Is Southwest The Cheapest Airline?

February 10, 2022

You probably have no idea what to expect when it comes to Southwest Airlines. This is a brand new airline, and there are no guarantees when it comes to tickets.

Southwest Airlines does not charge for carry-on bags. However, are there similar fees for checking-in and other ancillary items?

Contrary to popular belief, Southwest is not a typical low-cost airline. In fact, it is different from other airlines like Asian or European low-cost carriers.

Unlike other airlines in the world, Southwest has two checked bags per ticket. This means that it's the only domestic carrier that gives you free checked bags.

Is There A Fee For Selecting Seats On Southwest?

Since there are so many seats to choose from, how do Southwest determine which seats are available first?

No, Southwest does not allow customers to pre-select seats. Instead, they are allowed to pick any seat they like after the flight has ended.

Southwest seats are always open, and there are always seats available. However, depending on when and where you check-in, you may have to select seats.

Each passenger is assigned a boarding position indicated by a letter or a number. The closer they are to the 24 hour mark, the earlier they will be allowed to check in.

Early bird check-in is available for $15, and it guarantees a spot in the designated boarding group.

Southwest has upgraded check-in. This means that if you have 15 spots left at the check-in, you can get them for a low price of $30 to $50. This is only applicable to one flight.

Is There Wi-Fi And/Or TV On Southwest Airlines?

While not having seatback entertainment screens, Southwest Airlines offers movies and TV through its Wi-Fi connection.

Unlike other European airlines, Southwest Airlines provides free Wi-Fi on all flights. This is also good for an entire day of travel.

During its early years, Southwest served peanuts instead of full meals in coach class.

Although it no longer offers peanuts, Southwest still offers a variety of food and drinks onboard. Expect free pretzels and soft drinks on select flights, as well as free snack boxes on long flights.

Unlike other international airlines, Southwest has more-than-adequate legroom. All seats have at least 32 inches of space. This is slightly better than the legroom of most US airlines.

All seats at Southwest are soft-leather. In its new cabin design, the airline is now offering the widest economy seats in the world.

Despite the low prices, Southwest Airlines still has the lowest average ticket prices. However, some tickets can go beyond the reach of most high-dollar airlines.

Southwest is not like other low-cost airlines that offer similar services like EasyJet or LionAir.

Where Can I Find Southwest Flights?

Southwest Airlines is the only major airline that doesn't share its ticket data with other comparison sites. This means that if you want to buy a flight from Southwest, you must go to its website.

Do not pay for a Southwest ticket until you compare the prices of other airlines. You have to do this to get the best deal.

Usually, Southwest launches its "click 'n Save" deals once a week. These are usually only available for a limited time and can be found in the evening on Monday nights.

Like other airlines, Southwest has sales that are only limited to certain routes and certain travel days. Remember, these are always limited and can vary.

Matching Competitors

Southwest has also been known to extend its sales at the last minute.

If Southwest doesn't have the lowest price on a particular route, it can match the price of its competitors' sales. Usually, these sales end on Thursday night.

Get notified about the best deals for a specific route in real-time by signing up for email alerts.

Through The Pandemic, The Low-Cost Strategy Wins

Air travel has slowly recovered from its low point. In 2020, it only accounts for about 68% of the domestic passengers' total. This is still significantly lower than the peak of 81% in 2014.

The graph shows the decline in Southwest's revenue and net income since the beginning of 2020 due to the pandemic and the upcoming shutdowns. In Q2, 2020, the company posted a loss of $920 million.

While the best time to buy tickets on Southwest is typically around 3 p.m. eastern time, it's also important to shop around when other airlines have the same sale prices.

The question is, if Southwest's low-cost model works as well as the competition during the pandemic? To answer this, one should analyze the company's operating metrics, which are shown in the graph above.

Both Delta and Southwest saw significant declines in TRASM, which is a normal occurrence during the pandemic. However, looking at CASM, it shows that the airlines' costs remained relatively stable.

Despite the pandemic, Southwest was still able to maintain its operating profitability. It was the first airline to recover to operating profitability during the crisis. The low-cost model has also prevailed in the competition.

With a strong balance sheet, Southwest can easily pay its current obligations. Its quick and current ratios show that it can maintain its financial flexibility even during the pandemic.

Despite the economic difficulties, Southwest was still able to maintain its profitable operations. This is because of its continuous profitability.

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