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United StatesNoneRapid RewardsUS Major Airlines
Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic US carrier by passengers boarded and operates a point-to-point network rather than a traditional hub-and-spoke system. It is best known for a fare structure with no change fees and for flying into secondary city airports such as Chicago Midway, Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby that are often closer to downtown than the primary hub.
Key Travel Facts & Insights
Detailed answers on the ten things travellers ask most after booking.
No change fee on any Southwest fare except Basic — this is the carrier's signature policy and it long predates the industry-wide move away from change fees. You pay only the fare difference, and if the new fare is cheaper you keep the difference as flight credit.
How to change a flight24 hours before departure. With assigned seating this matters far less than it did under the old boarding-position scramble. 30 minutes before departure at most airports.
Check-in and boarding cutoffs| Fare | Includes | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | The lowest Southwest fare with standard carry-on allowance. | Non-changeable and non-refundable outside the 24-hour window, and boards last — the one Southwest fare that behaves like a traditional Basic Economy ticket. |
| Wanna Get Away Plus | Transferable flight credit, same-day standby and free changes. | Fare difference still applies on a change. |
| Anytime | Fully refundable to the original form of payment, priority boarding position. | Materially more expensive than Wanna Get Away fares. |
| Business Select | Refundable fare, boarding positions A1–A15, a free premium drink and bonus Rapid Rewards. | There is no separate premium cabin — the seat is the same. |
An all-Boeing 737 fleet — the largest 737 operator in the world — which keeps maintenance and crew training costs unusually low.
Not universally. Southwest has moved to a paid checked bag model on most fares, retaining free bags for A-List Preferred members and eligible Rapid Rewards cardholders. Check the allowance attached to your specific fare at booking rather than relying on the legacy policy.
No. Southwest has moved to assigned seating, selected at booking. The old boarding-position scramble at the 24-hour check-in mark no longer determines where you sit.
On non-refundable fares you forfeit the entire ticket value. Southwest requires cancellation at least 10 minutes before departure to preserve the funds as flight credit — cancel in the app even if you are already running late.
We confirm live fares, seat availability and the exact baggage and change rules attached to your fare before you pay — then stay with you through any change, cancellation or claim.