Fare Information
Fare options
Southwest® offers four fares–Business Select®, Anytime, Wanna Get Away+™, and Wanna Get Away®–as well as a few unique fares (i.e. military fares) and optional services. You can book most of these fares and services online, but a few services require you to call our Customer Service Representatives, and/or purchase in-airport.
Fares may vary based on destination, flight, day and time of travel, demand, fare type selected, and other factors. If you change any of these factors, lower fares may be available. Fares may be available for a limited time or limited number of seats. Fares are subject to change until tickets are purchased. Reservations must be made at least one hour prior to departure for domestic flights and two hours for international flights. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply.
Important information about reservation changes and cancellations
We know sometimes plans change. If you aren’t planning to travel on any portion of your itinerary, you have a few options:
- Change your reservation as far in advance as possible. There’s no fee to change your flight, but a difference in fares may apply.
- Cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. If you don’t cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before the flight’s original scheduled departure time, the value of Business Select or Anytime tickets will be refunded in the form of a flight credit. Unfortunately, any Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus funds will be forfeited.
- Keep your confirmation number. In the event you cancel your reservation, please make note of your confirmation number. Customers calling to request a refund or inquiring about funds for a specific ticket must provide their confirmation number, ticket number, or flight information (date, origin, and destination).
- Rapid Rewards® reservations. When you don’t show up for a reservation booked with Rapid Rewards points, the points will be redeposited to the original purchaser’s account and any taxes and fees associated with the travel will be held for future use in the form of flight credit under the name of the Passenger(s).
All Southwest fares come with:
- Two bags fly free®. When you fly with us, your first and second checked bags fly free.1
- No change fees. We never charge a fee to change your flight.2
- 100% free inflight entertainment. The Inflight Entertainment Portal features a flight tracker, arrival and connecting gate information, and access to Southwest.com® at no charge, as well as free live TV3, free movies, free messaging4, and free destination guides. For more information, visit southwest.com/wifi.
Our four main fares are Business Select, Anytime, Wanna Get Away+, and Wanna Get Away.
Business Select fares
- A better boarding position so you’ll be one of the first Customers to board the plane. In an irregular operation situation, the boarding position is not guaranteed.
- Refundable, as long as you cancel your reservation at least ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight. If you cancel, you’re eligible to receive 100% of your ticket value as a refund to your original form of payment. A Southwest flight credit from a previous reservation that is applied toward a Business Select or Anytime fare will be refunded as a flight credit.
- One complimentary premium drink on the day of travel. Complimentary premium drink (on flights 176 miles or more). You must be 21 years or older to drink alcoholic beverages.
- Priority Lanes and Express Lanes, (where available), are designed to speed our Business Select and Anytime Customers, as well as A-List, and A-List Preferred Members, through check-in and security lines. Priority Lanes are at Southwest check-in counters, and Express Lanes are at security checkpoints.
- Earn 12X the Rapid Rewards points on your base fare for qualifying flights. Qualifying flights include flights booked and flown through Southwest and flights paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers®, gift cards or flight credits, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points. (here’s how points are earned).
- Same-day change/Same-day standby: For same-day changes, on your day of travel, if there’s an open seat on a different flight that departs on the same calendar day as your original flight and it’s between the same cities, you can get a seat on the new flight free of airline charges. If there isn’t an open seat on this different flight, you can ask a Southwest Gate Agent to add you to the same-day standby list for a flight between the same city pairs that departs on the same calendar day prior to your originally scheduled flight, and you will receive a message if you are cleared on the flight. For both the same-day change and same-day standby benefits, you must change your flight or request to be added to the same-day standby list at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your original flight or the no-show policy will apply. Based on the flight status contact preference selected during booking, the message regarding your standby status will be an email or text message with a link to access the boarding pass via the Southwest app, mobile web, or you can visit a Southwest Gate Agent to print off the boarding pass. If there are any government taxes and fees associated with these itinerary changes, you will be required to pay those. Your original boarding position is not guaranteed.
Anytime fares
- Earn 10X the Rapid Rewards points on your base fare for qualifying flights. Qualifying flights include flights booked and flown through Southwest and flights paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards or flight credits, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points. (here’s how points are earned).
- Refundable, as long as you cancel your reservation at least ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight. If you cancel, you’re eligible to receive 100% of your ticket value as a refund to your original form of payment. A Southwest flight credit from a previous reservation that is applied toward a Business Select or Anytime fare will be refunded as a flight credit.
- Same-day change/Same-day standby: For same-day changes, on your day of travel, if there’s an open seat on a different flight that departs on the same calendar day as your original flight and it’s between the same cities, you can get a seat on the new flight free of airline charges. If there isn’t an open seat on this different flight, you can ask a Southwest Gate Agent to add you to the same-day standby list for a flight between the same city pairs that departs on the same calendar day prior to your originally scheduled flight, and you will receive a message if you are cleared on the flight. For both the same-day change and same-day standby benefits, you must change your flight or request to be added to the same-day standby list at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your original flight or the no-show policy will apply. Based on the flight status contact preference selected during booking, the message regarding your standby status will be an email or text message with a link to access the boarding pass via the Southwest app, mobile web, or you can visit a Southwest Gate Agent to print off the boarding pass. If there are any government taxes and fees associated with these itinerary changes, you will be required to pay those. Your original boarding position is not guaranteed.
