Airlines offer different classes of tickets to customers that also vary by several factors, such as in-flight services availability and so on. But, when you book a Southwest Airlines flight, you will be offered three fare types to choose from that is Business select, Anytime and Wanna Get away. Out of the three Southwest fares, one such interesting fare is called “Wanna Get Away”. This is a guide to Southwest Airlines. What’s more interesting is that the name of the fare type has a direct meaning to what passengers would usually want to fly for – to Get Away!
This travel guide is prepared by Treknova, we shall take a look at Southwest Airlines’ Wanna Get Away fare. Also, we shall learn about what features or services the fare type offer to passengers.
Table of Contents
What is Wanna Get Away Southwest Meaning?
Generally speaking, a “Wanna Get Away” fare is a type of flight ticket that has some extra features which are offered by Southwest Airlines. This is similar to the flight classes that other airline carriers offer, such as business class, extra legroom seating, and basic economy.
Thus, Southwest Airlines’ Wanna Get Away fares or tickets actually belong to the basic economy category. These are the cheapest type of tickets that you can purchase when booking your reservation with Southwest. Such cheaper fares are great to save you money, especially during flash sales, however, they also offer the least flexible cancellation policy out of the other types of Southwest tickets.
Additionally, these are non-refundable tickets, although there are ways to still make changes and cancellations and get your money back in the form of credits.
Southwest Anytime Fare and Business Select Types
Southwest Airlines’ top-most category fare is Business Select, which includes priority boarding, where you are the first to select seats onboard, bonus Rapid Rewards Points per dollar, and a complimentary beverage. The ticket is fully refundable and you can also change your ticket at any time if you feel the need.
When you refund a Business Select ticket, the funds are applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only. Standby travel between the same city pairs and on the original date of travel is permitted with no change in fare. This is as close as it comes to first-class on Southwest.
Anytime is also Southwest’s fully refundable fare. This fare allows you to change your ticket at any time without penalty. Standby travel between the same city pairs and on the original date of travel is permitted, and the fare is consistent across multiple dates. So, there is typically little to no fare difference on changes.
Benefits and Limitations of Purchasing Southwest Wanna Get Away Fare
As always, any flight ticket that you purchase will certainly have benefits and limitations. This is also true with Southwest Airlines’ Wanna Get Away fare.
Wanna Get Away is by no means a basic economy fare. Passengers still get to check two bags for free. They still have the same shot as Anytime Fare customers at getting A-group boarding. This fare comes with fewer Rapid Rewards points and flying standby on a different same-day flight can cost extra. If you want to fly standby, you will have to pay the difference between what you paid and the published Anytime fare. On the plus side, there is no change fee charged on top of your fare.
You can change your flight at any time. Just keep in mind with Southwest fares go up as your travel date gets closer. Though fares are nonrefundable, you can still cancel without penalty and the fare can be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only.
Which is best? Wanna Get Away vs Anytime
Mostly the airlines categorize their ticket in different classes with some additional features allowing customers flexibility. Southwest also has some ticket classes and if you talk about Wanna Get away and Anytime and compare them then it will sure that you found both are best in their category. Here we will discuss and compare some of their features and offer implies in their category.
- If you talk about reward points then you have a chance of earning 10x reward points in the Anytime category but if you have Wanna Get Away ticket then you got only 6x reward points.
- In case of refunds, the Anytime category gives more flexibility because Anytime tickets are fully refundable whereas, Get Away tickets are not fully refundable they are reusable in which you can use your amount in the future travel.
- At the time of rescheduling, both have been exempted from change fees but if you want a same-day change then you are eligible only, and only if you have purchased the Anytime ticket category in case of same-day change of Wanna get away then you have to pay some fees.
Flight Credit
You can receive travel credit if you have to cancel your flight. The airline carrier will not charge Southwest Airlines cancellation fees. If you have to cancel a flight, you can use your canceled funds on future travel for up to 12 months from the initial booking date. Anytime and Business Select fares are refundable, which means you will get your money back to your original form of payment. However, you must also keep in mind that failure to cancel a reservation at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure may result in forfeited travel funds.
