Something positive
I know it may be sacrilegious to post something you like about SW but here I am. I travel more than most, usually for business. I hardly ever need a checked bag but needed one for this trip. Traffic caused me to get here 44 mins before departure so couldn’t get my tag at the kiosk. The desk person took my bags with hardly any question. This is actually the second time this has happened to me. first was about 40mins before departure. As far as I know SW is the only airline that will make exceptions (at the attendant’s discretion) to the 45min rule.
I know there are TONS of people who have not gotten the same luck, and the vast majority of people don’t cut it as close as I do consistently but the fact that it’s even a possibility that your bag is accepted if your plans are disrupted by 5 mins at least gives you some hope rather than the auto no you’ll get at any other airline