Southwest Unrolls Changes To Fares and Products Offered

Southwest Airlines Cabin-1

Southwest Airlines just unveiled its new changes in a webcast press conference.

The airline is changing its fare products. Business Select, Business, and Wanna Get Away. Within the Wanna Get Away fares are other fare breakdown classifications.

Business Select fares will be higher than the highest fares the airline has charged in the past. The amount will vary depending upon the flight.

The airline says for now about 10% of its seats will be available on that basis.

Business Select fliers will get more Rapid Reward credit, get “A” boarding, and a free drink.

Business class fares as essentially the same as the previous full fare refundable ticket.

Another change in the Rapid Rewards program — if you want a Rapid Rewards ticket that is good on any flight, for the exception of the usual holiday periodsĀ  (how it used to be), you have to turn in two regular Rapid Rewards tickets and pay $50.

Remember that the airline changed its Rapid Rewards program a couple of years ago to a “capacity controlled” system like other airlines.

So essentially, this is going back to what the program used to offer — at a higher cost.

The press conference is still ongoing at this point.

Southwest Airlines’ CEO Gary Kelly says that the airline expects the changes to bring the airline $100 million in additional yearly revenues.

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