Southwest began as a small, Texas-based airline 36 years ago. The short-haul, discount airline now offers flights to 63 cities across America and is the largest airline in the country by numbers of passengers carried.
www.southwest.com
You can check in online, at check-in desks, at the departure gate or at the self-service kiosks. Check-in times vary by airport, but Southwest suggests arriving between 60 and 90 minutes before your flight is due to depart.
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Carry-on: One item not more than 50 linear inches (length+ width + height).
Checked: Three items with the maximum weight for each piece of 50lbs, with maximum dimensions of 62 linear in.
Excess: Fees for extra bags are charged at $50 per piece up to nine pieces, and $110 each for 10 pieces or more. Overweight items weighing 51-70lbs will be charged $25 each; 71-100lbs $100 each. Oversized luggage between 62-80 linear in will be charged $100 each. Any item weighing more than 100lbs or measuring more than 80 linear in must be shipped by cargo.
Southwest Airlines operates an open-seating policy, though passengers are boarded in three tiers (those with boarding cards "A" first, followed by "B", followed by "C"), so it pays to check-in early.
For fully refundable tickets, changes or refunds can be made online by canceling your flight reservation or by calling the reservations number (below).
Rapid Rewards allows you to earn miles when you fly Southwest. Rapid Rewards are based on the number of flights you make, rather than the miles you travel and redeemed with a number of partners, including Alamo, Budget, Hertz and Hilton.
There’s nothing like heading up in the skies to work up an appetite. Check out the airline’s menu before you fly so you can decide if you need to bring any extras. See photographs taken by fellow flyers of meals they’ve been served and read reviews at AirlineMeals.net.
Moby Dick, War and Peace, Leaves of Grass… Do you need to pack a weighty tome or will the in-flight magazine keep you happily occupied for the duration of the flight? Spirit, Southwest's in-flight magazine is available on every flight. Read a preview online.
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