Argument for Flying Southwest Airlines

[Mean Daddy]

I had a conversation today with a Southwest agent as I'm cancelling my SW credit card. Told her that the renewal fee was too high ($200+) and that with recent changes there was no difference IMO between them and the other carriers and she had great reasons to stay with them.

First, all their Call Center agents are Americans and located in the states. Second, all of their airplanes are American made, Boeing 737s and that they were in a process to replace existing fleet with new and pointed out other carriers using foreign purchased planes.

Anyway, we're going to cancel our card but will try to fly them when we can to support American industry. Plus they're only one of two carriers that have a direct flight to DC where our son and his family live.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: nobodyaskedyou

[Mean Daddy]

Told the lady that I had discussed concerns with multiple agents over the past several months about their recent changes and told her she was the first one to make this argument. Since this is a pro American site, thought I would share.

[dadfly]

argument works for me. just as i’d avoid buying chinese, and never hire an illegal to do contracting for me.

a hundred more? not worth buying the wrong thing or service.

[Mount Athos]

What recent changes are you talking about?

[Drago]

Surprised she didn’t acknowledge the recent “now no bags fly free” change and the “assigned seating now required” change.

“Southwest Airlines ended its long-standing policy of two free checked bags for most fares in 2026, with the first checked bag now costing $45 and the second $55 for Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares booked on or after April 9, 2026”

https://www.islands.com/2068443/four-big-changes-coming-southwest-airlines-2026/

https://fortune.com/2026/06/02/southwest-airlines-mgm-resorts-company-change-business-success-adapting-to-consumers-travel-industry/

[Agatsu77]

I stopped flying with them in 2014. They went from my go to airline to underneath United and US Air. Totally F-ing awful.

[plsvn]

What recent changes are you talking about?

Southwest now has assigned seating and no more free luggage. Next they'll probably start charging extra for the air inside the plane.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I haven't flown for more than twenty years so I had to look it up:

The Southwest Airlines credit cards (issued by Chase) have annual fees because they offer a bundle of airline-specific perks and rewards targeted at frequent Southwest flyers. The fee helps cover the value of those benefits, which can easily exceed the cost for the right person.

Current Southwest Consumer Cards and Fees (as of 2026)

• Rapid Rewards Plus: $99 annual fee
• Rapid Rewards Premier: $149 annual fee
• Rapid Rewards Priority: $229 annual fee (likely the one you're referring to as "~$200")

These fees increased in 2025/2026 (e.g., Priority went from $149 to $229), alongside added or enhanced benefits like better seat selection after Southwest moved away from open seating.

Why the Fee (Especially ~$229 for Priority)? Key Benefits That Offset ItThe cards are designed so that if you fly Southwest even a moderate amount, the perks pay for themselves. Here's what justifies the fee, particularly on the higher-tier Priority card:

• Free first checked bag — For you + up to 8 companions on the same reservation (saves ~$35–45 per bag each way, or $70–90 round-trip per person). This alone can offset much of the fee with just 2–3 round trips.
• Seat selection perks (varies by card):
  • Priority: Choose Preferred seats at booking + unlimited Extra Legroom upgrades within 48 hours (when available).
  • Lower cards: Earlier or standard/preferred selection closer to departure.
• Annual anniversary points — 3,000 (Plus), 6,000 (Premier), or 7,500 (Priority). These are worth real flight credit.
• Companion Pass boost — 10,000 qualifying points every year on all cards. This helps you earn (or maintain) Companion Pass faster, letting a companion fly free (plus taxes/fees) for a full year after hitting the threshold. Huge value for couples/families.
• Higher earning rates — 2X–4X points on Southwest purchases, plus bonuses at grocery/gas/restaurants on some cards.
• Other perks — Group 5 boarding (better overhead bin access), 25% back on inflight purchases, no foreign transaction fees, and status boosts toward A-List.

