Southwest Airlines (WN) Flights and Reservations
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Southwest Airlines is one of the largest U.S. low-cost carriers, flying an all-Boeing 737 fleet to more than 120 destinations across the U.S. and about 10 countries under the airline code WN. This guide covers Southwest Airlines flights in 2026: fares, baggage, seating, in-flight perks, and finding a cheaper ticket. FaresMatch advisors can help you pick the right fare.
Trending Southwest fares
One-way starting prices on popular Southwest routes. Search above for live availability.
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Houston
Midweek deal DAL → HOU Dallas Love Field – Houston Hobby- Flight time
- 1h nonstop
- Airlines
- Southwest
$49Low fare -
Denver
Shoulder season MDW → DEN Chicago Midway – Denver- Flight time
- 2h 30m nonstop
- Airlines
- Southwest
$79Low fare -
Los Angeles
Tue/Wed deal LAS → LAX Las Vegas – Los Angeles- Flight time
- 1h 10m nonstop
- Airlines
- Southwest
$49Low fare -
Orlando
Book early BWI → MCO Baltimore – Orlando- Flight time
- 2h 50m nonstop
- Airlines
- Southwest
$79Low fare -
San Diego
Spring travel PHX → SAN Phoenix – San Diego- Flight time
- 1h 15m nonstop
- Airlines
- Southwest
$59Low fare -
Oakland
Fall travel DEN → OAK Denver – Oakland- Flight time
- 2h 45m nonstop
- Airlines
- Southwest
$89Low fare
Prices shown are recent starting fares and may change with date, demand, route, and availability.
Southwest baggage allowance and fees
Every fare, including Basic, includes one free carry-on bag plus a personal item. The carry-on can be up to 24 by 16 by 10 inches including wheels and handles, with no published weight limit.
On Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares, the first checked bag is $45 and the second $55, charged per direction; a third is $150 per direction. Bags over 50 pounds or 62 linear inches add surcharges: $100 (51 to 70 lbs), $200 (71 to 100 lbs), and $200 oversize.
Choice Extra and A-List Preferred members get two free checked bags. A-List members and Rapid Rewards cardholders get the first bag free, which can extend to up to eight companions on the same reservation.
Report any damaged, delayed, or missing bag at the Southwest baggage desk before you leave the airport.
Southwest fare bundles and seating
Open seating ended January 27, 2026. You now pick a seat at booking or get one assigned at check-in. Four bundles replaced the old Wanna Get Away system.
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Basic Basic
Renamed Wanna Get Away. Lowest price, a standard seat assigned at check-in, nonrefundable except under the 24-hour rule, and changes require a bundle upgrade. See our Southwest cancellation policy for the details.
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Choice Choice
Formerly Wanna Get Away Plus. Seat selection at booking, free same-day changes, and a flight credit if you cancel.
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Preferred Choice Preferred
Formerly Anytime. Preferred seats near the front and a fare refundable to your original payment.
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Extra Choice Extra
Top bundle, formerly Business Select. Extra Legroom seat, two free checked bags, early boarding, free Wi-Fi, and a fare refundable to your original payment.
Three seat types: Extra Legroom (front and exit rows, up to five extra inches), Preferred (standard legroom, near front), and Standard (toward the back). Pay to pick a seat or let Southwest assign one free at check-in; a seat map shows what's open. Southwest also sells Getaways packages, gift cards, and FlexPay installments on its own site.
Wi-Fi and onboard
No seat-back screens. The entertainment portal streams free to your phone or tablet: on-demand movies, TV, live TV, music, a flight tracker, and messaging. Full Wi-Fi is free for Rapid Rewards members and $8 per device per flight otherwise (included on Choice Extra). Complimentary drinks and a snack are served on flights of 251 miles or more. There's no first or business class; the closest thing is an Extra Legroom seat.
Check-in and boarding
Check-in opens 24 hours before departure in the app or on southwest.com; with assigned seats it just gets you your boarding pass. Boarding runs in eight groups by fare, seat, and Rapid Rewards status, with Extra Legroom first. EarlyBird Check-In was retired after January 26, 2026 and replaced by paid Priority Boarding to Group 1. Families on one reservation are grouped together. Southwest suggests arriving at least two hours before a domestic departure.
Rapid Rewards and the Companion Pass
Rapid Rewards points don't expire while your account is open, with no blackout dates or caps on reward seats. Award flights track the cash fare, so points stretch furthest when fares are low.
The Companion Pass lets one person fly with you for just taxes and fees on every booking. Earn it with 135,000 qualifying points or 100 one-way flights in a calendar year; it lasts the rest of that year plus the entire next one.
Changes, cancellations, and flight status
Southwest charges no change or cancellation fees, except that Basic changes need a bundle upgrade. Choice Preferred and Choice Extra are fully refundable to your original payment; Basic and Choice issue a flight credit instead. Credits now expire: six months on Basic, twelve months on Choice. The DOT 24-hour rule allows a full refund on eligible bookings made seven-plus days out. Choice and up include free same-day changes, and same-day standby is a fare or status benefit. Check flight status by number or route in the app. See our Southwest refund policy for the breakdown by fare.
