Not always 
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It may vary for everyone as well. I always figured the Early Bird cost into what I was paying because I was always going to purchase it. So the flight had to be cheaper with that built in for me to go Southwest and with the exception of February vacation week, it hasn’t been. Now, with the added cost of the Southwest checked bag, plus Early Bird, it likely won’t be the cheaper airline anymore. And who knows when they start to have assigned seating!
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Is this still going to be a thing once assigned seating comes around next ?Feb (as per announcements)
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Since I was kind of out of the online loop yesterday I just skimmed the thread to see if I missed it - but did anyone already post that SW clarified the one free bag thing?
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So, that makes it worth holding that credit card now! And this policy makes a lot more sense.
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I am surprised that you can use ANY credit card to pay for the bag and get reimbursed - guess you’ll just need to have a RR credit card on your account so the system knows to reimburse(?)
You’d think they’d want you to use the RR CC so that they at least earn the 3% on the charge.
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Of course, now that I look at the next paragraph after the one I pasted above, the Companion Pass Holders info still seems a little unclear to me -
It sounds simple enough - “if a CP holder qualifies for a free bag, the benefit will apply to their companion.”
But, being pessimistic: The RR credit card free bag perk specifically says people “traveling on the same reservation” get a free bag. But: CPs get their own confirmation number.
Is that going to work as expected? Hmm.
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Absolutely!!
I am spoiled. I can fly Delta, Ameican, Jetblue, or Southwest direct to Orlando. I can fly United, Alaska, Jetblue or Southwest to the west coast. So a $60 savings (each way) is definitely a consideration.
I am not saying “never Southwest” but I have stopped using my Southwest Card because I don’t really want points there anymore. That is because I’ve gone from “Southwest first” to “Southwest is the same as everyone else”. A good part of this is because of the new cancellation policy for basic fairs.
When it is renewal time I’ll have to see if the SW CC perks are worth the annual fee. It is worth it for my Alaska card because I get 1 free companion pass a year and up to four travel companions get free bags… Now I am not sure about Southwest, but that situation seems to be evolving.
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Even with the updated info that you and up to 8 passengers each get one bag fee reimbursed by being a SW card holder?
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It could be if people are concerned about overhead bin space.
I’m probably dropping the business card next renewal. I kept it for credit on the upgrade A1-15. (And it has higher points earning). That will not be necessary now. And DH is cancelling his personal card at renewal. I’ll probably still keep mine though.
I wonder how the boarding process will change with assigned seating. The current system seems like it could still create delay in boarding issues. They should load back to front. But I guess we have to wait and see what the plan is. They are giving us crumbs at a time 
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No I mean are they going to still sell it?
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I cancelled DW’s and my cards after the 1 year mark because I just wanted to minimize some things. But, I’ve always thought of the SW cards as at least close to $0 cost since you get the annual points bonus plus the various perks.
IMHO most of those perks are just OK and the most useful one is the 365 WiFi credits on the Biz Performance.
Even if you do not find value in any of the non-points perks, I’m thinking as long as you think there’s a chance you’ll fly once on SW, the free bags makes most, if not all of those cards no brainers to hold.
Even if the fee ends up being just $10/bag, that’s $80 round trip for a family of 4 assuming 1 bag per person.
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Just speculation of course, but if people are willing to pay for it to get a jump on the overhead bin space, I bet they still sell it.
Huh
I only ever saw it as a way to get on earlier for seat selection
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Every email I’ve received from SW touted the benefit of Early Bird as having first access to the bins. Our last flight was 100% full and they didn’t have to gate check any luggage. I have heard others say that they purchased Early Bird so they could guarantee a carry on. I’ve never had that worry. There is enough space for every seat to have 1 carry on at the proper dimensions.
We only get early boarding to get the 2 chair emergency exit seats. DH wants a window but I need an aisle. This gives us both without having to split up, lol.
I don’t think it would be as popular (or paid for as often) if the only benefit is getting the jump on the over head bins. At least not with me. I’d rather be on the plane last if my seat is guaranteed.
Huh
I seriously never thought about overhead bin space
And, I’ve never once had to gate check with Southwest. I have with other carriers
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A flight attendant once told me that on SW there is space for everyone to have 1 carry on luggage. The problem comes when a flight is full and people put their personal bag in the over head bin. Our last flight, mid boarding, I saw the attendant tell someone that they had to take their personal bag out and put it under the seat.
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In the past I definitely agreed with this. And I like booking WDW trips on points. Psychologicaly my Wells Fargo $0.02 back doesn’t do the same thing for me as booking my extra trips to Disney on points.
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But right now it looks like 1 bag per card right?
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1 bag per person up to 8 additional people (so total of 9 people/bags) on a ressie made by a cardholder it sounds like?
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No, they clarified (I posted something a little earlier today) - Now it appears up to 8 people on your same reservation each get a free bag if you have a credit card. AND you do not even need to use the SW CC to pay the fee to get them free.
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And
What happens when you enter a thread where someone responded to you, you miss a couple of crucial posts.
For me I can see needing the checked bag benefit once a year for three people. That basically covers the fee, even if the checked bag price is super low. So unless I decide to just slim down my credit cards, I am more.likely to keep it.
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