What To Know About Southwest Airlines' New Fare Bundles, From Choice Extra To Basic

Southwest Airlines to end its free checked bag policy

The new policy will affect tickets purchased on or after May 28.

• Southwest Airlines is revamping its fare bundles with four tiers: Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice, and Basic.
• The new fares will be available for purchase in the third quarter of this year for flights starting in 2026.
• Refundability and flight credit options differ depending on the chosen fare.

As Southwest Airlines prepares for major changes, including the introduction of assigned seats, extra legroom rows and bag fees, it's also overhauling its fare bundles.

The new fares, branded as Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic, will go on sale in the third quarter of this year for flights beginning in 2026.

Travelers will find that the bundles mirror those sold on other low-cost airlines like JetBlue, and the more expensive fares will come with more amenities included.

Here's how it breaks down.

The most expensive bundle in Southwest's new fare program will be Choice Extra, which will also include the most add-ons as part of the base fare.

Choice Extra ticketholders will get early boarding, two free checked bags and complimentary access to extra legroom seats at booking and complimentary internet.

The next most-expensive fare bundle will be Choice Plus, which will include access to preferred standard seats at booking (generally those closer to the front of the plane) an an earlier group in general boarding.

Both Choice Extra and Choice Plus fares will be refundable up to 10 minutes before departure.

The next tier will be Choice, which includes general boarding and a standard seat assignment toward the back of the plane at booking. Choice fare ticketholders will be eligible for a flight credit, valid for 12 months, if they have to cancel their flights.

The least expensive ticket bundle will be Basic, which will include a seat assignment given at check in and the final position in boarding. Basic ticketholders will be eligible for a flight credit valid for six months if their plans change.

Travelers on Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic fares will all have to pay to check bags, as well as for internet and premium drinks onboard.

Southwest detailed all the planned fare changes and its proposed layout for the new seat plan on its website.

(This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.)

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.