What to learn about Southwest Airways’ new fare bundles

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Southwest Airways is revamping its fare bundles with 4 tiers: Alternative Further, Alternative Most well-liked, Alternative, and Fundamental.
The brand new fares might be obtainable for buy within the third quarter of this yr for flights beginning in 2026.
Refundability and flight credit score choices differ relying on the chosen fare.

As Southwest Airways prepares for main modifications, together with the introduction of assigned seats, further legroom rows and bag charges, it is also overhauling its fare bundles.

The brand new fares, branded as Alternative Further, Alternative Most well-liked, Alternative and Fundamental, will go on sale within the third quarter of this yr for flights starting in 2026.

Vacationers will discover that the bundles mirror these bought on different low-cost airways like JetBlue, and the costlier fares will include extra facilities included.

This is the way it breaks down.

Southwest Airways’ new fare bundles

The costliest bundle in Southwest’s new fare program might be Alternative Further, which can even embrace essentially the most add-ons as a part of the bottom fare.

Alternative Further ticketholders will get early boarding, two free checked baggage and complimentary entry to further legroom seats at reserving and complimentary web.

The following most-expensive fare bundle might be Alternative Plus, which can embrace entry to most well-liked commonplace seats at reserving (typically these nearer to the entrance of the aircraft) an an earlier group normally boarding.

Each Alternative Further and Alternative Plus fares might be refundable as much as 10 minutes earlier than departure.

The following tier might be Alternative, which incorporates basic boarding and a normal seat project towards the again of the aircraft at reserving. Alternative fare ticketholders might be eligible for a flight credit score, legitimate for 12 months, in the event that they should cancel their flights.

The least costly ticket bundle might be Fundamental, which can embrace a seat project given at test in and the ultimate place in boarding. Fundamental ticketholders might be eligible for a flight credit score legitimate for six months if their plans change.

Vacationers on Alternative Most well-liked, Alternative and Fundamental fares will all should pay to test baggage, in addition to for web and premium drinks onboard.

Southwest detailed all of the deliberate fare modifications and its proposed structure for the brand new seat plan on its web site.

(This story was up to date to appropriate a misspelling/typo.)

Zach Wichter is a journey reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He’s primarily based in New York and you may attain him at zwichter@usatoday.com.