Southwest Airlines: Travel Tips And Tricks

how to travel on southwest airlines

Southwest Airlines is a unique airline in the United States, offering a no-frills, low-cost carrier experience with several customer-friendly perks. The airline offers no change fees, allowing passengers to be flexible with their travel plans. Notably, Southwest provides free checked bags, with passengers allowed to check in two bags at no extra cost, a rarity among US air carriers. The airline also offers complimentary entertainment streaming and free snacks and drinks, although full meals are not served. Passengers should be aware that Southwest does not assign seats, instead, travellers are assigned a boarding group and position, with the option to upgrade for a fee. Overall, Southwest Airlines provides a convenient and affordable travel option, particularly for domestic flights within the United States.

Characteristics Values
Seat Allocation No pre-assigned seating. Passengers choose their own seats in any available row.
Boarding Passengers are assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a position (1-60). Passengers can pay to upgrade their boarding group.
Checked Bags First two checked bags are free. Additional bags cost $125 each.
Change Fees No change fees. Passengers can change their flight without paying any fees, but a fare difference may apply.
Entertainment Free streaming entertainment available through the Southwest app. WiFi access costs $8 per flight, per device.
Snacks and Drinks Free snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are provided. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
Loyalty Program Rapid Rewards program where members can earn points for flights, hotel stays, rental cars, and more. Points don't expire.
Destinations Serves more than 100 destinations across the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and Hawaii.

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Booking and boarding process

Southwest Airlines has a unique boarding process that can baffle first-time travellers. Unlike most airlines, Southwest does not assign specific seats to travellers. Instead, it has an open-seating style, allowing travellers to pick their seats from whatever is available once they board the plane.

The Southwest boarding process typically has three groups: A, B, and C, with positions 1-60. Your boarding group and position are printed on your boarding pass, which you can get by checking in online or at the airport. The check-in window opens 24 hours before your flight, and your check-in time determines your boarding position. The earlier you check in, the better your boarding position.

If you get A1, you will likely be the first passenger to board the plane. On the other hand, if you get C60, you might have to settle for a middle seat near the bathroom.

At the gate, passengers line up at numbered posts according to their boarding group and position. For example, if your boarding pass shows Group A and position 40, you would line up at the post for Group A, positions 31-60. Boarding is called in groups of 30, with Group A boarding first, followed by Group B, and then Group C.

There are a few exceptions to the standard boarding process. Pre-boarding is available for passengers who need assistance or have specific seating needs due to a disability. Families with young children are also given special boarding privileges, with up to two adults per child under 6 years old allowed to board after Group A. Active military personnel can also board at this time.

Southwest offers several ways to get an early boarding position. These include purchasing a Business Select fare, buying EarlyBird Check-In, or achieving A-List elite status. Additionally, certain Southwest credit cards offer benefits like complimentary Upgraded Boarding or EarlyBird Check-In.

While the Southwest boarding process may seem confusing at first, checking in exactly 24 hours before your flight will generally give you a good boarding position.

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Luggage allowance

Southwest Airlines is one of the most generous airlines when it comes to baggage allowance. The airline allows passengers to bring one carry-on bag and one small personal item on board free of charge. The carry-on bag must not exceed 24 x 16 x 10 inches (61 x 40 x 25 cm) and can be placed in the overhead locker. The personal item must not exceed 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inches (47 x 21.5 x 34 cm) and needs to fit under the seat in front of you. It's important to note that if you're travelling with a pet, the pet carrier will count as part of your carry-on allowance.

In addition to the carry-on allowance, Southwest Airlines also offers two free checked bags per ticketed customer. This is extremely rare among airlines and makes Southwest a popular choice for travellers. The checked bags must adhere to a maximum weight of 50 lbs (23 kg) and maximum linear dimensions of 62 inches (158 cm). If your checked baggage exceeds these limits, you will be charged additional fees. Overweight baggage (51-70 lbs) will incur a charge of $100, while bags weighing 71-100 lbs will cost $125. Similarly, oversized baggage (up to 80 inches) will cost an extra $125 per bag.

It's worth noting that Southwest Airlines also offers special allowances for certain items, such as sports equipment. You may substitute certain items as part of your checked baggage allowance, as long as they do not exceed the specified weight and size limits. However, if these items exceed the limits, additional charges will apply.

