Southwest Business Select: Perks of Choosing the Most Expensive Fare on Southwest Airlines

southwest business select

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When you book a flight, you want it to be on time and with all good in-flight amenities. Whether it is meals, entertainment, or seats, everything should be in order. However, when it comes to Southwest Airlines, you can expect a little-off experience in terms of luxury. Southwest Airlines doesn’t have any business class or first-class cabins. They offer multiple fare segments to their travelers. One of those fare segments is Southwest Business Select. 

Some people could think of Business Select as a type of Southwest first class, but it’s difficult to refer to it as that. Travelers will have the same 17-inch-wide seat as everyone else. Moreover, there is no first-class lounge where you can wait before the flight. So, what makes SW business select an attractive option? It is what we are going to discuss in the following blog. 

What is Southwest Business Select?

Southwest Airlines offer three types of fare tickets

  • Anytime Fare.
  • Wanna Get Away Fare.
  • Business Select Fare.

Southwest Airlines’ most expensive ticket is Business Select. This fare class grants access to amenities, including priority boarding, Fly By Security lane access, and more Southwest Rapid Rewards points

Southwest Business Select sounds like you’re buying a standard business class/first-class ticket. But that is not true. In reality, Business Select is more akin to an Economy Plus flight experience with unique extra benefits. Even though it lacks the amenities of actual business class, it can still be worthwhile and superior to Wanna Get Away and Anytime fare.

Southwest Business Select Benefits

When compared to Wanna Go Away prices on Southwest, Business Select is a fare class that provides a few advantages but at a high price.

Assured A1-A15 Boarding

You would board among the first few passengers with assured A1-A15 boarding offered by Business Select tickets. It is a major issue on Southwest because you can sit wherever you want on the plane, and there are no assigned seats. So, if your boarding pass is too high, you can end up with a middle seat or possibly no room for your carry-on in the overhead compartment. Moreover, with Southwest business select, you can avoid paying the $15 per way Early Bird fee. Thus, you can also select your Southwest seat earlier than those in boarding groups A16 through C.

Fly By Priority Access

You will have access to the Fly By security lane, which permits access to security checkpoints, and the Fly By priority lane, which can move you closer to the front of the ticket counter. A-List and A-List Preferred Members are also entitled to this advantage.

For Southwest, there may be lengthy lineups to check in and check bags. Thus, if you’re traveling for work and in a hurry, having this advantage will be beneficial.

You can check in for a flight with Southwest Airlines up to 24 hours in advance. However, there is no need to rush about using Southwest check-in as soon as it becomes available. It is because you are assured the A 1-15 boarding group. Since you were given your boarding order 36 hours in advance, you can check in whenever it’s convenient for you, either online, by phone, or at the airport.

Full Refund

Unlike with Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus flights, you qualify for a full refund as compared to a travel credit for future Southwest bookings.

You will receive a full refund to your original source of payment. However, you should cancel your flight at least 10 minutes before the departure time in order to receive a complete refund. If you fail to do so, your Business Select fare will be changed into a travel credit that you may either use for yourself or transfer to another. 

Keep in mind that you will forfeit your right to a refund if you change a Business Select ticket.

One Free Drink

If you book a Business Select fare, your complimentary drink tickets will be printed on your Southwest boarding pass when you arrive at the airport. Owners of Southwest credit cards frequently receive free drink coupons in the mail. If you have a normal fare ticket, alcoholic beverages will cost between $6 and $7 each. There is the option for wine and beer. 

Moreover, flights flying 175 miles or fewer only provide water. You may be able to select one of the following beverages if your journey is longer than 175 miles:

  • Vodka and Cran-Apple
  • Jack and Coke
  • Margarita
  • Mimosa
  • Cruset and Cran-Apple
  • Rum-Rita
  • Gin and Tonic
  • Bourbon and Ginger
  • Bloody Mary
  • Tequila and OJ
  • Bourbon and 7UP

Rapid Reward Points

For every dollar you spend using Business Select, you will earn 12 Rapid Rewards.

Here are the earn rates for the various Southwest fares:

Anytime: 10 rapid reward points. 

Business Select: 12 rapid reward points.

Wanna Get Away: 6 rapid reward points.

Wanna Get Away Plus: 8 rapid reward points.

You can earn more bonus Rapid Rewards if you have Southwest A-List or A-List Preferred status.

StatusQualifying PointsFlightsBonus
A-List35,0002525%
A-List Preferred70,00050100%

As a result, A-List Preferred members will receive a 100% bonus on every flight, which translates to 24 Rapid Rewards for every dollar spent on Southwest Business Select. 

