Southwest Airlines has announced sweeping policy and fare changes that will begin to go into effect in mid-2025. These updates eliminate many of the hallmarks Southwest has long been known for and many travelers have come to rely on, including Wanna Get Away fares and free checked bags.
The Travel Team is here to help you navigate changing airfares and policy updates so you can make the right choice for your travel needs. Southwest passengers should be aware of the following changes.
Fare Options
These changes apply to tickets purchased on or after May 28, 2025.
A “Basic” fare category will replace Wanna Get Away fares. While these fares will presumably still be low-cost, they will not include the flexibility and other benefits Wanna Get Away tickets are currently known for. Instead, these tickets will be comparable to other carriers’ Basic Economy options.
Wanna Get Away Plus fares will be similar to Economy fares at competing airlines and will likely eventually allow travelers to select their seats during booking, among other conventional features. In order for travelers to maintain many of the benefits they’re used to on Southwest Airlines, they will need to book Wanna Get Away Plus fares beginning in May.
Historically, Wanna Get Away Plus fares have been $30 to $40 more per round trip ticket than Wanna Get Away fares.
Baggage Policies
These changes apply to tickets purchased on or after May 28, 2025.
One of travelers’ favorite things about Southwest Airlines is its “Bags Fly Free” policy, which has historically allowed all passengers to check two bags at no cost. This policy is being retired, with very few exceptions. Now, most travelers will have to pay to check their bags.
- Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and customers traveling via Business Select fares can still check two bags for free.
- A-List Members and other select customers will receive one free checked bag.
- Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will receive a credit for one checked bag.
Expiring Flight Credits
These changes apply to flight credits issued on or after May 28, 2025.
Flight credits will now expire within 6 or 12 months, depending on the fare the credits were issued for. Basic fare flight credits will only be valid for 6 months. All other fare flight credits will be valid for 12 months. This change marks a departure from Southwest’s current policy, in which flight credits never expire.
Assigned Seating
Expected in early 2026, with booking updates in late 2025.
Like other low-cost airlines, travelers’ seating options (and any associated costs) will be determined by fare category, the airline announced in fall 2024. Few additional details are available at this time. However, we expect seat assignments to be available at the time of booking for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares.
Premium Seating Options
Expected to follow the implementation of assigned seating, with booking updates as early as late 2025. These offerings will be phased in over time, as the change requires a full retrofit of Southwest’s fleet.
In January 2025, Southwest announced two premium seating options as part of the transition to assigned seating:
Extra Legroom
Located at the front of the cabin and near exit rows, these seats have up to five inches of additional legroom.
Preferred Seating
These seats are located behind Extra Legroom seats, putting them near the front of the cabin and exit rows.
All other passengers will fly in what Southwest now calls “Standard” seats, located toward the back of the plane.
Southwest's Fare Products
effective May 28, 2025
