Silverman Loc: Michigan

Yes, I have flown S.W.A., R.T. from Detroit to Orlando, a few times. I always had my Photography equipment carried in my "Lowepro" backpack and stored it "Under" the Seat in front of me. Your Backpack must meet the Size dimension requirements to fit properly. You can put it in the above storage bin too, although other passengers also use these storage bins, so you equipment might not be as secure, a personal choice.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

yds0066 Loc: Southwestern Illinois

Pay the “Early Bird fare as Southwest calls it. It automatically assigns you a boarding position 36 hours before your flight. I have flown 1.5 million on American and over a million on Southwest. Depending on the route, you may get a small jet on American but always a 737 on Southwest.

Jodevoy

I actually prefer to fly SW using the early bird boarding over many of the other major airlines. Paying to check luggage just isn’t right! I have no problem recommending you fly Southwest. I pack my camera bag and gear inside my carry on luggage, so I can roll it around rather than lug it through the airport. Height wise, the bag pretty much fills up the entire space, so nothing can be put on top of it. (Probably 2 more pieces of luggage can go next to it). I have never had an issue with this. My tripod goes in my checked bag - some people say no problem bringing it on board, I just don’t want to take any chance getting delayed at TSA. Have a great trip!

Docjaf

We fly Southwest often. My Pelican case fits perfectly in the overhead bin and holds my D800, 24-70, 70-200, two prime lenses, flash, batteries, cleaners, memory cards, and enough associated gear to meet my needs for almost any occasion.

JimG1 Loc: Waxahachie, TX

This link gives you their policy on carry on bags, https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/index.html?clk=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-BAGS

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Good advice. However, it was raised to $25 recently. Still, good advice.

tomcat

SW flies Boeing 737 airplanes, so the overheads are fairly large (not reduced in size like the commuter puddle-hoppers are). But as others have said, pay the $25 Early Bird Check-in so you can get a lower A number when you board. There is no reserved seating and the Wanna Go fares get you the same treatment as the first-class passengers (hint: there is no "first class" per se, but SW says all passengers are first class to us....lol). Wanna Go is just a marketing tool to ensure a large number of pre-sale passengers so the flight doesn't get "canceled". In theory, everyone has an equal opportunity to sit anywhere---however the frequent business flyers get first crack somehow and they always get A1-A20 priority in line. Even when I've booked months ahead and checked in at exactly 24 hrs ahead, I've never gotten a number lower than A23. Check out their website ahead of time to learn the protocol for boarding. There are tall pedestals lined up outside each boarding gate with numbers 1-60, in groups of 5, so that everyone lines up within that group of 5 according to the number that you were assigned when you check in. So the earlier you reserve and the faster you check in, you'll get better chances at a lower A number and not get a B number which usually go to the back of the plane. I've never had any problem checking in my camera equipment and putting it in an overhead bin. If your bag does get deemed oversize, usually you can hand it off to a flight attendant at the door of the plane and they put a pink ribbon on it and take it down the stairs to a special luggage storage area and then you retrieve it when you deplane at the door.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I travel with Tinba roll-a-way camera bag that just fits in the overhead on all U.S. and most overseas carriers. Since my wife uses a cane, we are always allowed to use pre-boarding so there is always an overhead space available when we board. If I take a tripod or monopod, I always put it in my checked bag.

tomcat

When my wife and I got our TSA precheck credentials, it was the best money that we have ever spent on air travel. Getting through TSA is so easier with the precheck, plus we are both Seniors, so that makes it even easier. On our last flight out of Washington, the Precheck line was closed, so we being absent minded walked around the barrier and got a "free escort" to the TSA checkin ahead of the others....lol .

Check out the frequent stay plan with Hilton. I think the points accumulation is much better than Marriott's. The last time we went to see my daughter in Miami, we had enough SW points to fly free and enough Hilton points for a 3-night stay at the hotel, so the entire trip was free. Only had to pay $80 for an Alamo car.... can't beat those bonus points programs.....

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I do not understand why I am being somewhat "called out" for simply stating my experience and observations which, by the way, are supported via many surveys. I did not criticize or complain regarding their overhead space, but rather provided factual links with their efforts to provide more. Reading the links would show that they are buying large numbers with the of the newer 737 Max that provides about 50 per cent more overhead space. My reference to space, as also voiced by others, is that you may have difficulty finding room for your bags if you are a later boarder.

agillot

SIMPLY , CONSUMER AFFAIR named south west and alaska air line the best .

ditdit

We have used them many times;
Good service!

gwilliams6

They are my most used Airline. I am a pro shooter and love them. They have the largest allowed carry-on size in the industry and the bins hold all my carry-on camera gear. A little known fact, if you identify yourself as with professional camera gear, you will be allowed an additional carry-on bag with your gear, and be allowed to board first to take advantage of first crack at the overhead storage. Just can't take an exit row seat if you board first this way. This is true Southwest policy and I have educated a few gate folks who found out I was correct when they checked. Otherwise worth the few extra bucks to get "Early bird" checkin, which will move you up to the A group for boarding. You can even pay a little extra , right at the gate, to get in A1-A10 boarding place. Overall, great airline, great flight attendants,very accommodating.

Unclehoss

I don't travel extensively but I have flown on Southwest, Delta, Alaska, American, United, Frontier and some smaller outfits and can say Southwest is the only airlines my wife and I have not had some sort of problem with. Delayed flights (by hours), missed connections because of late flights, etc. If they serviced the area I live in now Southwest would be my exclusive airlines.