Southwest Airlines ripoff Reno Nevada

When I go to Reno, I always use Southwest. They do fly to Los Angeles, with a couple of non-stops and several stopping in Oakland or San Jose. As much as I hate SWA, using them to get to Reno in half an hour beats being stuck in traffic 4-6 hours both ways. For a "discount" airline, though, their fares are not really that cheap. I usually do better on when I fly within California and don't have to deal with the cattlecar seating and the snotty attitudes of the twenty-smomethings manning the customer service area at LAX.

Though I don't buy the OP's entire story, I have had bag checked through from one airline to another, at least on international flights. Never tried it domestically.


sorry, allowing you to give a competitors name would instigate others to just file against their competition, to only come back later to suggest their company your comments on this policy are welcome! CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

Recommendation for travellers using more than one airlines:

As a frequent world traveller I am very familiar with this problem. My recommendation, if you have to change airline, chose ones in the same airline allience group.

Some examples:
AA-BA-Qantas etc.(see One World Alliance)
Air Canada - United - Singapore etc. (see Star Alliance)
Airlines are required to accept, check in baggages all the way through to the final destination of any other airline in the same allience group. If it is OUT of US trip.

It is important: coming back to the US, many airports (for example LAX) requires you to claim your baggage, go through costume before transferring to any airlines. (Because small airports do not have costum service).

Southwest is NOT a member of any group.

To David: AA and Alaskan both provides direct flights from Reno to LAX. AA and Qantas are both member of the "One World Alliance".

Gotta agree with Peter on this one. Quick check on the internet shows that both American Airlines and Alaska Airlines fly Reno to LAX, non-stop.

Even if I owned a $2000 suit I sure wouldn't wear it for a 16 hour flight. Especially in coach. Red wine? Lucky some little kid didn't vomit on you in coach.

You're wrong that Southwest is the only airline that flies from Reno to LAX. In fact I don't think SWA even goes through Reno.

You could have also taken a direct flight from Reno to Sydney, Australia through United or US Airways with a stop in San Francisco.

First of all I fly over 100,000 miles every year. AA to BA. BA to LH. LH to SQ. SQ to JL. NEVER has any airline refused to check my bags all the way through to the final destination, regarless of what airlines I am flying.
As for why I was flying this trashy airline to LAX, I have no choice, they are the only ones flying the route.
Southwest Airlines is a trashy airline, with trashy clientele, and stupid employees.

First how was Southwest supposed to put your bags through for the entire trip when you are going on the next leg on ANOTHER AIRLINE!

Also good luck getting your bags to your final destination when you back from out of the country since the US has a law that have to pick up your baggage at the before leaving the secure area whether or not you have a connection to make. (and before uniformed people start trying to flame me for this remark. I currently live in Germany, and have flown home several times. So trust me I know because it is mentioned on the plane, and in the airport.)

I fail to see how it is reasonable to expect Southwest to check your bags when you are being transported to your final destination by another airline. How about going to the counter of the other airline to see about checking your bags? Southwest has nothing to do with the screwy itinerary that you booked.

Additionally, who wears a $2,000 suit when traveling coach on a budget airline? Methinks either you are exaggerating about the cost of your suit or you are only making up a story to get some free cash from the airline. Regardless of what, if anything, was spilled on you, Southwest offered to clean your garment for you, and YES, there ARE ways to remove red wine from clothing these days.

As far as the mix-up with your connection, it appears as though spending time at the counter fighting with the underpaid employee over nonsense, was more important to you than running to the terminal gate to catch your connecting flight.

Like I said, your story does not add up. Someone who takes a cross-continental trip wearing a $2,000 suit while traveling in coach yet demanding unreasonable things for no reason ... I'll stop right there. Your tale sounds a bit ridiculous.