Southwest Wanna Get Away fares are the cheapest of the four Southwest fare types — but should you book them? Sure, you’ll save money, but the tradeoffs in not getting all the perks that the more expensive fare classes offer might not necessarily be worth it.

Here’s everything you need to know about Southwest Wanna Get Away fares, and how to decide if booking Southwest’s most affordable fare type is for you.

Southwest ticket options at a glance

Southwest has four fare options:

Wanna Get Away: The cheapest fare — and the one with the fewest benefits.

Wanna Get Away Plus: Southwest’s newest fare, introduced in the first half of 2022.

Anytime: The formerly–sole middle fare, but now one of the better tiers.

Business Select: Southwest’s version of first class.

Although a Southwest Wanna Get Away fare can be cheaper, this fare type may have some drawbacks. For example, Wanna Get Away tickets aren’t refundable. Instead, they’re reusable because you'll receive a travel credit if you cancel your trip (luckily though, travel credits never expire). You'll also earn fewer Southwest Rapid Rewards points with this fare type.

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What is Wanna Get Away on Southwest Airlines?

Wanna Get Away is the cheapest Southwest fare class. But unlike the airlines with basic economy that don’t even let you bring a small suitcase for the overhead bin and refuse to even give you a flight credit for a canceled flight, Wanna Get Away is surprisingly consumer-friendly.

Here’s what you can expect when flying on a Wanna Get Away ticket:

You’ll earn 6 Rapid Rewards points per $1 spent on airfare, rather than the 8, 10 or 12 Rapid Rewards points you can earn on other Southwest fares. However, the earning potential of just two, four or six extra points per dollar is pretty nominal, so we wouldn't recommend choosing a higher fare to earn more points. There are far better ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points.

You can cancel Wanna Get Away tickets without penalty as long as you do so at least 10 minutes before the flight’s scheduled departure time, but you’ll get a flight credit instead of a refund. Flight credits don't expire.

Wanna Get Away ticketed passengers aren’t eligible for same-day change or same-day standby benefits. If your travel plans change, you won’t be offered a seat on another same-day flight, if available. You also won’t be able to get on a waitlist for a same-day standby flight. These perks are available to travelers with Anytime and Business Select tickets.

There are no change fees as long as you make changes at least 10 minutes before your flight’s scheduled departure time. This benefit applies to all Southwest fare types. If you buy a new ticket, you’ll be responsible for any price differences for the new fare.

You can bring two checked bags for free. All Southwest fares qualify for this perk.

How Southwest seating and boarding works

When you purchase Southwest’s Wanna Get Away fare, you won’t receive a seat assignment. Unlike other U.S. airlines, Southwest has an unconventional boarding system. There’s no assigned seating, and you can’t choose your seat in advance. Instead, travelers select their seats after boarding the plane.

Your boarding group (A, B, C) and position (1-60) determine when you board the plane. Your boarding group and position are assigned at check-in, so the sooner you check in, the better position you get. You can check in for your flight starting 24 hours before departure time.

If you don’t like the idea of getting on the plane later, you might purchase a Business Select fare. With Business Select, you’ll be guaranteed an A1 to A15 boarding position.

If Business Select is out of your budget, you might turn to Anytime, which gives you the slightly-less-good, but still useful, EarlyBird Check-In. With this, Southwest will automatically check you in 36 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time.

Alternatively, you can buy EarlyBird Check-In separately for your Wanna Get Away fare. Prices vary by flight but are typically $15-$25 per person. You also receive two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year as a benefit of holding the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card or Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card.