Most of the time, airlines tacking on new fees means bad news for fliers. Paying extra to check a bag or change a flight can be frustrating, and Southwest Airlines has earned a customer-friendly reputation for nixing many fees other carriers employ. However, Southwest’s latest perk comes from doling out a little extra cash.
For $40, Southwest customers can snag a spot in its “A” boarding group, allowing them access to the aircraft ahead of their fellow passengers. Southwest boards its planes by diving travelers into three boarding groups, with the “A” group taking precedence, followed by “B” and “C.” Customers will be able to purchase the upgrade at the gate 45 minutes prior to departure. Southwest has open seats on all of its flights, and the fee can only be utilized if there are enough seats available. Read more
Most of the time, airlines tacking on new fees means bad news for fliers. Paying extra to check a bag or change a flight can be frustrating, and Southwest Airlines has earned a customer-friendly reputation for nixing many fees other carriers employ. However, Southwest’s latest perk comes from doling out a little extra cash.