Southwest Airlines Fares: What to Know - NerdWallet (2024)

If you’ve flown with Southwest Airlines, you know this budget carrier does things a little differently. From free checked bags to no seat assignments (though Southwest says it's changing to assigned seats later this year), the Southwest experience — including its unique fare classes — is truly one-of-a-kind when it comes to domestic airlines.

So if you’ve ever wondered what the difference between the airline’s fare class options or how to navigate booking in Southwest, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about Southwest fare types, how they’re different and what to expect with each.

There are four fare classes on Southwest flights:

Here’s an overview of what each ticket type entails.

All ticket types come with additional benefits:

That said, you shouldn’t think of Southwest Airlines fares like you do fare classes on other airlines. For starters, there is no first or business class on Southwest flights. There aren’t even extra large seats like on Spirit Airlines or Delta Air Lines’ Comfort Plus (though that is also changing when Southwest reconfigures its airplanes next year). So upgrading to a higher fare class has more to do with other benefits than perks like more legroom or lay-flat seats.

This is the most expensive fare class that Southwest offers, but it comes with the most benefits and flexibility regarding flight changes and cancellations.

The next highest fare class is Anytime, which still offers a fair amount of flexibility and point-earning potential, but at a slightly lower cost.

For those who want to save some cash but are looking to earn a few more points per dollar spent on airfare, there’s Wanna Get Away Plus.

This is Southwest’s base fare and the most affordable option for those looking for a no-frills booking.

Naturally, which of the Southwest fares you should choose depends on how you like to travel and what kinds of point-earning potential you want. After all, the higher the fare class, the more Rapid Rewards points you’ll earn, which is compounded by the fact that you’ll also be spending more on the fare itself.

For example, a Wanna Get Away flight from San Diego to Dallas might cost $204. At six points per dollar, that means you’ll net 1,224 Rapid Rewards points. But a Business Select fare for the same flight costs $334 and scores you 12 points per dollar, resulting in a whopping 4,008 points.

According to NerdWallet valuations, Southwest Rapid Rewards are worth 1.5 cents each. Based on that valuation, 4,008 points are worth $60.12 and 1,224 points are worth $18.36. So, you would pay an extra $130 out-of-pocket to net $41.76 in extra value from the additional points earned.

If perks like early boarding, refundability, in-flight internet and a premium drink onboard sound good to you, then buying the higher ticket is worth it. But despite the significant difference in point earning potential, points alone may not be enough to warrant the upgrade.

That said, those reaching for elite status, which can be achieved by flying a certain number of segments or earning a set amount of points (starting at 35,000) may find it worth the higher cost.

But whether the difference in price is worth it depends on whether you’ll benefit from the other perks of higher fare classes like refunds, early boarding and transferable credits, so consider all of the costs and benefits together before deciding.