The Guide to Southwest Airlines Wanna Get Away Plus Fares
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Southwest Airlines’ Wanna Get Away Plus fare class is nestled in between its Wanna Get Away and Anytime fares. But how exactly is it different?
We’ll break down what it entails, from the ability to transfer flight credits to a traveler of your choice and a higher point earnings rate on airfares, to the ability to make same-day confirmed changes and get on the same-day standby list.
What is Southwest Airlines Wanna Get Away Plus?
Wanna Get Away Plus is a fare upgrade from Wanna Get Away that gets you a few additional perks over the airline’s least expensive fare option. Features you’ll get with Southwest Wanna Get Away Plus that you won’t find with the budget-friendly Wanna Get Away fare class include:
Transferable flight credits. This lets you make a one-time transfer of an eligible unused flight credit to another traveler for future use. Both of you must be Southwest Rapid Rewards program members to make the transfer. And as of July 2022, the credits no longer expire.
Same-day confirmed changes and same-day standby. If there’s an open seat on a different flight on the same calendar day as your original flight and it’s between the same cities, you can book a confirmed seat on the new flight at no additional cost — even if that flight is more expensive.
A higher earning rate. Get 8 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent — instead of the 6 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent that you would earn with the cheaper fare, Wanna Get Away.
» Learn more: Why fly Southwest Airlines?
Wanna Get Away versus Wanna Get Away Plus
The differences boil down to a few key points that may help you decide which fare to purchase.
Rapid Rewards points
Spending a little extra on Wanna Get Away Plus is one way to rack up Rapid Rewards points in a shorter period of time. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good return on your investment.
When we searched for flights from Salt Lake City to San Diego, Wanna Get Away Plus fares were $20 more in each direction of travel than Wanna Get Away fares.
In this example, spending $138 on a Wanna Get Away one-way flight would earn you 828 points, based on the 6 points per dollar earn rate. Booking a Wanna Get Away Plus fare at $158 nets you 1,264 points, based on the 8 points per dollar earn rate. NerdWallet values Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents a piece, so in this case, the points difference (436 points) is worth about $6.54.
That means choosing Wanna Get Away Plus for the extra points alone isn’t a sensible an option because you would be spending $20 dollars more for $6.54 worth of points.
More flexibility
Free same-day changes that come with Wanna Get Away Plus may or may not come in handy for travelers who have their schedule locked in.
It may be helpful if you travel often for business and like to have flexibility when it comes to changing flight plans. You can opt for an earlier or later flight without having to pay extra for the difference in cost between your original flight and the new flight. It may not be as beneficial for families since the availability of multiple seats on the same flight you wish to change to could be hard to come by.
Transferable flight credit
The transferable flight credit available with Wanna Get Away Plus is likely to be more beneficial for travelers with family or friends who are Rapid Rewards members. It lets you transfer your flight credit if you have to cancel your travel plans and aren’t planning to fly again anytime soon. If a family member plans to travel soon, transferring the credit can be a big help.
Whether these extra perks are worth the added cost depends on your travel style.
What about Business Select and Anytime fares?
Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares aren’t the only ones available from Southwest. Anytime and Business Select fares are also available and offer more perks.
Both fare types are fully refundable to your original payment method, as long as you cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure.
Customers who’ve purchased Business Select and Anytime fares can also access the transferable flight credit benefit.
Anytime and Business Select passengers get EarlyBird Check-In, a feature unique to Southwest that automatically checks you into your flight 36 hours before scheduled departure — which is typically an additional cost with other fare types.
Anytime and Business Select passengers have the ability to whisk through Priority and Express lanes, which are available at participating airport ticket counters and security screening areas.
Business Select passengers get A1-A15 priority boarding, free in-flight internet and a complimentary premium drink on most flights.
Anytime fares earn passengers 10 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent, Business Select offers 12 Rapid Rewards points per dollar.
If you have Southwest A-List or A-List Preferred elite status, you’ll also get the same-day confirmed change and same-day standby benefit, priority boarding and priority lane and express lane access even if you’re in the cheapest Wanna Get Away fare class.
» Learn more: How to hack Southwest’s boarding groups
Cards that earn Southwest miles
Regardless of fare class, a Southwest Airlines credit card can provide benefits that make your travel a little less stressful, from priority boarding and EarlyBird Check-In to annual points bonuses. Among the options:
$149.
$99.
$199.
$99.
• 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.
• 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, on local transit and commuting (including rideshare) and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.
• 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, on local transit and commuting (including rideshare, and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• 4 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.
• 3 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
• 2 points per $1 on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable and phone services and on social media and search engine advertising.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.
• 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare).
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• Reimbursement for 4 upgraded boardings, when available, each anniversary year.
• $75 Southwest travel credit each year.
• 7,500-point anniversary bonus each year.
• Reimbursement for 2 EarlyBird check-ins each anniversary year.
• 6,000-point anniversary bonus each year.
• Reimbursement for 4 upgraded boardings, when available, each anniversary year.
• 9,000-point anniversary bonus each year.
• Statement credit every four years toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or Nexus application fee.
• In-flight Wi-Fi credit (up to 365 times a year).
• Reimbursement for 2 EarlyBird check-ins each anniversary year.
• 6,000-point anniversary bonus each year.
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
» Learn more: Things to know before getting a Southwest credit card
The bottom line
When considering whether to purchase a Wanna Get Away Plus fare, consider that it offers a happy medium between the most basic fare class and the more expensive options that offer fully refundable fares. With Wanna Get Away Plus, you have more flexibility in making same-day changes and getting on standby lists, and it earns you additional rewards points.
Having elite status or a co-branded credit card can also provide extra benefits to make your travel smoother.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
United℠ Explorer Card
Travel
Get valuable perks like free checked bag, lounge passes and rental car insurance for a fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95. Limited time offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
