Southwest Airlines Reservations
Call On: +1-844-719-6818
Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest low-cost carrier, and it’s no wonder they’re so popular. Southwest offers some extremely low fares with the addition of standard perks like free checked bags, inflight refreshments, and award winning customer service.
Basic Info
Airline: Southwest Airlines
Alliance: None
Category: (World’s Largest) Low-Cost Airline
Frequent Flyer Program: Rapid Rewards
Tag Line: “Low fares. Nothing to hide.”
About/Mission Statement: The mission of Southwest Airlines is: dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit.
Fleet: 735
Main Hub: Dallas, Love Field
Daily Departures: >4,000
Destinations: 101 (U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, & the Bahamas)
Ticketing Options
We all Wanna Get Away! That is, after all, the reason we love to travel. And Southwest Airlines understood this when they cleverly named one of their fare classes Wanna Get Away fares. But a clever name is one thing, and understanding how to differentiate Wanna Get Away fares from the other fares Southwest Airlines Offers is another.
Southwest Airlines doesn’t offer business class, extra legroom seating or basic economy, but it does have three fare categories: Business Select, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away.
The differences aren’t as great as other airlines, but Wanna Get Away fares do come with some restrictions that you’ll want to be mindful of.
Southwest Airlines Has Three Fare Types
Business Select – Southwest’s top fare which includes priority boarding (which means you are the first to select seats onboard), bonus Rapid Rewards Points per dollar, and a complimentary cocktail or beer. These tickets are fully refundable and you can change your ticket at any time.
When you refund these tickets the funds are applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only. Standby travel between the same city pairs and on the original date of travel is permitted with no change in fare. This is as close as it comes to first class on Southwest.
Anytime – This is Southwest’s fully refundable “Y” fare. This fare allows you to change your ticket at any time without penalty. Standby travel between the same city pairs and on the original date of travel is permitted, and these fares are consistent across multiple dates, so there is typically little to no fare difference on changes.
Wanna Get Away – These are non-refundable fares, and encompass all of the fare buckets that aren’t business select, or full-fare “Y” refundable tickets.
Wanna Get Away is by no means a basic economy fare. Passengers still get to check two bags for free. They still have the same shot as Anytime Fare customers at getting A-group boarding. This fare comes with fewer Rapid Rewards points and flying standby on a different same day flight can cost extra. If you want to fly standby, you will have to pay the difference between what you paid and the published Anytime fare. On the plus side, there is no change fee charged on top of your fare.
You can change your flight at any time. Just keep in mind with Southwest fares go up as your travel date gets closer. Though fares are nonrefundable, you can still cancel without penalty and the fare can be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only.
Call On: +1-844-719-6818
16 ways to earn Rapid Rewards points
- Southwest credit card sign-up bonuses
- Southwest credit card spending
- Transferring points from other credit cards
- Rapid Rewards shopping portal
- Rapid Rewards Dining program
- Booking Southwest flights
- Purchasing higher-class fares
- Elite status
- Rental cars
- Vacation packages
- Paying your electricity bill
- Hotel partners
- Rocketmiles
- Filling out e-Rewards surveys
- Signing up for a Chase Mortgage
- Buying Southwest points
- Refer a friend to a Southwest card
Southwest Companion Pass: Why You Want It and How to Get It
It's like a buy-one-get-one-free deal on flights, but earning it can be a challenge. A Southwest credit card can help.
The Southwest Companion Pass is a much-coveted perk among Southwest loyalists and air travel aficionados.
That’s because owning the pass is akin to getting a buy-one-get-one deal on your Southwest flight: Every time you buy a flight or redeem points for a free flight, you can choose a companion to fly with you for free, minus the taxes and fees (more on that later).
Enjoying a Companion Pass is easy, but earning it can be a challenge. Here’s everything you need to know, including how to use Southwest’s co-branded credit cards to help fast-track you to such a pass.
What is a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass?
The Companion Pass is a sought-after highlight of the Southwest Rapid Rewards program because it’s among the most valuable benefits of its kind. It allows you to pick one person to fly with you without paying any airline charges for your travel companion, aside from mandatory taxes and fees, which start at $5.60 one-way.
To qualify for a traditional Companion Pass, you’ll need to do one of the following:
Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, or;
Earn 125,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. Qualifying points include those that you earn through revenue flights booked via Southwest; those that you earn on Southwest credit cards; and base points you earn from Rapid Rewards partners.
If you meet either of those criteria, you’ll earn the Companion Pass for the rest of the year in which you qualified and the following calendar year. So if you earn the Companion Pass in, say, July 2020, it will be valid through the end of December 2021. You’ll need to re-qualify every year to hold on to your status.
