online report or call the carrier’s baggage desk within 24 hours of arrival.

Exact steps and required information

1) At the airport: go to the Baggage Service Office in the claim area, present your boarding pass and the printed or digital baggage claim tag. 2) Online/app: use the operator’s official website or mobile app and complete the delayed-bag form. 3) Phone: call the carrier’s baggage line shown on your booking confirmation. For every report have ready: passenger name, reservation/record locator, flight number(s), claim-tag number(s), arrival airport, detailed bag description (size, color, brand, unique markings), phone number, and delivery address.

Ask for and record the reference/IR number and the expected delivery address on file. Keep receipts for essential purchases (toiletries, clothing) for reimbursement claims.

What to expect and escalation thresholds

Typical recovery timelines and recommended next actions are summarized in the table below. If recovery exceeds the listed window, escalate by requesting a supervisor, submitting a formal delayed-bag claim through the carrier’s baggage-claim portal, and retaining all receipts and correspondence.

If you travel with compact child gear or beach items, pack an essential-change kit in your carry-on and check purchase protection terms for bulky items; see best umbrella stroller for cruise and best beach umbrellas and chairs in sarasota fl for examples of travel-friendly gear.