As a consumer, we’re fortunate to have a surplus of airlines to choose from. I personally recommend you fly Southwest Airlines. Some airlines can be more pricey and others go out of their way to establish themselves as the budget alternative. This is not only a positive for consumers but further helps us in our initiative to travel more frequently. Lowering up-front costs will allow flexibility to do more upon arrival. As with any airline, there are pros and cons associated with choosing Southwest Airlines. Let’s dive in!

What Is Southwest Doing Well?

Let’s start with the best perk when you fly Southwest Airlines: two free checked bags. There’s nothing more frustrating as a traveler than having to account for the additional costs of travel like checked bags. Most airlines out there charge for this – usually in the range of $20 – $30 per bag. It adds up, especially when traveling in groups. Take a family of four – that’s $100 one-way! We’re looking at this from the perspective that each member in a family of four is checking in one bag.

The best perk when flying Southwest is checking in two bags free! This perk alone makes flying Southwest worth it. Additionally, if you find yourself feeling frustrated when an airline has premium fare classes that you cannot afford, don’t fret. Southwest can remedy that. All of the seats and treatments you receive on Southwest are the same for everyone. You’ll have ample legroom wherever you sit. The flight attendants are very attentive so you’ll never feel like your section of the plane is inferior. Sounds good, no?

How Effective Is The Customer Service When You Fly Southwest Airlines?

Southwest’s customer service stood out to me. They displayed continuous clear communication while at the gate as I awaited my departure to West Palm Beach. For me, these announcements usually blend in with the noise and other announcements scattered throughout the airport. It was noteworthy enough that I jotted it down in my notes in preparation for this article. Additionally, having phone chargers available at the gate was a nice touch. In the tech world we live in today there are airlines out there that still haven’t adopted this practice. While some airlines have phone chargers available, it’s still relatively scarce at the gate. It seems pretty smart from a business standpoint to make it available for all customers.

Comparing The Flight Classes

Do you remember how I mentioned earlier the frustration of expensive fare classes? When you fly Southwest Airlines, there are three fare classes: Business Select, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away. The benefits of Business Select do not outweigh the affordable Wanna Get Away option, in my opinion. 

The most notable benefits of Business Select are priority boarding and Fly By (priority security). This is something you’ll find on alternative airlines, but you’re usually flying first class with these benefits. When flying Southwest, there is no first-class which makes this premium benefit underwhelming. The 12x rewards for Rapid Rewards members are more applicable to business travelers. If you fly as a part of your job then I feel Business Select is worth considering. This perk, however, does not apply to us considering we’re just looking to travel more than once per year. 

My favorite premium benefit is for Anytime travelers. You can receive a 100% refundable ticket if you have to cancel your flight. You don’t even need a Business Select ticket to take advantage of this opportunity. Let’s be honest, you probably have scheduled time off work, booked your hotel, etc. Do you really need an Anytime refundable ticket? Your best option as a budget traveler is going to be the Wanna Get Away option.

How Can The Experienced Improve For Customers Who Fly On Southwest Airlines?

With all of the positive points accounted for, there’s always the opposite side of the coin. Let’s take a look at how Southwest can improve.

I think it’s fair to say that we all enjoy in-flight entertainment when we travel. Some airlines excel at this: Delta and JetBlue. Southwest, on the other hand, has room to improve. To be fair, in-flight entertainment is available, but only on your device. With no phone charger in flight (based on a 2.5-hour flight), this is not acceptable. We’re all aware that watching videos on your cell phone is going to drain your battery faster. Since you can’t charge your phone, you face the uncertainty of how much in-flight entertainment you’ll get to enjoy.

It may be wise to charge your phone at the gate before getting on the plane. Although, to say with 100% certainty that this charge will last the entire flight (2.5-hour baseline) is questionable. The timeframe uncertainty can be alleviated if there are built-in TVs on the back of the seats. Both Delta and JetBlue already provide this service so I would imagine it’s something Southwest could consider. My only assumption as to their hesitation would be cost. It’s possible Southwest would have to offset those costs either by increasing the flight costs or even worse bag fees.

Southwest’s Much-Needed Improvement

My biggest gripe when you fly Southwest Airlines is their horrendous boarding system. I believe their boarding system is cumbersome and causes congestion. You board based on your zone. It’s possible there are passengers who should be ahead of you and vice-versa. However, due to the proximity of the zone markers, it’s more a kludge than a benefit. You may board the plane later than expected and thus miss out on where you had contemplated sitting.

The clunky boarding process ties directly into Southwest’s no assigned seat philosophy. It’s yet another layer of controlled chaos. I don’t feel it’s really “controlled”, do you? Plain and simple, I want my seat assigned. There’s no questioning where you sit. You’ve already made that selection ahead of time. There’s no discussion amongst your party as to where you want to sit. There’s no congestion for other passengers trying to board and most important peace of mind for all. It’s understood flying can be stressful. Why add to that anxiety? Should you really need to answer, “Are we in the right place in line?” and “Where are we sitting?”

If You Fly Southwest Airlines, Upgrading Your Fare Will Cost You

Finally, the last item I’d like to point out is upgrading your ticket. I have seen other airlines like Delta offer the ability to upgrade your airfare (i.e. main cabin to first-class). This doesn’t appear to be an option with Southwest which is a little unfortunate. In our purposes of budget travel, I can understand that some of you may not be looking to upgrade. However, having the option to do so is always appreciated.

The only upgrade option you have is your boarding position. It’s better than nothing, of course. However, when the competition offers it, you would think Southwest would do the same. Overall, I don’t find this to be too big of an issue. Southwest is marketing itself as an affordable airline so I see why there’s no option to upgrade your airfare. It’s worth noting that you cannot use Rapid Rewards to purchase upgrades to your fare class. All in all, there’s not much loss in this scenario. If you truly desire to travel in Business Select, save up your money!

An Overall Solid Option

Hopefully, you have a better idea of the positives and negatives of Southwest Airlines. I’d have to give them a seal of approval for anyone looking for an airline that makes travel economically friendly. Have you flown Southwest before? What are your opinions regarding the cost of a plane ticket? What are some experiences you can share that would benefit others reading this article?