How to get a Companion Pass faster
Unless you travel every week on a Southwest flight, it’s probably more feasible to earn 125,000 Rapid Rewards points to get you to that coveted pass status.
Traditionally, the quickest way to amass that pile of points has been by earning the sign-up bonus on at least one of the three Southwest consumer credit cards:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Although these three cards’ annual fees and perks vary, they all earn the same ongoing rewards and have the same sign-up bonus: Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. That can get you started toward the 125,000-point threshold.
There are also two business credit cards:
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, which has the following sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card, which has the following sign-up bonus: Earn 70,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 30,000 points after you spend $25,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.
Ongoing rewards and sign-up bonuses all count toward a traditional Companion Pass, as do the annual anniversary points you get with each card.
Here are the best strategies for earning Rapid Rewards points:
Get a Southwest Airlines credit card and meet the spending requirement for the sign-up bonus: This can get you on your way to that 125,000-point goal.
Fly Southwest and use your co-branded card to pay for the tickets: The Southwest cards all earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest flights, so a $100 flight will earn you 200 points.
Book a hotel stay or rental car with a Rapid Rewards partner and pay with your card.
This includes recognizable names like Hyatt, Marriott, Hertz and Budget.
Shop online through Southwest’s bonus mall: Spending money through Rapid Rewards Shopping partners can net you extra points for your regular spending.
Become a Rapid Rewards Dining member: When you dine at participating restaurants and pay with your enrolled card, you can earn more qualifying points.
What not to do
It’s understandable to want to earn a Companion Pass as quickly as possible. Just note that these “shortcuts” won’t work:
Don’t transfer points from another card: Some rewards cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, will let you transfer the points you earn on them into your Rapid Rewards account. But transferred points are not Companion Pass-eligible.
Don’t try to buy your way to a Companion Pass: Points that you purchase won’t count, nor will points transferred between members, or converted from hotel and car loyalty programs.
Don’t run afoul of Chase’s “One Southwest Card” rule: If you already have a Southwest consumer card, you likely will not be eligible for another. Similarly, if you’ve already earned a sign-up bonus from a Southwest consumer card within the past 24 months, you likely cannot qualify for a different consumer card.
Don’t forget about Chase’s 5/24 rule, which has to do with how many sign-up bonuses a cardholder can snag in a two-year period. The “One Southwest Card” rule doesn’t apply to Southwest business cards, so you could potentially apply for, say, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card. But depending on your situation, if you’ve recently applied for several other cards in addition to those two, you still may be denied.
What is Southwest Airlines' (WN) baggage policy?
The Southwest Airlines (WN) baggage policy for regular basic fares include the following:
Carry-on baggage.
1 personal item - Fee free
1 carry-on item - Fee free
Checked baggage / Hold luggage - Applicable fees per bag increase with number checked beyond 2 bags
Overweight and Oversize bags - Applicable fees per bag depending on weight and size categories
Sports equipment - Certain items might have applicable fees
What is Southwest Airlines' (WN) carry-on baggage policy?
Southwest Airlines (WN) allows 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag) per passenger fee free.
Carry-on should not exceed the following size and weight restrictions:
- 50 linear inches (24 x 16 x 10 in) or 127 centimeters (61 x 41 x 28 cm) including handles and wheels
- Fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.
- Personal item should of proper size to fit under the seat in front of you
- The following items do not count against the "one-bag plus one personal-type item" limit:
- A child restraint device for a ticketed child with a reserved seat or when complimentary, available space exists.
- Assistive/mobility devices for individuals with a disability. There is no limit to the number of assistive/mobility devices a Customer can bring onboard the aircraft.
- Outer garments or other wearable articles of clothing.
- Food for consumption during flight contained in disposable packaging.
- Walking canes or umbrellas.
- NOTE: Bulkhead seats do not have under seat storage, therefore, all carry-on baggage must be stowed in the overhead bin during take-off and landing.
What is Southwest Airlines' (WN) checked baggage / hold luggage policy?
Southwest Airlines' (WN) standard checked baggage / hold luggage policy details follow:
2 bags standard, up to 10 bags maximum
Maximum dimensions: 62 inches or 157 centimeters (length + width + height)
Maximum weight: 50 pounds or 23 kilograms
Are there fees for baggage on Southwest Airlines (WN)?
Yes, fees might apply if you want to check more than two bags. The first two bags checked are fee free. If you are an active U S military personnel and/or dependent then additional bags may be checked fee free.
