: The classic fare types (e.g., "Wanna Get Away") have been rebranded as "Basic," "Choice," "Choice Preferred," and "Choice Extra" .
: Southwest is moving away from purely point-to-point flying toward a hub-and-spoke model and is cutting roughly 30 underperforming routes in early 2026. Record-Long Flights
As Southwest expands its reach, it has introduced several routes that push the limits of its Boeing 737 fleet: southwest
: Starting in early 2026 , Southwest will permanently retire its open seating policy. A traditional group-based boarding system (Groups 1–8) will replace the A, B, and C positions.
: This is currently the airline's longest nonstop service within the Lower 48 states, covering 2,092 nautical miles (approximately 5–6 hours). : The classic fare types (e
: Beginning in May 2025 , the airline ended its long-standing "bags fly free" policy for its lowest fare tiers, charging $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second .
: Scheduled for April 29, 2026 , from Dallas to Philadelphia. Fare Information and Rules - Southwest Airlines : Scheduled for April 29, 2026 , from Dallas to Philadelphia
: In May 2026, Southwest will launch its first-ever flights to Anchorage, Alaska from Denver and Las Vegas. Special Edition Fleet: "Independence One"