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In-flight entertainment and amenities

Southwest Airlines offers a wide range of in-flight entertainment options to keep passengers engaged and entertained throughout their journey. Here's what you can expect:

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Entertainment System:

Southwest Airlines has a unique bring-your-own-device entertainment system. Instead of built-in seatback screens, passengers are encouraged to bring their own devices, such as phones, tablets, or laptops. By connecting to the "SouthwestWiFi" network, passengers can access a variety of entertainment options directly on their personal devices.

Free Entertainment Options:

The airline provides a range of free entertainment options through its inflight entertainment portal. This includes:

  • Movies: A wide variety of new releases and classics are available, including popular titles like "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," "Dune: Part Two," and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
  • TV Shows: Passengers can enjoy on-demand TV shows, with options like "Parks and Recreation," "The Office," "Chopped," and "Cocomelon."
  • Live TV: Southwest offers 12 live TV channels to choose from.
  • Music: Passengers can listen to music for free during their flight with iHeartRadio.
  • Flight Tracker: The flight tracker feature allows passengers to follow their flight's progress in real time, making it easy to identify landmarks, towns, and freeways below.

Internet Access:

For those who need to stay connected, Southwest offers Wi-Fi access for $8 per flight per device. This allows passengers to browse the web, check emails, or access social media. However, it's important to note that some high-bandwidth applications, websites, and video conferencing services may be restricted.

Texting:

Passengers can stay in touch with their loved ones during the flight by sending texts via iMessage and WhatsApp for free.

Snacks and Beverages:

Southwest Airlines offers complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages on most of its flights. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase, and passengers must be 21 years or older to consume alcohol onboard.

Power Outlets and Bluetooth:

While most of Southwest's fleet does not have charging ports, the airline is in the process of adding in-seat power outlets to its aircraft. Each seat will feature USB-A and USB-C ports capable of delivering up to 60W of power. Additionally, passengers can take advantage of Bluetooth connectivity to connect their wireless earbuds or headphones to their devices.

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Food and drink

Southwest Airlines offers complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks on all flights. This includes soft drinks, coffee, pretzels, and peanuts. On longer flights, passengers can also choose from a wider selection of complimentary snacks, such as plane-shaped cinnamon graham cookies, breakfast bars, and Oreos.

Passengers can also purchase alcoholic drinks onboard, including beer, wine, spirits, and mixed drinks, which typically cost $6–$7.

It's worth noting that Southwest Airlines does not serve meals onboard, so passengers are advised to bring their own food if they plan to eat during longer flights.

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Loyalty programs

Southwest Airlines has a loyalty program called Rapid Rewards. Members can earn points by flying, spending on co-branded credit cards, shopping online, and more. Points can be redeemed for any Southwest flight with available seats, as well as gift cards, merchandise, hotel stays, rental cars, and exclusive cardmember experiences through the Southwest More Rewards program.

One of the benefits of the Rapid Rewards program is that there are no blackout dates, and points don't expire. This means that members have the flexibility to choose any travel date that works for them without worrying about their points disappearing. Additionally, there are no change or cancellation fees, making it convenient to modify travel plans.

Rapid Rewards members can also take advantage of the Companion Pass benefit, which allows them to bring a companion on their flights for nearly free. They only need to pay the taxes and fees for their companion's ticket. This can result in significant savings for those who regularly fly with others.

The program has two elite status tiers: A-List and A-List Preferred. Elite status members enjoy benefits such as priority boarding, bonus points on paid flights, free same-day standby, priority check-in, and free in-flight Wi-Fi for A-List Preferred members.

The Southwest loyalty program also offers a unique boarding process. Instead of traditional assigned seating, Southwest assigns passengers to one of three groups (A, B, or C) and gives them a boarding position (1-60+). The boarding group and position determine the order in which passengers board the plane. Checking in early, purchasing certain fare types, or achieving elite status can help passengers secure an earlier boarding position.

While the Southwest Rapid Rewards program offers many benefits, it's important to note that it may not be suitable for those seeking international travel or business/first-class options. The airline's destinations are limited to North America, select cities in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Additionally, Southwest planes have only economy seating.

Frequently asked questions

You need to book directly on their website, Southwest.com.

Southwest Airlines offers four price categories: Business Select, Anytime, Wanna Get Away Plus, and Wanna Getaway. The cheapest option is Wanna Getaway, which still includes two free checked bags, snacks, and drinks onboard. Business Select is the most expensive option and includes benefits such as priority check-in, priority boarding, more Rapid Rewards points, and a premium drink.

Southwest Airlines does not assign seats in advance. Instead, passengers are assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a position number. The boarding group and position dictate the order in which passengers board the plane, with A1 boarding before A2, and so on. Passengers can then choose their own seats once onboard.

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