8 Things to Know Before You Fly Southwest Airlines

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If you have been looking for cheap flights, Southwest Airlines may have popped up in the search results with low fares, but you may not know much about this discount carrier. 

Southwest Airlines offers low airfares and an abundance of schedules to more destinations than the typical low-cost carrier. 

In this article, I’ll detail everything you need to know before you book a flight on Southwest.

Routes

Southwest Airlines is based in Dallas, Texas.

It flies to more than 120 destinations in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. 

Screenshot via www.southwest.com

Fares

Southwest Airlines offers four fare classes, each with its own unique benefits. When flying on Southwest, all fares come with:

  • No change fees
  • Two bags fly free
  • No cancellation fees

This is a generous benefit that sets Southwest apart from its competitors. 

Screenshot via www.southwest.com

Seat Selection and Boarding

Southwest Airlines operates differently in that they have an open seating policy. You will be assigned your boarding group and position based on when you check in for the flight. 

There are three boarding groups (A, B, or C) and what they call position numbers which are numbered 1-60. There are numbered spots in the gate area that show you where to line up when your group is called. 

When you board the aircraft, you can choose any open seat, which could pose a problem if you are traveling with children or may be disabled. The good news is that there are ways to ensure earlier boarding and better seat selection. 

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Here are some ways to board on the earlier side:

  • Set Your Alarm (no extra purchase needed!): Set a reminder for a few minutes before the 24-hour check-in window opens up, log in via the website or the Southwest app, and be ready to go. By checking in right as the boarding window opens, you should be able to snag a better boarding position.
  • Purchase EarlyBird Check-In: This automates the check-in process, so you do not have to worry about it or remember to set your alarm. The best part about this feature is that it gets you checked in before the 24-hour window opens to other passengers.
  • Purchase Upgraded Boarding: This is not available on all flights, but if you happen to see it as an option, it allows you to upgrade your boarding position to A1-A15 which essentially is right at the beginning of boarding. 
  • Purchase or upgrade to a Business Select fare: Business Select guarantees an A1-A15 boarding queue position.

In addition, Southwest offers Family Boarding but that still does not guarantee that a family can sit together. Family boarding takes place after group A has boarded and right before group B starts. 

“I have never, ever paid for Early Bird. Because I always set an alarm and check in exactly 24 hours in advance [of my flight.] We’ve never ended up in a center seat. And as far as being able to sit together, that has not been a problem checking in exactly 24 hours in advance” says money expert Clark Howard.

Baggage Fees

Southwest allows you to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item onboard completely free of charge! In addition, Southwest allows you to check two bags completely free of charge. 

If you are a golfer or skier, both of those bags count toward your free baggage allowance as long as they meet the weight requirements. 

Screenshot via www.southwest.com

Change and Cancellation Fees

Southwest has, perhaps, the best policy for changing or canceling your trip. They understand that plans change, and there will never be a fee to change or cancel a trip. 

The only thing that Southwest charges for is a difference in fare if the new flight costs more than the original. But should you encounter a lower fare, they will refund the difference to your original form of payment or will be held as a credit for future travel.  

One caveat is that you can only change or cancel your flight up to 10 minutes before departure time. If you do not cancel or make changes before the 10-minute window, your reservation will be canceled, and you will be considered a no-show. 

Other Fees

Here are the other fees listed on Southwest’s website

ServiceFee
3rd + Checked Bags$75
Overweight Checked Bags (50.1-100lbs)*$75
EarlyBird Check-In$15-$25 one-way, per Customer
Upgraded Boarding$30-$60 per segment, per Customer
Unaccompanied Minor$50 per minor ages 5-11
One-way Carryon Pet Charge$95 per pet carrier
Wi-Fi$8
Beer & Wine$6-7
*Beginning 8/15/2023, Overweight Checked Bags will cost $100 per bag (51-70 lbs.) OR $125 per bag (71-100lbs).

More Ways to Save Money on Southwest

Flight flexibility and shopping in advance are key to scoring a great deal on airfare. Websites like Google Flights are great in that you can search airfare on a variety of airlines and sign up for notifications when the fare drops. Unfortunately, Southwest is not on Google Flights, so it would be wise to check both when shopping.

Generally, Clark is not a fan of airline-specific credit cards that lock you into one airline. But he carries the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card in his wallet and can be heard singing its praises in a recent podcast episode.

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Food, Beverage, and Entertainment

Southwest Airlines does provide complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages on flights of 176 miles or more. If your flight is less than 176 miles, only water will be available. 

Southwest outlines its drink and snack policy and what to expect on its site. It is important to note that all in-flight purchases are cashless. Only credit and debit cards are accepted. 

Southwest Airlines does offer free movies, live TV, and free texting onboard their aircraft. It costs $8 for Wi-Fi, and you must use your own device. 

Customer Service

Need to cancel your flight? No problem. You can easily do this on the Southwest website or their mobile app.

But if you would like to speak to someone, they make it easy.

You can get in touch via:

  • Phone (800-435-9792)
  • Email
  • Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram)
  • Send them a letter via mail

The table below shows 2023 data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, which includes overall customer satisfaction ratings from Southwest Airlines customers and those of other airlines. 

Airlines2023 Score% Change
Alaska Airlines818%
American Airlines781%
Southwest Airlines781%
United Airlines770%
Delta Air Lines76-1%
JetBlue Airways76-4%
Allegiant Air757%
All Others721%
Frontier Airlines672%
Spirit Airlines642%
All Airlines (Average)761%

See more on airline customer satisfaction ratings in our article

According to the October 2022 Air Travel Consumer Report from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 67.66% of Southwest flights were reported to have arrived on time in August (most recent data available). Southwest only had 2.12 complaints per 100,000 flights, ranking them third out of seventeen. The airline with the least complaints per 100,000 flights was Horizon with, 1.28. 

Final Thoughts

If you love knowing that you have ultimate flight flexibility and don’t like paying a lot of fees when traveling, then Southwest should be on your radar. 

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If you require extra assistance, need overhead bin space or would like to board the plane first, it is essential to pay close attention to their boarding rules and try to secure that earlier spot.

Have you flown with Southwest before? Share your experience in our Clark.com Community

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