Rapid Rewards Points
The estimated Rapid Rewards points earned are displayed during the booking process and are directly related to the advertised one-way base fare and the fare type of the flight selected. A Business Select fare earns 12 points per dollar, while Anytime and Wanna Get Away fares earn 10 and 6 points per dollar, respectively. A-List and A-List Preferred Members earn a 25% and 100% bonus, respectively. You can earn points on revenue tickets. You cannot earn points on non-revenue travel, including reward and Companion Pass travel.
Those who have a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit card earn an additional 2 points for every dollar spent on Southwest flights.
In-flight Services
Southwest offers best in segment free movies, live TV, and in-flight messaging for all passengers which is an addition and gives customers peace of mind so that they can board hassle-free and enjoy the whole journey.
Southwest also offers complimentary drinks in which they offer Premium drinks and Cocktails for the Wanna Get Away customers.
Southwest allows Wanna Get Away customers to first select their preferred seats and also prior them to board on the flight so that they can settle first and find the best possible place for the carry bags.
Fees
Wanna Get Away fares are the lowest fares and generally the best deals. Still, the price spread between the Anytime Fare and the Wanna Get Away fare can be worth it. Depending on routes and your travel day, the spread will vary. The price difference can also be as little as $11 to go from Wanna Get Away to any time. In a situation like that, it may make good sense to get a flexible, refundable ticket.
Whilst Southwest Airlines does offer certain benefits to customers when they purchase Wanna Get Away fare, there are, of course, a few limitations attached to it as well.
Reusable Fares
Wanna get Away fares are Reusable and if you cancel your flight then you can use those funds for the upcoming 12 months. Your total 100% amount of the ticket will be reusable and you can book your next flight with that refunded amount. Sometimes fare may vary due to the rush and the season
Flight Cancellation and Change Policy
Wanna Get Away fares are not refundable. Thus, you should only book them when you are highly confident of your travel dates and times. However, Southwest has a very generous change policy. Basically, you can change your flights for free as long as you make those changes one hour prior to departure. This is great whenever the price of your airfare drops because you can simply change your flight and get a credit for the difference, whether you booked with cash or points. If you miss the change deadline you will need to cancel your flight.
If you cancel your Wanna Get Away fare you will not receive a refund. However, you can get credit (aka travel funds) applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only. This means you cannot cancel and then do a name change and expect to use those travel funds for the new passenger(s). There is a way to convert your travel funds into something called a LUV Voucher, which can be used for another passenger (s). This method does require you to pay a fee.
You also need to make sure that you cancel your ticket at least 10 minutes prior to departure. If you fail to do this then you will lose all of your funds.
As per the terms and conditions of Southwest Airlines, “Customers who fail to cancel reservations for a Wanna Get Away fare segment at least 10 minutes prior to travel and persons who do not board the flight will be considered a no show, and all remaining unused Wanna Get Away funds will be forfeited.”
However, if you made a points booking and you failed to cancel, then the points will be redeposited to the purchaser’s Rapid Rewards account.
Carry-on and Southwest Baggage Policy
Southwest allows you to check in two bags for free. They are one of the few airlines that has such a generous baggage policy and it applies even whenever you book a cheap Wanna Get Away fare. Carry-on items are limited to one bag plus one smaller, personal-type item. Southwest Airlines limits carry-on bag dimensions to 10 x 16 x 24 inches. The maximum weight is 50 pounds and the maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per check piece of luggage. Overweight items from 51 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches are accepted for overweight and oversize baggage fees of $75 per item.
Baggage fees are something to consider when evaluating the price of a ticket with Southwest. Checking a bag on a round-trip could cost you $60 and Southwest can save you that much simply by choosing to fly with them. So do not forget to consider the baggage fee savings when flying Southwest. It would be much cheaper and that is only considering checking in one bag.
Low Rapid Rewards Points
When comparing the fare types of Business Select, Anytime and Wanna Get Away, the Rapid Rewards points that you are initially offered for a Wanna Get Away ticket is less i.e., 6 points per dollar only.
Closure
Southwest’s Wanna Get Away fare is great and can help you to save money, especially when you can spot a good deal. It is, however, essential to be aware of the change in the airline’s cancellation policy that applies to your ticket.
Thus, if you are certain of your travel date, then the cancellation policy should not be much of an issue. But, if you ever need to change your travel date, remember that you can still get a credit for the changes if there is a change in price.
