Latest news with #RapidRewards
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines Announces Big Change Before Fall Travel
Late last month Southwest Airlines instituted its new bag policy that was previously announced in March. "For reservations booked and ticketed or changed on or after May 28, 2025, checked baggage fees will apply. We will offer two free checked bags to our Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and Business Select Customers, and one free checked bag to A-List Members and other select Customers. Southwest will credit the first checked bag for Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers," the airline said in a statement at the time. Just a few days before the start of its new bag policy, Southwest revealed the first checked bag will cost $35 while a second bag will cost $45. While travelers were outraged with the change, they might cut Southwest some slack with the airline's latest announcement ahead of football season. Southwest Airlines announced it added 59 flights for 19 college football games this fall. The airline also announced six additional flights are scheduled to depart to Columbus, OH, from Dallas, Austin and Houston on Aug. 29 and eight will return to those cities Aug. 31, before a rematch of January's national semifinal game between Texas and Ohio State. "OKC Will Rogers International Airport will be connected to four routes not traditionally served with flights to and from Eugene, OR (Oklahoma State at Oregon on Sept. 6), Detroit (Michigan at Oklahoma on Sept. 6), Atlanta (Auburn at Oklahoma on Sept. 20), and Birmingham, AL (Oklahoma at Alabama on Nov. 15)," a statement from the airline read. It's not just the major brands that will be getting in on the action, though, as the airline plans to connect Jackson, MS, and Las Vegas for the first time for the HBCU Classic featuring Grambling and Jackson State on Oct. 25. College football fans aren't the only ones that can take advantage of the new routes, though. Southwest also announced 54 additional flights for 24 key matchups in the NFL this fall as well with seven routes not currently served nonstop that are out for sale on select weekends: Buffalo-Atlanta, Buffalo-Charlotte, Kansas City-Jacksonville, Kansas City-Buffalo, Milwaukee-Cleveland, New Orleans-Buffalo, and Oakland-New Orleans. The full announcement and schedule can be found Airlines Announces Big Change Before Fall Travel first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 13, 2025
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines Announces Big Price Change for Limited Time Starting June 3
On June 2, Southwest Airlines announced its first ever international partnership with China Airlines Group, a Taiwan-based carrier, to create an interline partnership in early 2026. 'We're on a journey to bring more choices to our Customers. This initial work to partner with Taiwan-based China Airlines would allow for seamless trans-Pacific journeys across the Southwest network, furthering the reach of our Vision and Purpose—to connect People with important moments in their lives,' Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines said in a statement. 'As the largest carrier of domestic Passengers in the United States, we also carry more people to, from, and within California than any other airline1 and expect Southwest Customers could benefit immediately from having access to connections overseas through China Airlines.' As the airline prepares for an international future, it announced a new price change for a limited time on domestic travel. Southwest announced between June 3 and June 5, 2025, travelers can save up to 50% off base fares with code WOWZERS on select continental U.S. flights for travel from August 12 to December 17, 2025 'This month, we're celebrating 54 years of connecting People to what's important in their lives,' Jennifer Bridie, Vice President Marketing at Southwest Airlines, said in a statement. 'The Week of WOW offers everything you need to plan the perfect trip, along with more opportunities to earn Rapid Rewards points for future travel. We can't wait to spend another year doing what we love most—delivering Legendary Hospitality to our Customers.' The airline also announced travelers holding the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card will received 10 points per $1 spent - up to a $500 spend. Southwest also announced a special promotion between June 2 and July 31, 2025 where customers can enter for a chance to win a grand prize of 500K Rapid Rewards Points and a Carnival Cruise for two or a first prize of 100K Rapid Rewards PointsSouthwest Airlines Announces Big Price Change for Limited Time Starting June 3 first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 3, 2025
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines Announces First Ever International Partnership
On May 28, Southwest Airlines instituted its new bag policy that was previously announced in March. "For reservations booked and ticketed or changed on or after May 28, 2025, checked baggage fees will apply. We will offer two free checked bags to our Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and Business Select Customers, and one free checked bag to A-List Members and other select Customers. Southwest will credit the first checked bag for Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers," the airline said in a statement at the time. Just a few days before the start of its new bag policy, Southwest revealed the first checked bag will cost $35 while a second bag will cost $45. Fast forward a few more days and Southwest has even bigger news to come. On June 2, the airline revealed it's in discussion with China Airlines Group, a Taiwan-based carrier, to create an interline partnership in early 2026, with published connections expected to go on sale later this year. The two carriers met in India at the International Air Transport Association 2025 Annual General Meeting to jointly announce the first trans-Pacific airline partnership for Southwest. 