#Southwest airlines booking class c full#
#Southwest airlines booking class c free#

Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (including Haiti)īetween U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S.

#Southwest airlines booking class c free#

Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (including Haiti) free 1st bag on the return.įrom Cuba to U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Round-trips originating in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (excluding Haiti) to Cuba Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean (excluding Cuba / Haiti), Central Americaįrom U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Or between Mexico, Caribbean (excluding Cuba / Haiti), and Central America (excluding Panama)īetween Panama and U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islandsīetween Mexico, Caribbean (excluding Cuba / Haiti), Central America (excluding Panama) and U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. ''But they'll make more money from people already flying them,' he said.Within and between U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. The perks at all-coach Southwest won't steal elite fliers with airlines that offer upgrades to first class, said airline expert Darryl Jenkins. The new fare also gives them a 25 percent bonus in Rapid Rewards frequent flier credits for flights over 750 miles and double credit for longer flights. They will be checked in automatically, guaranteeing them A boarding passes. Southwest will reserve about 10 percent of seats on each flight for business select passengers, Kelly said.

#Southwest airlines booking class c full#

In the 1990s, about 40 percent of Southwest passengers paid full fare. That makes attracting higher-paying business travelers a top priority. But rising oil prices are making it hard for the Dallas-based carrier to reach a goal of boosting revenue and cutting costs by a combined $1-billion annually. Southwest has an advantage with options to buy fuel at below-market prices. A senior work force caused labor costs to escalate, while competitors slashed expenses through bankruptcy reorganizations. It also controls 27 percent of the market at Tampa International, far outpacing No. domestic carrier, flying more than 96-million passengers last year. Letting people pick where they sit is the fastest way to load an airplane, and the 'open seating' policy helps the airline keep turnaround times at the gate as short as 20 minutes. Southwest hasn't assigned seats through its 36-year history.

The idea was to give travelers who obtain boarding passes online as far as 24 hours in advance a first shot at their favorite seats, but still let families find seats together. Now, they get on the plane after travelers in the first group unless they have A passes themselves. But last month, Southwest stopped allowing families with children to board ahead of other passengers. Travelers will board in groups of five, based on their number, so there will be no need to line up early for the first shot at seats.Ĭustomers with physical disabilities can still board first. Now passengers will still be assigned by letter group, but will have a number within each group.

Under Southwest's old boarding system, customers stood in line for a half-hour or longer in three large boarding groups: A, B and C. Southwest's first-come, first-served seating turns off business travelers in new markets who are used to getting reserved seats, he said. Chief executive Gary Kelly said the new fares will bring in at least an additional $100-million annually as the airline struggles with higher fuel costs.