Southwest Airlines

How to book and manage your flight Southwest Airlines

As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Southwest Airlines was headquartered in Dallas, Texas.  How To Book Southwest Airlines The airline is known for a few unique policies compared to other major carriers:

Open Seating Policy:  Southwest Airlines does not assign seats. Instead, passengers are placed in boarding groups A, B, or C, and positions 1-60. At the gate, passengers line up in their assigned order and can choose any available seat on the aircraft.

Bags Fly Free:  Southwest has a policy of not charging for the first two checked bags, which is a rarity among U.S. carriers, many of whom charge for any checked luggage.

No Change Fees:  Southwest does not charge fees to change a flight. If a customer wants to change their flight, they only pay the difference in fare. If the new fare is lower, the customer will receive the difference as a credit for future travel.

All-Boeing Fleet:  As of my knowledge cutoff, Southwest operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, contributing to the airline's strategy of operational simplicity and efficiency.

Southwest Airlines Stock

The company's stock price, like all stocks, fluctuates based on a variety of factors including the company's financial performance, economic conditions, and the overall health of the airline industry.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on Southwest Airlines' stock, I would recommend checking a reliable financial news website, an online stock market platform, or the New York Stock Exchange's official website. Please note that investing in the stock market involves risks, including the risk of loss, and it's important to do thorough research or consult with a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

How do I book a flight with Southwest Airlines?

Visit the Southwest Airlines Website: Start by going to www.southwest.com.

Enter Travel Details:  On their homepage, you will see a flight search box. Fill in your departure and arrival cities, departure and return dates, and the number of passengers.

Choose a Fare Type:  Southwest typically offers three fare types - Business Select, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away. Business Select is the most expensive, but comes with perks like priority boarding and extra Rapid Rewards points. Anytime fares are fully refundable and you can change your flight without an extra fee. Wanna Get Away fares are the cheapest, but they're non-refundable.

Select Flights:  After entering your information, you'll be taken to a page listing all available flights matching your criteria.   How To Book Southwest Airlines  Choose the flights that work best for you, considering factors like departure time, duration, price, and number of stops.

Enter Passenger Details:  You'll then need to enter information for each passenger, including full name and birthdate.

Southwest Airlines Classes

Business Select:  This is Southwest's top fare and it guarantees that you'll be one of the first passengers to board the plane (between positions A1-A15). This is beneficial because Southwest has an open seating policy, meaning you choose your own seat when you board the plane. You also get a premium drink on your day of travel and earn more Rapid Rewards points compared to the other fare types.

Anytime:  These fares are fully refundable and come with the ability to change your ticket at any time without paying any fees. The number of Rapid Rewards points you earn is less than Business Select but more than Wanna Get Away fares. Boarding positions are assigned after Business Select customers and before Wanna Get Away customers.

Wanna Get Away:  These are the cheapest fares offered by Southwest and are usually non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel your flight, the value can be used towards future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only.

Wanna Get Away

Price: "Wanna Get Away" fares are usually significantly cheaper than the "Anytime" and "Business Select" fare classes.

Refund Policy:  These tickets are non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel your flight, the value of the cancelled ticket can be applied towards future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only, provided the future flight takes place within one year of the original flight's booking date.

Anytime Fares

Price: "Anytime" fares are usually more expensive than "Wanna Get Away" fares, but they come with added flexibility and benefits.

Refund Policy:  These fares are fully refundable. If you cancel your flight, you can choose to receive a refund to your original payment method or keep the funds for future travel.

Changes:  As with all Southwest Airlines fares, there are no change fees. If you change to a flight that's more expensive, you'll only need to pay the fare difference.

Southwest Airlines Baggage Policy

Checked Baggage:  Southwest Airlines allows two checked bags for free. Each bag must not exceed 50 pounds and 62 inches (L+W+H). If a bag exceeds these limits, there are excess baggage fees.

Carry-On Baggage:  Passengers are allowed one carry-on bag plus one personal item (like a purse, briefcase, or laptop bag). The carry-on bag must not exceed 10 x 16 x 24 inches. The personal item should be of a size to fit under the seat in front of you.

Overweight and Oversize Bags: If your bag weighs between 51 and 100 pounds, or if it measures between 63 and 80 inches, there will be a $75 fee per item one way.