About Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is a budget-friendly airline service provider based in the United States. The airline has its headquarters in Dallas, Texas. It has a fleet size of 737 aircrafts covering 121 destinations in the United States. Southwest Airlines is also the world’s largest low-cost carrier airline service provider.

Southwest Airlines operates from many hubs that include Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago-Midway, Dallas-Love, Denver, Houston-Hobby, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orlando, and Phoenix-Sky Harbor. It is one of the most famous airline services in the US, with 4000 departures daily during the peak season.

Types of Cabins in Southwest Airlines

SOuthwest Airlines provides only one type of cabin service which is Economy Class. However, they provide a variety in their ticket types. The different fare types in Southwest Airlines are:

Business Select.

• You can enjoy refundable tickets.
• Passengers are given priority boarding options from A1-A15.
• Passengers get complimentary premium drinks on flights traveling more than 176 miles.
• Passengers can earn 12 rapid rewards per dollar per qualifying flight.

Anytime

• Passengers are provided with refundable tickets.
• Passengers are given priority boarding options.
• Passengers can also avail of early bird check-in.
• Passengers can earn 10 Rapid Rewards points per dollar per qualifying flight.

Want a getaway?

• Passengers are provided with non-refundable flight tickets.
• Passengers are offered transferable flight credit, same-day confirmed change, and same-day standby list.
• Passengers can earn 8 Rapid Rewards points per dollar per qualifying flight.

Want to Get Away.

• Passengers are provided with non-refundable flight tickets.
• Passengers are offered to carry two free baggage options.
• Passengers will not be charged for flight ticket cancellation.
• Passengers can earn 6 Rapid Rewards points per dollar per qualifying flight.

Baggage Policy

The following are the baggage policies of Southwest Airlines:

Checked Baggage

• Every passenger can carry two free checked baggage which includes golf bags and skis if they qualify the dimensions and weight standards.
• Each bag must weigh up to 50 pounds and 62 inches in length, breadth, and width.
• They charge $125 per bag if you have three or more bags or if your bag is oversized up to 80 inches.
• If your checked bag is 51-70 lbs, they charge $100 per bag and if your bag weight is 71-100 lbs, you have to pay $125 per bag.

Carry-on Baggage & Personal Item

• The airline allows you to carry one cabin baggage with size limits 24*16*10 inches.
• It should fit in the overhead bin of the aircraft.
• You can also carry one personal item that can be kept under your seat.
• Personal Items may include crossbody bags, briefcase, laptop bags, blanket, pillow, camera, backpack, purse, etc.

Sports Equipment

• You can carry sports equipment as your checked baggage; however, their size and weight must comply with the standard guidelines.
• Some of the acceptable sports equipment are:
  • Archery equipment
  • Baseball and Softball equipment
  • Bicycles
  • Bowling equipment
  • Parachutes
  • Scuba equipment
  • Fishing tackle box and fishing rod
  • Tennis equipment
  • Skateboards
  • Non-motorised scooters, etc.

Specialized Sports Equipment

• These sports items are accepted as checked baggage by Southwest Airlines in exchange for $75 fees each way.
• The specialized sports equipment are:
  • Javelins
  • Kayak
  • Life raft
  • Kiteboard
  • Bicycles
  • Vaulting Poles
  • Surfboard
  • Windsurfing board.

Food Policy

The food policy of Southwest Airlines is as follows:

• They provide a wide range of snacks options inside the flight. A snack mix is served on flights over 175 miles. Remy’s Grahams is available on selected flights and Sheila’s G’s Brownie Brittle is served on flights over 1520 miles.
• Flights that’re traveling 175 miles or less have only water, when flights travel more than 175 miles, the airlines provide complimentary snacks. If you're traveling to Hawaii or the continental US, you’re eligible for more snacks.
• The airline provides complimentary drinks service which includes hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages only on selected flights.
• On very selected flights, the airline provides alcoholic beverages, like wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails.
• On a few days, the airline offers free drinks to the passengers, these days are- Valentine's Day, Halloween, Southwest Birthday, and St. Patrick’s Day.

Child Policy

Southwest Airlines allows 14 days older to board the aircraft and up to 2 years old infants can be carried as Lap Child without any seat on the airplane. Also, these Lap Children must be traveling with an adult over 12 years old. Each adult can only travel with one lap child.

Infants on Southwest Airlines do not need a boarding pass but you have to get the Boarding Verification Document. If you're traveling domestically, the airline allows you to carry a Lap Child free of cost. However, for international travel, there is a necessity of an airplane ticket even for a lap child and you have to bear the government imposed taxes and fees that are applicable.

You need to carry a proof of age for your infant which includes original documents or photocopies of passport, birth certificate, government photo ID Cards. The airline doesn't accept screenshots and images of the above documents shown via phones or other electronic devices. They don't accept immunization records also in place of proof of age. You can also choose to travel with your child using a Child Restraint System (CRS).

Pet Policy

The airline allows small domestic cats and dogs that are vaccinated. You can carry them inside the cabin for domestic flights. The pet fare for the US Mainland flights is $125 each way per pet carrier. If you're traveling between Hawaiian Islands, the pet fare is $35 each way per pet carrier. However, the pet fare may change anytime.

The airline doesn't accept pets on flights to or from Hawaii and also on international itineraries. Your pet carriers must be kept under your seat for convenience. There are some specific requirements that you’ve to follow if you're traveling to Puerto Rico according to their government. There are only few pet carriers that are acceptable by the Southwest Airlines; they are:

• Soft or hard-sided pet carriers that are specifically designed.
• Leak-proof and well ventilated pet carriers.
• They must comply with the dimensions and weight of the carry-on baggage.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you're planning to cancel your Southwest flight, the airline gives you two options- a flight credit or a transferable flight credit.

• For Business Select and Anytime tickets, you can either receive your refund on the original payment mode or you can get a travel credit for future purchases.
• Since Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus tickets are non-refundable, the refund policy will be strictly airline credit for future use or transferable flight credit.
• In case you cancel your booking within 24 hours of purchasing your ticket, you can either receive your refund on the original payment mode or you can get a travel credit for the future.
• If you’ve canceled your flight bookings due to delay or schedule change, the airline will make your refund to the original payment mode.
• It is important that you must cancel your ticket at least 10 minutes before the departure, if you're not planning to travel otherwise Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus tickets will be forfeited. Business Select and Anytime Fare tickets refund will be in the form of Transferable Flight Credit.
• If you have used any rewards to book your flight tickets,
  • For Business Select and Anytime Fare tickets, the points will be deposited to your Rapid Rewards account and the taxes or fees related to the same will be converted into a Transferable Flight Credit.
  • For Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus tickets, the reward points will be forfeited which include the taxes or fees of the same.

If Southwest Airlines cancels your flight, the following are the refund policies:

• They provide you with basic or transferable flight credit for all tickets
• You can also ask for a refund to your original payment mode.
• You can also claim a refund for unused transportation, baggage fees, or any other extra expenses.
• You will receive your refund to the original payment mode only if you request for the same otherwise you”ll receive a flight credit as your refund.