Southwest Announces a Second Controversial Change Sure to Displease Passengers
Southwest Airlines has announced another new policy change that might not fly with many of its customers.
As part of a series of changes to its business model, the popular airline has announced a major shift in its fare categories and customer perks, including the elimination of its “Wanna Get Away” fare option.
As laid out by Southwest in a recent news release, the airline’s longstanding Wanna Get Away fare will be replaced by a new “Basic” category, which will have less flexibility and earn passengers fewer points.
Instead of earning 6 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on Wanna Get Away fares, customers will now only earn 2 points per dollar on new Basic fares booked or changed after May 28, 2025.
Southwest has imposed limits to its flight credit policies that didn’t exist before, with Basic fare travel credits expiring after 6 months, and all other fares expiring after 12 months.
While the airline insists that the new “strategic moves” are aimed to “deepen reward loyalty between Southwest and its most engaged Customers,” the new fare update is just one of the many changes that will ruffle some feathers with flyers.
Southwest already announced this month that it would be ditching its longtime bag policy, charging passengers for checked bags for the first time in 50 years.
With the new updates, only passengers who purchase Business Select fares will get 2 free checked bags, while all other fares will charge a fee for checked bags.
Another major change was announced back in July 2024, when the Dallas-based airline revealed it would be switching to assigned seating, after offering passengers the ability to choose their own seating for decades.
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