Southwest Airlines Flight Booking

Southwest Airlines is a US carrier founded in 1967 and based at Dallas Love Field, flying an all-Boeing 737 fleet to around 120 airports. The airline moved away from two of its longtime signatures in the past year: open seating ended on January 27, 2026, in favor of assigned seats, and free checked bags for every passenger ended in May 2025. Southwest also announced its first-ever airport lounges on September 2, 2026, built in partnership with Chase.

Quick Details About Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is a leading U.S. low-cost carrier known for high-frequency domestic operations and customer-friendly fare options.

IATA Code	WN
ICAO Code	SWA
Headquarters	Dallas Love Field, Texas
Seating Model	Assigned seating (since January 27, 2026)
Loyalty Program	Rapid Rewards

Southwest Airlines’ Current Fare Bundles

Southwest replaced its old fare names with four new bundles, each changing seat choice, boarding order, and baggage cost.

Basic	Standard seat assigned at check-in, boards last.
Choice	Standard seat selected at booking.
Choice Preferred	Preferred or standard seat, earlier boarding group.
Choice Extra	Extra Legroom or any seat, early boarding.

Booking a Southwest Flight

You can book a Southwest fare directly, since the airline sells almost exclusively through its own channels.

Official Website	Visit southwest.com to access every current fare bundle.
Southwest App	Also handles day-of-travel alerts and mobile boarding passes.
Phone Reservations	Through Southwest Airlines contact number  1-800-435-9792. Carries an extra booking fee not charged on the website.
Getaways by Southwest	Combines a flight with a hotel, but not sold through outside agents.

Fleet Details of Southwest Airlines

Southwest has flown a single aircraft family for its entire history, simplifying training and maintenance.

• Boeing 737-700
• Boeing 737-800
• Boeing 737 MAX 8

Operating Bases of Southwest Airlines

Southwest runs its point-to-point network from a set of major operating bases instead of having traditional airport hubs.

• Dallas Love Field (Southwest’s headquarters base)
• Chicago-Midway
• Denver
• Houston-Hobby
• Las Vegas
• Phoenix-Sky Harbor
• Baltimore/Washington
• Atlanta

Southwest Airlines List of Destinations

Southwest operates flights to over 100 destinations, serving 43 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. The airline also flies to international destinations in Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Puerto Rico, Aruba, and various Caribbean islands.

• Alabama: Birmingham
• Arizona: Phoenix and Tucson.
• Arkansas: Fayetteville/Bentonville and Little Rock.
• California: Burbank, Fresno, Long Beach, Los Angeles (LAX), Oakland, Ontario, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco (SFO), San Jose, Santa Ana/Orange County, and Santa Barbara.
• Colorado: Colorado Springs and Denver.
• Florida: Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Key West, Miami, Orlando, Panama City Beach, Pensacola, Sarasota/Bradenton, Tampa, and West Palm Beach.
• Georgia: Atlanta and Savannah.
• Hawaii: Honolulu (Oahu), Kahului (Maui), Kona (Big Island), and Lihue (Kauai).
• Idaho: Boise
• Illinois: Chicago (Midway) and Chicago (O’Hare).
• Indiana: Indianapolis
• Kansas: Wichita
• Kentucky: Louisville
• Louisiana: New Orleans
• Maryland: Baltimore
• Massachusetts: Boston
• Michigan: Detroit
• Minnesota: Minneapolis/St. Paul
• Mississippi: Gulfport/Biloxi and Jackson.
• Missouri: Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Louis.
• Nebraska: Omaha
• Nevada: Las Vegas and Reno.
• New Hampshire: Manchester
• New Jersey: Newark
• New Mexico: Albuquerque
• New York: Albany, Buffalo, New York (LaGuardia), New York (JFK), Rochester, and Syracuse.
• North Carolina: Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham.
• Ohio: Akron/Canton, Cleveland, and Columbus.
• Oklahoma: Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
• Oregon: Portland
• Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
• Rhode Island: Providence
• South Carolina: Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
• Tennessee: Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville
• Texas: Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas (Love Field), El Paso, Harlingen, Houston (Hobby), San Antonio, and Tyler.
• Utah: Salt Lake City
• Virginia: Norfolk, Richmond, and Washington (Reagan National).
• Washington: Seattle, Spokane
• West Virginia: Charleston
• Wisconsin: Milwaukee
• District of Columbia: Washington (Reagan National)

Baggage Rules on Southwest Flights

The Southwest Airlines baggage allowance includes one free carry-on bag and one free personal item per passenger. Checked bags are added or purchased as per the selected fare type.

Fare Type	Checked Baggage Allowance
Choice Extra fare	First two bags free
A-List Preferred member	First two bags free
A-List member or Rapid Rewards Cardmember	First bag free
All other Basic, Choice, or Choice Preferred fares	The first bag is for $35, and the second bag costs around $45. The prices may vary as per the selected fare and travel route.

In-Flight Experience and Seating on Southwest

With the introduction of assigned seating, Southwest now offers three distinct seat types while continuing to provide the same core onboard service customers have come to expect.

• Standard seats throughout most of the cabin.
• Preferred seats located closer to the front.
• Seats with extra legroom are at the front and exit rows, with a premium snack and drink included.
• Free Wi-Fi messaging and paid full internet access on most aircraft.
• Live TV and streaming entertainment available through a personal device.
• Complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks on every flight.

Rapid Rewards Loyalty Program

The Rapid Rewards loyalty program of Southwest Airlines remains point-based, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions on award flights.

• Points earned based on the fare price paid, not miles flown.
• Points do not expire as long as the account stays active.
• A-List and A-List Preferred status unlock earlier boarding and free bags.

Southwest’s New Airport Lounges

Southwest confirmed its first-ever lounge network in September, a major shift for an airline that never previously offered one.

• It is built in partnership with Chase, modeled on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network.
• The first four locations are under construction in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville.
• The Southwest lounge is expected to open in late 2027, with at least seven more planned afterward.
• Access is tied to a new premium Rapid Rewards credit card issued by Chase.

Modify Southwest Airlines Booking Online

Travelers can change, modify, add, and cancel their Southwest reservation online through the “Manage Trip” tool. 

• Changing a flight on the same departure date.
• Selecting or upgrading a seat.
• Adding a checked bag before departure.
• Cancelling for a flight credit under the Basic fare rules.

Latest News About Southwest Airlines

Southwest has made some of the biggest changes in its history over the past two years.

• Assigned seating fully replaced open seating on January 27, 2026.
• Free checked bags for all passengers ended on May 28, 2025.
• First-ever airport lounge network announced September 2, 2026.

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