Standby Travel and Same-Day Modifications

If you change your plans at the last minute, then the Business Select ticket is for you. You can qualify for same-day change, and same-day standby tickets, provided there is an open seat on a different aircraft on the same date as your original travel and it is between the same cities. Moreover, you can alter the plans online. 

Standby travel is authorized without incurring a fee for a change in fare price between the same city pairs and on the original date of travel. However, if you decide to stand by on another flight, you have to forfeit your boarding right in the first section of the “A” group.

Transfer Flight Credits

If a member of Rapid Rewards doesn’t plan to utilize their flight credits, they can transfer them to a friend, colleague, or member of the family.

How to Book Southwest Business Select?

how to book southwest business select
how to book southwest business select
  • Firstly, visit the official website southwest.com.
  • Go to the air booking page. 
  • Enter your preferences for travel.
  • Here, select the Southwest Business Select fare. You can also check the Southwest low-fare calendar
  • Southwest Airlines allows you to reserve one-way or round-trip tickets for a group of up to eight people.
  • After that, complete all fields pertaining to the number of adults, the arrival date, and the departure date.
  • Click “Search” to view the available flight options.
  • Pick the flight that is convenient for you.
  • Click proceed, and you’ll be taken to the payment page. Your Southwest flight ticket will be confirmed once you pay the ticket fare.

When booking your flight online, you can use any major credit card, PayPal, Southwest LUV vouchers, and Southwest gift cards. You can also pay with cash at ticket counters. The cost of booking Southwest Airlines Business Select ticket depends on the travel date, route, and availability. 

You can also book your Southwest Airlines ticket by calling ob 1-800-435-9792. After getting in touch with a Southwest customer service agent, share the flight information and your preference. They will book a SA business select ticket for you.

How to Upgrade to Business Select?

Please adhere to the instructions below to upgrade to Southwest Airlines Business Select:

  • Open the official Southwest Airlines website.
  • Go to the Southwest Airlines manage booking option. 
  • Enter the confirmation number and first and last name.
  • You will have the flight details on the screen.
  • Choose the seat upgradation option.
  • Click on “Business Select.”
  • Update your seat and adhere to any additional on-screen directions.
  • Pay any additional charges.

There is nothing like a fixed cost when it comes to flying. The cost is determined by the flight or route you take in terms of the overall miles traveled. Depending on the route, the fee to upgrade to Business Select ranges from $30 to $50 for each segment.

Southwest Airlines Business Select Seats

Southwest Business Select is not a standard business-class ticket that will guarantee you comfortable first or business-class seating. In reality, Southwest does not have a separate business class cabin, in contrast to other domestic airlines like Qatar Airways, United, American, Air Canada, Delta, Alaska, etc.

Everyone flies together. The size of all the seats is the same. However, you can still enjoy more comfort with Business Select tickets by getting extra legroom seats. You will have many alternatives for seats and will be among the first to board the aircraft if you purchase Business Select tickets.

Business Select vs. Anytime Fare

The mid-tier Southwest Anytime fares, like Business Select, are completely refundable. We discovered that the average price difference between Southwest Business Select and Anytime flights is roughly 12%. The additional benefits that come with Business Select make it different from these other fares.

Priority boarding and a complimentary premium drink are included with Business Select, and you may earn 12 Rapid Points for every dollar spent as opposed to 10 with Anytime tickets.

Business Select vs. Wanna Get Away

The refund procedure and cost are the two main variations in Wanna Get Away fares.

Southwest’s Wanna Get Away tickets are the least expensive ones. Most of the time, they are slightly more expensive than Anytime fares. Moreover, the Wanna Get Away ticket is not refundable.

However, if you cancel your flight before 10 minutes of takeoff, you may receive a flight credit. But, unlike with a Business Select, you cannot transfer the flight credit. Moreover, if you fail to cancel your wanna get away ticket, you will not receive any credits. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does southwest have business class?

Southwest Airlines have no business class or first class cabins, unlike other major airlines. The seats are the same, and everyone flies together. However, Southwest offers different fare segments that allow passengers to enjoy several perks. 

Is business select worth on Southwest?

If you are flying on Southwest Airlines, then the Business Select is the most expensive fare on the airline. By purchasing a Business Select ticket, travelers can enjoy the benefits of priority boarding, free drink, extra legroom seats, and much more. 

Do SA Business Select seats are bigger?

Sadly No. No matter the fare you choose—Anytime, Business Select, Wanna Get Away, or Wanna Get Away Plus, your seat will be the same size. 

Is a Rapid Rewards Account required in order to purchase a Southwest Business Select Fare?

No, travelers do not require a Rapid Rewards Account to purchase a Southwest Business Select fare. Nevertheless, by purchasing a Southwest Business Select price without a Southwest Frequent Flyer account, travelers would forfeit the substantial Rapid Rewards bonus of 12 points for every dollar spent.

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