{"id":14411,"date":"2025-05-01T06:25:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T06:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=14411"},"modified":"2025-05-01T06:25:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T06:25:13","slug":"southwests-new-fares-cardholders-and-elites-win-others-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=14411","title":{"rendered":"Southwest\u2019s New Fares: Cardholders and Elites Win, Others Pay"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Southwest Airlines is ditching simplicity and quickly becoming like other airlines. The carrier just announced the introduction of rebranded fare classes to go with its new preferred seating options. For most flyers, these changes mean that you\u2019ll soon have to pay more if you want to choose your own seat, a departure from the airline\u2019s open seating policy.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But it also added new benefits for Southwest cardholders and Rapid Reward elites, protecting its most loyal flyers from some of the negative impacts of these shifts.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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These new fare classes and loyalty benefits, announced April 28, 2025, are part of a larger brand overhaul. Earlier, the airline shared plans to eliminate <\/span>free checked bags<\/span> and introduce <\/span>dynamic award pricing<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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While an exact date was not provided for the launch of the new fare classes, the airline said the changes will take effect once assigned seating becomes available for booking in the third quarter of 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Rebranded fare classes come with new seat options \u2014 for some<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Southwest is replacing its uniform cabin layout and all-economy seating chart with preferred seating, which you can book with its rebranded higher-tier fare classes. The new seat options include:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Standard<\/span><\/span> seats with standard legroom located near the back of the plane.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Preferred <\/span><\/span>seats with standard legroom located between the middle and front of the plane.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Extra legroom <\/span><\/span>seats with five extra inches of seat pitch located near the front of the plane and in exit rows.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

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    (Image courtesy of Southwest Airlines)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Southwest previously introduced the <\/span>Basic <\/span><\/span>fare class, which replaced Wanna Get Away fares. Now, the remaining fare classes are being rebranded, too. Here\u2019s a look at how they compare to the old options, and which type of seat each fare gets you:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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