whwiden

I have used Southwest 8 times in the last year and a half, traveling for free on a "companion pass" (a program that I understand is discontinued) which gives you no special priority. You must call to check in 24 hours in advance, I believe (my wife does this). You need to call right on time, have it in your speed dial--or you will get a low priority check in. Generally, some place in the B group will get you on the flight with a seat which includes overhead space. However, often there is no overhead space in the seats towards the back of the aircraft because supplies and other things are stowed there. Various seats have some kind of electrical box which takes away leg room in front of your seat and may prevent using a rigid underseat bag (this is not unique to Southwest). Further, the aisle seats generally have a narrower opening for leg room--again a problem for a rigid underseat bag. I always travel with camera gear, and use a soft bag--Domke F6, F2 or F1x. I have fit all three under the seats without a problem--the F6 and F2 are the easiest--you might compare the size of those bags to your bag. I probably would not try a fully stuffed F1x as it might exceed the permitted carry on measurements (which Southwest does not seem to enforce very strictly). I would never take a camera bag on a flight without guaranteed overhead space if I thought I might need to use it for my camera bag. Based on your gear, a soft bag in the F6 or F2 size should work to carry your kit. Without the guarantee, I would make sure I could fit the bag under the seat, if needed. Good luck.

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

if your case is s standard carry-on bag, no problem; chrck their web site fir dimensions

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

I have traveled on SW many times. Overhead storage is about the same as other airlines, so I have never had a problem, even with large bag.
Note that in order to assure that you can find an available overhead space, you have to check in EXACTLY 24 hours before flight time. Otherwise, pay the fee for early boarding.

crabbydog

I have flown SW for years and have never encountered a problem. All there planes are the same and there is plenty of overhead space. I would recommend purchases the A boarding pass for $20.00 each way, so you have access to more overhead space by boarding the plane as one of the first sixty passengers.

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

checking in exactly doesn’t work, any more; last 2 tumes i ckecked in right on time & wound up eith a B pass; think that now many people buy the Early Bird feature & EB is now taking up sll the “ A” slots

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Yes, I have traveled Southwest, No, I have not had any problems, Yes, I take my camera equipment with me on board, Yes, their overheads are the same as MOST airlines.
You know what, this post could have been handled with a SIMPLE call to Southwest.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Perhaps another simple call or a little simple research would have made you aware that their overheads are not the same as MOST airlines. I even identified the aircraft in my post, but I guess you didn't get a chance to verify.

https://www.boeing.com/commercial/737max/space-bins/

https://qz.com/1464936/beside-lion-air-these-airlines-have-boeing-737-max-planes/

Rogers

We take Southwest maybe a couple times a year out of Nashville. They’ve almost always been on time. I much prefer them to other airlines.

There’s absolutely no difference in the seating or baggage or anything else between “wanna get away” and higher price fares, other than there are times and days when that fare is not available.

I put my camera gear along with iPad and other gadgets in a Lowepro backpack that fits handily under the seat.

beagle mom

I travel Southwest almost entirely and use the wana get away. Have not had problems with overhead space or anything else. On AA, however, which I only used once, I was boarding and they made me check my carry on due to lack of overhead space. That tells me they were allowing people more than one carryon!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

For you folks that like to dabble in mathematics...if SW advertised a price increase of 10%, I believe many would be unhappy. I also believe that the vast number of SW flights are under $250, but it makes for easy math. Think of the fare "increase" generated by charging roughly a third or more of the passengers an additional $25. (The current A pass is $25 for those that checked.) Many flights are considerably less than $250, so the $25 is indeed a healthy increase in fares.
Just pointing out one of the gimmicks to raise the average fare prices.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

What ever fits in a good sized back pack or even a 20" roller will be fine. I travel with a SOG Weekender (with all camera gear), a large back pack and have never had a problem....no problems with SW. Make sure you sign in 'exactly' 24 hours in advance if you haven't paid for advance check-in....enjoy the cattle call

AFPhoto Loc: Jamestown, RI, USA

I travel a bunch. Up to last year I was at the 1million miles every two years or so and I will tell you that there is no airline that is more efficient at boarding than SWA. They turn their planes around faster than any other airline that I have ever flown on and I have flown on just about all. As far as the OP’s question: SWA uses B 737s almost exclusively so the overhead space is about as good as it gets on domestic flights. Other airlines are moving to smaller aircraft for domestic flights to maintain 100% occupancy. These generally have very limited overhead space.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Everyone is most certainly to their opinion and I appreciate yours! There are many yardsticks available to measure the validity of these opinions.

Reading more closely or checking the links I provided with respect to aircraft type that showed SW was a leader in purchasing and receiving the newer and bigger Boeing 737's...proving they are not all equal. SW uses three different 737 models. Apparently your many flights have not included the bigger 737's they started receiving in 2017 as there are not all that many in service.

rwww80a Loc: Hampton, NH

SW air is one of the best now. Beats United and American hands down. Be careful with the others now, what shows up on the travel booking sites are their bare bones fares, extra charges for everything.

AFPhoto Loc: Jamestown, RI, USA

Sure, but they are all 737’s and the overhead space has only increased as the models get newer. Contrast this to the overhead space that you get on the Canadien Bombardiers and similar planes that are generally flown by United and American on many of their domestic routes. Plus free checking generally means that there’s isa not a mad house rush to locate overhead carry on space.