'We're on a journey to bring more choices to our Customers. This initial work to partner with Taiwan-based China Airlines would allow for seamless trans-Pacific journeys across the Southwest network, furthering the reach of our Vision and Purpose—to connect People with important moments in their lives,' Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines said in a statement. 'As the largest carrier of domestic Passengers in the United States, we also carry more people to, from, and within California than any other airline1 and expect Southwest Customers could benefit immediately from having access to connections overseas through China Airlines.' Just a few months ago Southwest launched a partnership with Icelandair that connects those traveling from the U.S. and Europe on dual-carrier itineraries through gateway airports Baltimore/Washington, Denver, and Airlines Announces First Ever International Partnership first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 2, 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's How Much Checked Bags Now Cost With Southwest Airlines — and Who's Exempt From Paying Fees
Southwest Airlines has been an industry disruptor since its formal incorporation in 1967. The low-cost carrier brought innovations such as open seating, free baggage and a famously sunny attitude to the airline industry, attracting legions of followers while helping them save money. Read Next: Learn More: But times have changed since Southwest's heyday, and one of the pillars of its business model — 'bags fly free' — has finally fallen by the wayside. Whether this will ultimately help or hurt the struggling airline remains to be seen. But from a traveler's perspective, here's what you'll need to know in terms of baggage fees and how you might still be able to avoid them. Beginning with flights on May 28 and later, Southwest Airlines will charge $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second. However, these fees are just for the general flying public. There are a handful of ways in which you can save money with the airline and avoid the new baggage fees. Here's how. Find Out: The A-List is Southwest's elite tier. You can become an A-List member by either flying 20 one-way qualifying flight segments or earning 35,000 tier-qualifying points. In addition to providing benefits like priority boarding, priority check-in and a 25% earning bonus, you can also fly your first bag free of charge. Your second checked bag will incur a $35 fee. If you're an A-List Preferred member, which requires 40 one-way qualifying flight segments or 70,000 tier-qualifying points in a single year, your second bag is free of charge as well. In either case, these prices apply to up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation. If you hold the Southwest Airlines Rapid Reward Credit Card, your first checked bag will fly free. However, you must include your Rapid Rewards account number at the time of booking. As with the A-List, up to eight additional passengers on your reservation will enjoy the same benefit. Your second checked bag, however, will cost $45. Another way to avoid the new baggage fees on Southwest Airlines is to fly on a Business Select fare. Unlike with the other two options, the airline's business fare comes with two free bags, not just one. However, as it is a specific fare type, it doesn't apply to any companions on the same reservation unless they also purchase the same Business Select fare. Active-duty military customers with a valid, current military ID can fly with two bags free of charge. The imposition of baggage fees at Southwest Airlines was an unwelcome shock to the airline's flyers. But the famously low-cost airline held out to the very end, as it was the last domestic airline to offer two free checked bags for all customers. Still, there are a number of ways the passengers can avail of free baggage, including by earning status on the airline or buying more expensive fares. Otherwise, you may very well end up paying $35 for your first checked bag and $45 for your second when you fly Southwest. More From GOBankingRates 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years This article originally appeared on Here's How Much Checked Bags Now Cost With Southwest Airlines — and Who's Exempt From Paying Fees Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines Starts Charging for Checked Bags
Southwest Airlines has implemented their bag policy change that was announced in March, now charging fees for checked bags on flights booked Wednesday or later. This marks the end of the airline's long-standing 'bags fly free' policy, which had set the airline apart from competitors for decades. Southwest revealed to customers on Tuesday that moving forward, it will charge $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second, applying the usual weight and size restrictions. Though most passengers will be charged, Southwest will continue to honor its two-free bag policy for select groups, including Rapid Rewards A-List preferred members and those flying Business Select. A-List members and Rapid Rewards credit card holders will receive one free checked bag. There are a few other changes taking effect on Wednesday, according to Southwest's announcement in March, including a basic fare being attached to its lowest-priced tickets, and a rule that portable-chargers be used in plain sight of the flight crew to prevent lithium-ion battery fires. Southwest still has a few changes planned for the future, including phasing out its signature open-boarding system. The airline expects to begin assigning seats to passengers by next year.
