Flying One of America's Most Popular Airlines Could Get More Expensive

The world of airline travel is often a frustrating mix of hidden fees, stressful processes, and unexpected delays. Although vacations can make us happier and more productive, a stressful travel experience can negate these benefits. A smooth trip and saving money on travel is essential for business travelers.

Enter Southwest Airlines, known for its low fares and no-frills model. Southwest has built a loyal following with its unique approach, including open-seat boarding, no bag fees, and a straightforward, customer-friendly experience. 

However, after 50 years, Southwest has made a massive change to one of its beloved features: On Thursday, the airline announced shifting to assigned seating, driven by customer preferences and the need to introduce premium seating options.

Since its launch in 1971, Southwest has made air travel more accessible with affordable fares. The open-seat policy, a huge part of its identity, let passengers pick any available seat, which also helped speed up the boarding process. 

This approach has faced mixed reactions; some loyal customers will miss the tradition, while others welcome the change for added comfort and reduced anxiety.

Despite this shift, Southwest remains committed to its customer-friendly practices. Here are some of the top reasons we still love Southwest Airlines.

Let’s say you fall in love in Belize and want to stay an extra two weeks (we can dream), or something comes up at work and you can’t take that weekend trip you had planned. Things happen in life you don’t expect, and the Southwest Airlines flight change policy reflects that fact.

While other major airlines might charge up to $150 to change your ticket to another date, Southwest will never charge a change fee. You might pay a difference in the cost of the fare, but you’ll never have to pay more than that to change your ticket.

Another great feature of Southwest’s change policy is that you can rebook your ticket if the fare price drops. You’ll receive the difference in credit toward a future flight. This allows you to book your flight well in advance and still take advantage of last-minute deals.

Southwest has never cut pay rates or laid off any employees, and the company regularly shares profits with workers in the form of bonuses. What does this mean for you? It means you can support a company that treats its employees well.

It also means Southwest staff are generally satisfied with their jobs, which shows in the way they treat customers. You’ll find unusually friendly airline attendants, a pilot who cracks jokes over the loudspeaker, and a feeling of being cared for throughout your flight.

There are few greater travel disappointments than finding a cheap ticket only to be hit with exorbitant bag fees. But when you fly Southwest Airlines, you can bring one personal item that fits under your seat, stow a carry-on in the overhead compartment, and check two bags without paying any additional fees.

Just make sure to check Southwest’s bag size and weight restrictions before you travel, since oversized baggage will still incur a fee.

Southwest regularly features promotions on its website. You won’t find Southwest flights on third-party travel websites, though, so always be sure to check the Southwest website for prices and take into account the free baggage when deciding on the best option for your budget.

When you purchase Southwest’s EarlyBird Check-In, you’ll pay $15 to $25 each way and get automatic check-in, which means you won’t have to worry about logging in 24 hours prior to your flight. 

This also means you’ll have a good chance of snagging an “A” boarding pass, which allows you to be among the first to board the plane and select your seat. EarlyBird Check-In is super convenient, and you’ll almost always get your pick of an aisle or window seat.

If you fly on Southwest frequently and earn enough points to get the Southwest Companion Pass, you’ll be able to bring someone with you for free for the remainder of the calendar year and the following year.

This unparalleled benefit is available to travelers who book 100 one-way flights on Southwest in a year or earn 110,000 Rapid Rewards Points in a year. Choose the right Southwest credit card, and you’ll rack up points even faster (more on that next).

There are a number of Southwest travel rewards credit cards that can help you earn Rapid Rewards Points faster. And there are often additional perks you can get when applying for different Southwest credit cards. It is worth taking a look and deciding for yourself which ones might work best for you and your family.

If you travel frequently for work, Southwest also has two of the best travel credit cards for business that can help you earn some impressive travel rewards. 

The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is worth a look, as is their Rapid Rewards Performance Business credit card.

When you fly Southwest, you’ll also get goodies like free pretzels and additional snacks on longer flights, enjoy more comfortable seats compared to some other airlines, and have access to free entertainment options like movies and live TV. You can even get inflight Wi-Fi for just $8.

There’s a lot to love about flying Southwest, so join the cult of dedicated Southwest travelers and start enjoying a less-stressful travel experience.