Southwest Announces "Business Select" Fares, Priority Boarding
Well that didn't take long. Less than two months ago Southwest scrapped its cattle call boarding for a new system that prioritizes passengers based on when they check in. Now the airline says flyers who spend a bit more are guaranteed to get those coveted "A" boarding passes.
The new fares, which are the priciest Southwest offers, also include bonus Rapid Rewards credits and a free drink. Business select fares will cost anywhere from $10-$30 more than the highest fares the airline has now. (Flying "Select" next week on Kyla's San Diego to Tucson route is $15 extra.) The airline is also adding the priority boarding bonus for passengers that fly at least 32 one-ways a year.
All the changes add up to a big play to lure biz travelers to an airline that's long been a leisure carrier. But we're not sure that road dogs will flock to Southwest just because they're handing out free cocktails. (Though that can't hurt.) But if your company stock closed yesterday at a 52-week low, anything that brings in more money has to be worth trying.
Related Stories:
· Southwest Gives Boarding Priority to Highest-Paying Flyers [USA Today]
· Southwest to Tweak Its Boarding Process [Jaunted]
· Southwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: YoLoPey]
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