Wanna Get Away+ fares
- Flight credits for non-refundable fares will be issued as long as the flight is canceled more than 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Flight credits unexpired on or created on or after July 28, 2022 do not expire and will show an expiration date until our systems are updated. A flight credit with an expiration date on or before July 27, 2022, is expired in accordance with its existing expiration date. See My Account for flight credit expiration dates, if any.
- Earn 8X the Rapid Rewards points on your base fare for qualifying flights. Qualifying flights include flights booked and flown through Southwest and flights paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards or flight credits, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points. (here’s how points are earned).
- Transferable Flight Credit™: Transferable Flight Credits™ allows you to transfer your flight credit to someone else. Both must be Rapid Rewards® Members and only one transfer is permitted. Transferrable Flight Credits™ unexpired on or created on or after July 28, 2022 do not expire and will show an expiration date until our systems are updated. A Transferable Flight Credit™ with an expiration date on or before July 27, 2022, is expired in accordance with its existing expiration date. For bookings made through a Southwest® Business channel, there is a limitation to transfer only between employees within the organization.
- Same-day change/Same-day standby: For same-day changes, on your day of travel, if there’s an open seat on a different flight that departs on the same calendar day as your original flight and it’s between the same cities, you can get a seat on the new flight free of airline charges. If there isn’t an open seat on this different flight, you can ask a Southwest Gate Agent to add you to the same-day standby list for a flight between the same city pairs that departs on the same calendar day prior to your originally scheduled flight, and you will receive a message if you are cleared on the flight. For both the same-day change and same-day standby benefits, you must change your flight or request to be added to the same-day standby list at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your original flight or the no-show policy will apply. Based on the flight status contact preference selected during booking, the message regarding your standby status will be an email or text message with a link to access the boarding pass via the Southwest app, mobile web, or you can visit a Southwest Gate Agent to print off the boarding pass. If there are any government taxes and fees associated with these itinerary changes, you will be required to pay those. Your original boarding position is not guaranteed.
Wanna Get Away fares
- Flight credits for non-refundable fares will be issued as long as the flight is canceled more than 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Flight credits unexpired on or created on or after July 28, 2022 do not expire and will show an expiration date until our systems are updated. A flight credit with an expiration date on or before July 27, 2022, is expired in accordance with its existing expiration date. See My Account for flight credit expiration dates, if any.
- Earn 6X the Rapid Rewards points on your base fare for qualifying flights. Qualifying flights include flights booked and flown through Southwest and flights paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards or flight credits, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points. (here’s how points are earned).
- Our lowest fare that still includes all your favorite benefits: Two bags fly free1, two carryons, bags, no change fees2, free inflight entertainment3, and your choice of seats.
Additional fares and services
Rapid Rewards Companion Pass® fares
- Fares do not include taxes, fees, and other government or airport-imposed charges from $5.60 per one-way trip.
- The Companion Pass can be used only when the Companion is traveling with a Companion Pass holder.
- Both the Companion Pass holder and the Companion must be booked on the same flights and dates. If the Companion Pass holder’s ticket is canceled, then the Companion’s ticket will also be canceled.
- All Companion Pass travel must be completed by the expiration date printed on the Companion Pass.
- The Companion cannot earn Rapid Rewards points or Companion Pass qualifying points when using the Companion Pass.
- All Companion Pass Rules and Regulations apply.
Military fares and benefits
- To thank our U.S. military members and their families for their service, Southwest offers a military fare. You can call us at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA to learn more about these fares.
- Active-duty members of the U.S. military in uniform will receive priority boarding between our A and B groups.
- Military Passengers traveling on active duty are exempt from the two-piece baggage limit and are not subject to excess, oversize, or overweight charges provided that each piece of baggage does not exceed 100 pounds in weight and 80 inches in size length plus height plus width. They can be shipped as cargo if the Customer is a known shipper. Active duty members must present ID and non-active members must present orders.
Unaccompanied Minor service
Customers can get a refund for an Unaccompanied Minor charge ($50 each way) if:
- The Customer cancels their reservation and the Unaccompanied Minor does not travel.
- The Customer’s flight is canceled, and they elect not to rebook.
- The child is joined by an accompanying Passenger age 12 or older and is no longer an Unaccompanied Minor.
- To get a refund, call us at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) or visit the airport ticket counter.
Pet fares
- Pet reservations must be made in advance by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).
- On the day of travel, Customers must bring the pet to the airport in an approved pet carrier. Head to the airport ticket counter to check the pet in and pay the pet fare before going to your gate. https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/traveling-with-animals/pets/index-pol.html?CLK=SWAEXP-SPCLNEEDS
- Customers can get a refund for their pet fare ($95 each way) if:
- The Customer cancels their reservation and the pet does not travel.
- The Customer’s flight is canceled, and they elect not to rebook.
- To get a refund, call us at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) or visit the airport ticket counter.
- Please note, pet fare pricing is subject to change at any time.
*Available only on WiFi-enabled aircraft. Limited-time offer. Where available.
1First and second checked bags. Weight and size limits apply.
2Fare difference may apply.
3Due to licensing restrictions, on WiFi-enabled international flights, free live TV and iHeartRadio may not be available for the full duration of flight. Available only on WiFi-enabled aircraft. Limited-time offer. Where available.
4Messaging service only allows access to iMessage and WhatsApp (must be downloaded before the flight). Available only on WiFi-enabled aircraft. Limited-time offer. Where available.