I know many love this crappy airline. Here’s the latest reason to hate them.
Today I sent a friend home to SNA from PDX with a box of wine, in a nice styro shipper. Southworst made her open the box and wrap every bottle in plastic. I guess because they mis-handle the boxes and break the bottles often enough they need special rules.
Hm. Never happened to me before. I just tell them it’s properly packed in styro and they let me go. Just did it this past weekend
same here. Just tell them it is packed in styro and never had a problem. EDIT: I always have to sign a damage waiver which is ok with me and I have the agent put “fragile” stickers all over the box.
I always pack the loose space around bottles with styro peanuts to prevent movement in the case. Prior to this shimming I had a Burgundy bottle neck break on an airplane. The baggage monkies are expert box throwers.
Strange. I take wine on SWA every time I fly, including last week to Florida, in a case box with my trusty Wine Check. I hope that never happens to me, but every trip to an airport seems to encounter slightly different rules and procedures at one or more points.
Southwest is the ONE problem airline, and this happens from time to time. They sell WineSkin-type plastic ‘bags’ at the counter, forcing you to put every bottle in one, then they don’t fit in the Styro shipper anymore. I’ve written to their head offices trying to appeal that silly regulation, as the bags THEY SELL are not leakproof, but they sell them under the regulation that each bottle needs to be in a leakproof bag. It was likely originated because bottles would burst in regular luggage, ruining everything inside, and they didn’t want to pay for clothing when a bottle breaks. But when the wine is in its own container/luggage/box, it seems silly, and useless.
I ship a case/hlf case nearly everytime I travel SWA…5-6 times a yr. This happened to me exactly once many yrs ago, when SWA was flying DC-3’s I believe. They asked me
if the wine was carefully packed when they could hear it rattling around against the styrofoam and wanted me to repack each individual btl, though they didn’t have those
plastic bags at the counter. I told her that I’ll open my suitcase and pack each btl in my dirty underwear. She took one look at me & decided caution was the better part of valor.
When they ask me about the packaging, I always tell them it was packed specially at the winery for travel on airlines. That usually seems to mollify them.
The plastic bags are a joke. The idea is they’re leakproof and the wine won’t damage others luggage. But iif the btl breaks, it’s gonna slice thru the packing bag and still leak.
I’ve had pretty good look w/ SWA shipping in styro. I’ve watched from the window as the SWA gorillas (also called baggage handlers) drop kick my box 40 yrds across
the tarmac…w/ nary any damage.
Tom
I have checked three times this year all on Southwest: three outbounds from TX, returns twice from FL and once from CA. Never once have I even been asked about the Wine Check or signing a release. I guess it pays to have the black “unmarked” version.
With that said, I fret about checking on SWA other than direct flights. At least avoiding double handling/“throwing” across the tarmac.
I’ve checked mine on SWA probably a dozen times, usually in the original red one. It all comes down to the gate agent. If you get one of the few who actually want to enforce it, who likely get a commission off the sale of the silly bags that won’t do anything, you’ll get hit with it.
See Todd. As I said before, it’s best not to advertise on the luggage that you’re carrying wine. Only bad things can come of it.
I put the Styrofoam shipper inside a large, heavy plastic trash bag, then into the cardboard shipper box and finally into a military A-3 bag or the Wine Check. No problems yet. ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
No problems with SWA. We bring back two cases a year from CA to Florida. We just tell them packed in a shipping box from winery and sign a waiver
anyone run into any similar issues on AA or UA? I’ve never run into such BS on AS or DL.
I just ship the box on whatever airline I’m fling on, well taped up with packing tape. They don’t ask me what it is and I don’t feel obligated to tell them. I have never had an issue.
I use SWA frequently, and have never had an issue. I don’t seal the case of wine I bring home with me because they usually like to look at it before accepting it - once they see it’s in a secure styrofoam shipper, they’ve always been OK with it.
Putting the shipper into a big trash bag is a quick and easy way to shut up the gate agent, if needed. It’s no less leak-proof than the silly bags they sell.
I got harassed once by an uptight United employee & have packed my wine this way every time since. We fly Southwest fairly often & I get no grief from them when I explain that the wine is in a shipper with a plastic bag around the styrofoam. Their concern is for other customers’ luggage. Hence, the plastic bag policy.
I flew DEN to SJC today with a full Wine Check. Gave the guy outside checking bags $6. No problem at all. Just opened one with dinner, life is good.
No. I do this all the time, and have never had an issue. I just tell them it is securely packed and have never had it questioned.
Yeah, curb check is key, when available. Weight, wine, whatever - it’s all good. Rookies check bags inside (when curb check is available)