Southwest Airlines is the most misunderstood airline in the United States because its marketing obscures what is actually a premium product for budget-conscious travelers. The base fare is not always the cheapest — Spirit or Frontier often advertise lower initial prices. But Southwest total cost picture is dramatically better: two checked bags free (saves $60-120 round trip vs Spirit or United), no change fees (any ticket can be rescheduled for free), and the Wanna Get Away fares are among the best value in domestic aviation when booked 2-6 weeks in advance. On-time performance: Southwest ranked 2nd among US airlines in OTP in 2025 (76.1%) after recovering from the 2022 meltdown with a full IT system rebuild. The open seating model (no assigned seats) is disliked by planners and loved by flexible travelers — being last to board on a full Southwest flight is unpleasant; being an early A-group boarder is the best domestic flying experience below first class.
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