Last Updated on July 30, 2023

Southwest Airlines is known for its cheap flights and airline rewards but is it a good airline for travel?  In this post, we’ll list 15 things you should know about Southwest Airlines- the Pros and Cons.

I love going on trips and Southwest is a popular choice when flying.  As I mentioned, they have one of the best flight rewards programs and cheap flights.  In fact, when I’m flying somewhere in the U.S., Southwest is often my first choice since I’m able to use my Southwest points and fly for free (there are a couple of small fees that you do have to pay).
 
But there are a few drawbacks and things that you should know.  As I’ll mention in the Cons section, I often have to take connecting flights when traveling to Florida from Minnesota because there aren’t very many direct flights.  This can become a little nerve-racking since Southwest is known for having flight delays, so you have to worry about catching your connecting flight.
 

Ready to book your next flight?  Take a look at the best flight prices here. 

So is Southwest a good airline?  Here are 15 Things to know about Southwest Airlines:

See My Review Of Delta Airlines Here

See My Review Of United Airlines Here

 

Is Southwest A Good Airline?

 

 

 

Southwest is a good airline to travel Photo Credit: Canva

Is Southwest A Good Airline?  Pros

 

 

Is Southwest A Good Airline? Cons

 

 

Photo Credit- Simple Flying

As you can see in the chart, Southwest Airlines has a lot of cancellations in 2022
Regarding canceled flights, as you can see in the above chart by Simple Flying, Southwest has the 2nd most cancellations of the listed airlines from January-June 2022 and a 2.5% cancellation rate.
 
To make matters worse, December 2022 was a bad month for Southwest as delays and cancellations interrupted the holiday plans of thousands of travelers.
 
In fact, Southwest was responsible for half of the canceled flights worldwide, the day after Christmas.
 
The CEO has promised to provide reimbursements to many affected customers and has pledged to be better going forward, but we’ll see if they can make long term improvements moving forward.
 
Although they have been known to change their flight schedule after I’ve booked my flight, I haven’t had many other issues with Southwest flights and they remain one of my favorites for flying.

 

 

Southwest is a good airline for travel!
 

Final Thoughts: Is Southwest A Good Airline?

 
Although there are a few disadvantages, Southwest Airlines is a great option for cheap flights and traveling, overall.  I’ve also used their deals on vacations and rental cars and they are worth checking out!
 
For more tips on saving money while traveling, check out these tips for traveling cheap!
 
Safe travels!
 
 

Ready to book your next flight?  Take a look at the best flight prices here. 

 

6 Comments

  1. Priscilla

    I would like to know if connecting flights require passengers to pick up their luggage and transfer them to the next flight and recheck in, or does your luggage go straight through to your destination?

    Reply
    • waynekask

      Priscilla, Southwest will transfer your luggage to your final destination!

      Reply
    • Anonymous

      Straight to your destination with no hassle. I always enjoy the great customer service when I fly with Southwest Airlines.

      Reply
  2. Kathy

    Southwest is kind of a hidden gem. They don’t list their flights on the aggregators (kayak, expedia, etc,…) so lots of times people don’t know to look on the Southwest site directly! I love that they include checked bags, and for us skiers, that includes a ski bag and boot bag which is a WIN! So good that you posted about the pros and cons for others to enjoy!!!

    Reply
  3. Lindsay P

    I love Southwest and I think this is a very interesting list of pros and cons about the airline.

    Reply
  4. Paige J. Watts

    It certainly sounds like Southwest is a good option for short budget flights within the states!

    Reply

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