Southwest Airlines destinations and routes
Southwest flies one of the broadest domestic maps in the U.S., mostly point to point, so many trips skip the connection. Business flyers lean on corridors like Dallas to Houston, while families fill the Baltimore to Orlando run in theme-park season. The map favors places people want to go: the music of Nashville, the beaches of San Diego, the parks of Orlando. Out west, it's the rare carrier with nonstop Hawaii service to Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, and Lihue. South of the border it reaches Mexico and the Caribbean, from Cancun to Montego Bay. In 2026 Southwest added its first Alaska service, with Anchorage flights that made Alaska its 43rd state.
The most-booked city pairs:
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DAL → HOU Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby
One of Southwest's busiest Texas shuttles with frequent daily nonstops.
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MDW → DEN Chicago Midway to Denver
High-volume Midwest-to-Mountain West route from Southwest's Midway base.
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LAS → LAX Las Vegas to Los Angeles
Ultra-competitive West Coast short hop and one of the cheapest corridors in the country.
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BWI → MCO Baltimore to Orlando
Popular East Coast leisure route, especially during theme-park season.
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PHX → SAN Phoenix to San Diego
Short Southwest hop linking two Sun Belt focus cities.
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DEN → OAK Denver to Oakland
Mountain West to Bay Area route with strong Southwest frequency.
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AUS Austin (AUS)
Growing Southwest focus city with nonstops across the U.S. and into Mexico.
Southwest keeps adding new routes, including red-eyes and 2026 Ontario and Burbank to Honolulu service. Browse our flights page, search multi-city trips, and compare live fares before you book.
How to find a cheaper Southwest fare
Basic is cheapest but can't change without an upgrade and earns the fewest points. If plans might shift, Choice usually wins.
Southwest concentrates flights in Dallas, Chicago Midway, Denver, Las Vegas, and Baltimore. Starting or connecting there turns up better fares and more nonstops.
Award seats track the cash price, so points go furthest on cheap fares. Book leisure routes early.
Five to eight weeks out is the domestic sweet spot, before holidays push prices up. Watch our deals page for discounts and Getaways packages.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my Southwest flight reservation?
Look it up in the Manage Reservation tool on southwest.com or in the Southwest app using your six-character confirmation number with the passenger's first and last name. Signed-in Rapid Rewards members also see it under My Trips. If you booked through FaresMatch, your confirmation email has the details, and advisors can pull up the reservation for you at 1-800-918-3039.
How do I get my tickets from Southwest?
Southwest is ticketless, so there is no paper ticket: you get a confirmation email when you book, then a boarding pass once you check in. Check-in opens 24 hours before departure on the app, southwest.com, or at an airport kiosk or counter. Most travelers use a mobile boarding pass in the app and can save it to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, while some itineraries, like unaccompanied minors or certain international and partner bookings, need a printed pass from a kiosk or counter.
Does Southwest have assigned seating now?
Yes. Southwest switched from open seating to assigned seats on flights departing January 27, 2026. You pick a seat when you book or get one assigned at check-in, and boarding runs in eight numbered groups instead of the old A/B/C lineup.
Does Southwest still give two free checked bags?
No. Southwest ended its Bags Fly Free policy on May 28, 2025, and now charges $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second on Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares. Two free checked bags remain only for Choice Extra fares and A-List Preferred members, while A-List members and Rapid Rewards cardholders get the first bag free.
How do I get a lower price on Southwest?
Book early and stay flexible, since Southwest fares rise as seats fill and around holidays. Use the Low Fare Calendar on southwest.com to see the cheapest day in a month at a glance, sign up for Southwest sale emails, compare nearby airports, and pay with Rapid Rewards points when cash fares are low. Midweek departures and off-peak months tend to be cheapest.
Is it cheaper to buy Southwest tickets at the airport?
No. Southwest charges the same fare whether you book online, in the app, by phone, or at the airport ticket counter, so buying in person does not save money. The price depends on the fare and how far ahead you book, not the channel, and booking early is what lowers it.
Where does Southwest fly for $49?
There is no fixed $49 destination. The $49 one-way fares are promotional prices that turn up on shorter routes during Southwest sales and on off-peak, midweek dates. The fastest way to spot them is the Low Fare Calendar, which shows the lowest price for each day, plus signing up for sale alerts. Book as soon as you see one, since these fares are limited and change quickly.
Do seniors get a discount on Southwest?
No. Southwest discontinued its dedicated senior fares in December 2019 and no longer offers an age-based discount for travelers 65 and older. Seniors can still save with the same tools everyone uses: low Basic and Choice fares, the Low Fare Calendar, fare sales, and Rapid Rewards points.
Find the best Southwest fare
Want to compare Southwest on your route? A FaresMatch advisor will check Southwest fares alongside all other airlines to make sure you pick the right bundle and the best overall price.
Mention promo code HELLO10 when you book by phone.
Fare ranges are typical recent prices and change with demand, dates, and availability; confirm live fares before booking. FaresMatch is an independent travel platform with no direct tie-up or affiliation with any airline.
Information sourced from southwest.com and verified travel reporting, current as of June 2026. Fees and policies change often, so confirm the current details before you book. FaresMatch is an independent travel platform with no direct tie-up or affiliation with Southwest Airlines or any other carrier.