For many loyal Southwest customers, the free bags + Companion Pass progress + anniversary points alone make the fee worthwhile — especially the Priority if you value better seats and fly more often.

Is It Worth It?

• Yes, if you fly Southwest a few times a year (especially with bags or companions) and value the ecosystem.
• Maybe not, if you fly rarely or prefer more flexible travel rewards — some people cancel or downgrade after using a sign-up bonus.

Fees are charged on your card anniversary, and new cardholders often get big sign-up bonuses (e.g., 80k–90k points) that can more than cover the first year's fee. Always check the latest details on Southwest or Chase's site, as offers change.

[WKUHilltopper]

Quit flying when they were requiring to go thru the fondling line.

[Brian Griffin]

“To qualify, simply fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. You’ll earn a Companion Pass for the following full calendar year, plus the remainder of the year in which you earned it. For even more flexibility, Companion Pass Members can change their designated Companion up to three times each calendar year.”

https://www.southwest.com/rapid-rewards/tiers/companion-pass/

[SomeCallMeTim]

There was a time when SWA was my favorite. I didn’t really like their open seating, but. They were super efficient, friendly, reliable, entertaining, cheap, and offered many useful flight routes. Somewhere around 10 years ago, they just started to unravel. Management just ran them into the ground.

I had a connecting flight in Baltimore (a big hub) where I had 4 gate changes in 2 hours. 80% of ALL flights on their tv’s shower gate changes or cancellations. And the weather that day was fine.

I avoid them like the plague now. No thanks.

Delta is still far and away the best US airline.

[Brian Griffin]

“direct flight to DC”

I think that would be to BWI, Thurgood Marshall nowadays, and I think Friendship International when I was young.

It’s the second worst airport to Charles DeGaulle in my limited experience.

BWI has shuttle service to a fairly nearby train station that has commuter trains to Union Station in DC.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I only flew Southwest one time from Vegas back to Atlanta a long time ago. It was one of the nicest flights I’ve ever been on. Instead of serving some crummy free meal they had 4 different meal items to choose from at like $5. I had a sub. It was delicious.

Mr. GG2 loves getting on the 737’s because he always tells the flight attendants if some thing goes wrong to come get him because he’s checked out to stick a 737. They always say thanks but I don’t think that’ll be necessary sir. 😄

[ConservativeMind]

A friend at work used to fly Southwest as often as possible for his trips.

He has said it’s just like all the other airlines, so now he just gets everyone but Southwest.

[Brian Griffin]

“Delta is still far and away the best US airline.”

I had a Delta flight to Paris. They served wine several times.

[Brian Griffin]

I flew Southwest from Florida to San Diego and back.

I was quite pleased.

The prices were good if booked at least three weeks in advance.

[texas booster]

Was flying SWA for about 12 years and always earned the Companion Pass. Maybe 4x per week.

Back in the olde days, I was almost always A16 for boarding, every airport but Love Field. A1 - A15 are reserved for Business Select - even back then you paid extra to board first. So not having assigned seating never made a difference.

I made it to about 1.7 million miles, over 2000 take-offs and landings, and now enjoy driving across the US rather than the wait for a 500 mph flight over the countryside.

I loved that incarnation of the airline, but since investment brokers bought their way onto the board of directors ... let someone else fight that battle.

[Greg123456]

What airline flies Chinese made planes?

[Organic Panic]

They all suck. Every airline now competes to be the least worst. All I would suggest is you keep a card for the nearest regional airport with the most direct flights. I just flew round trip to LAX. Each trip was delayed by hours regardless which airlines. I only keep my United card for that reason and I have millions of miles when I commuted to Europe.

[Mean Daddy]

100% right but if I use my credit card to pay for my wife’s ticket, she can’t have free baggage unless I fly with her. Their solution was for her to get her own $200+ credit card. With a new grandbaby on the way in DC, she’ll be flying out solo a lot.

[Mean Daddy]

We fly into DCs Reagan