Travelers at Dallas Love Field Airport are facing significant delays due to issues with the baggage check process, prompting airport officials to recommend arriving three hours before scheduled departure times.
The congestion stemmed from a higher-than-usual number of passengers, including attendees from a recently concluded sorority conference of 60,000 people in Dallas, as well as travelers affected by Hurricane Beryl and those returning from the Fourth of July holiday.
Compounding the situation, one of the airport’s baggage machines encountered mechanical problems early Thursday morning, causing delays in the luggage check-in process.
“We arrived at 6:30 a.m. for an 8:25 flight, but after waiting in line for nearly six hours, we had to rebook for 4:45,” said William Thoden, a traveler bound for New York. Others reported waiting for several hours, having to rebook flights and experiencing frustration as lines extended outside the terminal.
Despite resolving the mechanical issue by 7:30 a.m., the backlog persisted, with long lines snaking through the terminal and even outside the building, leading to heightened tensions among passengers.
Passengers using carry-on luggage were unaffected and proceeded through TSA security as usual. However, many in the baggage check line were attempting to speak with airline agents or rebook flights, even after missing their original flights.
Dallas Love Field Airport advised travelers, as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, to continue arriving three hours before departure due to ongoing congestion caused by the high volume of checked baggage.
“While baggage screening machines are operating at full capacity, the sheer number of passengers checking luggage is causing delays at check-in,” said an airport spokesperson. Southwest Airlines, being the hub carrier at Love Field, has been notably affected.
Airport teams are working to expedite the check-in and baggage processing process, although delays and frustrations among passengers persist.
“We apologize for any inconvenience and are focused on minimizing disruptions for our customers,” Southwest Airlines stated in response to the situation.