Southwest Airlines' (WN) standard checked baggage / hold luggage fees follow:p>
First bag: Fee Free
Second bag: Fee Free
What is Southwest Airlines' (WN) fee for excess baggage?
Southwest Airlines (WN) will charge $75.00 USD per bag for the third bag and any additional bags.
Note: Passengers traveling to/from Belize, Mexico City, Montego Bay, and San Jose, Costa Rica from November 16 through January 16 are limited to 2 checked bags.
What is Southwest Airlines' (WN) fee for overweight baggage?
Southwest Airlines (WN) will charge the following for bags that are greater than the standard 50 pounds or 23 kilograms:
51 to 100 pounds or 24 to 46 kilograms: $75.00 USD extra per bag
Bags exceeding 100 pounds or 46 kilograms will not be accepted as checked baggage / hold luggage.
What is Southwest Airlines' (WN) fee for oversize baggage?
Southwest Airlines (WN) will charge $75.00 USD extra for bags that are from 63 to 115 linear inches or from 160 to 292 centimeters. Bags greater than 115 linear inches or 292 centimeters will not be accepted as checked baggage / hold luggage.
Are there fees for sports equipment on Southwest Airlines (WN)?
Sports equipment such as skis, golf bags, fishing equipment, hockey, and lacrosse equipment will be accepted up to Southwest Airlines' (WN) size and weight limits and will count as one checked bag/hold bag. Associated fees might be applied.
CPAP Devices:
CPAP are allowed. They do not count as a carry on. No advanced notifications are required.
How is boarding order determined on Southwest?
On Southwest passengers are broken up into three groups — A, B, and C — and each passenger is given a number in that range, typically from 1 to 60.
The plane is boarded in order of your priority, meaning that A1 boards first, and C60 boards last (assuming there are passengers with those numbers). So while other airlines have zones, Southwest literally has an exact order in which people board.
So first Southwest lines up the people with “A” boarding passes, and you stand in groups of five.
30 people from each zone stand on the left, and 30 on the right, and then the monitors change when they are ready to board the next group.
While many people care about boarding priority in general to ensure they can get their bags in the overhead bins, it’s especially important on Southwest, given that they have open seating, so it also determines where you sit.
However, there are options to get even better boarding positions than that:
If you get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card you’ll receive four priority boardings every anniversary year, where you can buy them on the day of departure, and you’ll be reimbursed; this $149 annual fee card comes with a slew of other great benefits, including 7,500 points on your account anniversary each year, and much more
If you purchase a BusinessSelect Fare, you’ll be guaranteed a seat in the A1-A15 range
A-List members automatically get a boarding position right behind BusinessSelect customers
You can pay for EarlyBird Check-In, where Southwest will automatically check you in 36 hours before departure, meaning you’ll typically have a great boarding priority; however, this doesn’t guarantee a specific boarding number, and the priority still comes behind A-List members
While not a paid option, families get to board after the A group and before the B group
How chaotic was Southwest boarding?
As I said above, Southwest has historically been known for their “cattle call” boarding. But I’m not sure that’s totally fair, given that this is what the gate looks like for most American flights I take nowadays:
So I was shocked to find how orderly the Southwest boarding process was. Admittedly this is a small sample size, but only about a third of the plane got up when boarding was initially called (those in the A group), everyone seemed to know what was going on, etc.
The process was extremely civilized. People lined up in their “areas,” and could quite easily tell who belonged where. At most people seemed to ask one or two other people about their position — “I’m A32, what are you?”
I thought it was significantly more civilized than the pushing and shoving and crowding I’m used to on other airlines. So I actually love the process Southwest has for letting people on the plane.
What I don’t love, however, is the Southwest policy of not assigning seats. I get the idea, but in practice I found it to be chaos on both of my flights. Admittedly these were flights to and from Havana which is probably a different experience than usual, but it was chaos in both directions.
People were reserving entire rows, the crew specifically announced that people couldn’t reserve seats, but of course that didn’t stop people from taking it upon themselves to do so. Then towards the end of boarding everyone would walk to the back of the plane thinking they’d get an aisle or window there, only to end up coming back to the front of the plane and getting a middle seat.
Bottom line
Perhaps this flight was an exception but I found the process of boarding my Southwest flight to be significantly more civilized than what I’m used to on other airlines. I’m just not a fan of the open seating policy, as it encourages people to reserve seats, spread out in ways they wouldn’t otherwise in hopes of getting an empty middle, etc. But that’s just me, and with the right Southwest credit card you can at least ensure that you’re boarding earlier.
