Southwest Airlines announces new fare programs for Florida flights. Here's what to know
Amidst a flurry of major changes in seating and bag fees, and a major layoff, Southwest Airlines has announced an overhaul of its fare bundles.
The new fares, branded as Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic, will be available starting in the third quarter of this year for flights beginning in 2026.
"With new choices like seat selection and Extra Legroom, our enhanced fare bundles let Customers customize their trip while still enjoying our industry-leading reliability and hospitality." Tony Roach, Executive Vice President Customer & Brand said in a release.
The airline recently announced new and renewed routes to, from and within Florida.
Southwest has come under fire recently after it announced the end of its long-standing practice of open seating, with assigned seating coming in 2026. In March, the company announced it was creating a new Basic fare and charging baggage fees, starting May 28, a shift from the current practice of allowing two free checked bags.
The company also announced it would be laying off about 1,750 employees, or about 15% of its corporate positions, in the end of April "to create a leaner and more agile organization."
Decreasing demand this year has affected all the major airlines. According to the Associated Press, Southwest, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines and Alaska Airlines all pulled their financial guidance for 2025, and Southwest announced on April 23 that it would be trimming its flight schedule for the second half of the year.
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Choice Extra (formerly Business Select): The most expensive, with the most add-ons as part of the base fare.
Early boarding, two free checked bags and complimentary access to extra legroom seats at booking and complimentary internet.
Rapid Rewards points equal to 14x the fare
Refundable up to 10 minutes before departure
Choice Preferred (formerly Anytime): The next most expensive.
Access to preferred standard seats at booking (generally those closer to the front of the plane) and an earlier group in general boarding
Fee to check bags
Rapid Rewards points equal to 10x the fare
Refundable up to 10 minutes before departure
Choice (formerly Wanna Get Away Plus): The next tier.
General boarding and a standard seat assignment toward the back of the plane at booking.
Fee to check bags
Rapid Rewards points equal to 6x the fare
Refundable as a transferable flight credit, valid for 12 months
Basic: Previously announced as starting May 28, the least expensive tier.
Seat assignment provided at check-in, final positions in boarding
Fee to check bags
Rapid Rewards points equal to 2x the fare
Refundable as a non-transferable flight credit, valid for 6 months
Travelers on Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic fares will all have to pay to check bags, as well as for internet and premium drinks onboard.
The airline also announced changes to its loyalty program, Rapid Rewards.
Starting May 28, A-List members get the first checked bag for free, while A-List Preferred members will get the first two checked bags for free. Both levels will be able to book up to eight additional passengers traveling on the same reservation (weight and size limits apply).
More benefits are coming soon, Southwest said, including the ability to choose seats or extra legroom at booking. Southwest said last year it would be ending its long-standing practice of open seating that began with the airline's founding in 1967 and switching to assigned seating.
Effective Aug. 5, 2024, Southwest said it will be serving 117 airports, including 11 in Florida.
Florida airports offering Southwest flights include:
Destin/Fort Walton Beach (VPS)
Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Fort Myers (RSW)
Jacksonville (JAX)
Miami (MIA)
Orlando (MCO)
Panama City Beach (PNS)
Pensacola (PNS)
Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ)
Tampa (TPA)
West Palm Beach (PBI)
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Southwest Airlines new fares in Florida: Choice Extra to Basic
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