Southwest Airlines

Q: What are Southwest Airlines' codes?

Southwest's IATA code is WN , its ICAO code is SWA , and its callsign is SOUTHWEST .

WN SWA

Southwest Airlines is a major US low-cost carrier with an all-Boeing 737 fleet, based at Dallas Love Field. This guide covers its bases, fleet, assigned seating, baggage, Rapid Rewards and airport transportation.

803
Aircraft: 117
Destinations: DEN, LAS, PHX, HOU, ATL
Hubs

Landing with Southwest Airlines?

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Where you land

Southwest Airlines airports

Southwest calls these operating bases rather than hubs. Chicago Midway and Baltimore/Washington are also among its largest. Check the airport on your ticket: in Dallas Southwest uses Love Field (DAL), and in Houston mainly Hobby (HOU).

Denver International Airport Hub

DEN

Southwest's largest station by departures.

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Harry Reid International Airport Hub

LAS

The Las Vegas base, with many leisure routes across the US.

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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Hub

PHX

A major base in the Southwest.

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William P. Hobby Airport Hub

HOU

The Houston base and Southwest's gateway for flights to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

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Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport Hub

ATL

A large base in the Southeast.

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Cancún International Airport

CUN · Cancún

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Los Cabos International Airport

SJD

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Puerto Vallarta International Airport

PVR

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Orlando International Airport

MCO

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Los Angeles International Airport

LAX

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Daniel K. Inouye International Airport

HNL

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Dallas Love Field

Southwest's home airport and headquarters.

The airline

About Southwest Airlines

Schedules, aircraft assignments, terminals and fare rules can change. Confirm operational details directly with Southwest before travel.

Official name: Southwest Airlines Co.
Callsign: SOUTHWEST
Country: United States
Founded: 1967 (first flights on 18 June 1971)
Head office: Dallas Love Field, Dallas, Texas, United States
Fleet: Boeing 737 only
Frequent-flyer program: Rapid Rewards
Official website: southwest.com

Southwest Airlines is a US airline headquartered at Dallas Love Field in Texas. It was founded in 1967 and began flying on 18 June 1971. It is one of the largest airlines in the United States and flies an all-Boeing 737 fleet of around 800 aircraft to more than 100 destinations in the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Southwest does not run a classic hub-and-spoke network. It flies point to point from large operating bases such as Denver, Chicago Midway, Las Vegas, Baltimore/Washington, Phoenix, Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby.

The airline changed several long-standing policies in 2025 and 2026: it began charging for checked bags on most fares in May 2025, introduced basic and premium fare options, and switched from open seating to assigned seats, including an extra-legroom section, on 27 January 2026.

Network

Where Southwest Airlines flies

Routes and frequencies vary by season.

United States

A large domestic network covering most of the continental US and Hawaii.

Mexico

Leisure destinations such as Cancún, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.

Central America and the Caribbean

Destinations including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, Costa Rica and Belize.

Aircraft

Southwest Airlines fleet

Southwest flies only the Boeing 737, which keeps operations simple. The aircraft shown at booking is not guaranteed until departure.

Boeing 737-700 and 737-800

The older part of the fleet, being replaced over time.

Boeing 737 MAX 8

The newest aircraft in service, with the 737 MAX 7 on order.

On board

Southwest Airlines cabin classes

Southwest has a single-class cabin, but since 27 January 2026 seats are assigned and sold in tiers. Your fare and Rapid Rewards status decide which seats are included and your boarding group.

Extra Legroom

Seats in the first rows of the aircraft, with more legroom.

Preferred

Seats near the front for faster boarding and deplaning.

Standard

The remaining seats in the cabin.

Before you fly

Practical information

Baggage Cabin bags, checked bags, missing luggage

Since May 2025 most Southwest fares no longer include free checked bags. Allowances depend on the fare, Rapid Rewards status and co-branded card benefits, and are shown during booking.

Carry-on

One carry-on bag plus one personal item.

Checked baggage

Paid on most fares, with allowances included in higher fares or for eligible Rapid Rewards members and cardholders.

Special items

Sports equipment, pets and oversized items follow separate rules. Check southwest.com before you fly.

Check-in and boarding Steps before departure

Check-in on southwest.com or the Southwest app opens 24 hours before departure. With assigned seating, checking in no longer decides where you sit, but you still need to check in and drop bags before the deadlines shown in your booking.

1 Confirm
Confirm the airport, especially in Dallas, Houston and Chicago.
2 Documents
Bring a passport for flights to Mexico and the Caribbean.
3 Check in
Check in online or in the app.
4 Boarding pass
Your boarding pass shows your seat and boarding group.
5 Arrive early
Allow time for bag drop, security and international processing.

Loyalty program

Rapid Rewards is Southwest's loyalty program. Members earn points on flights and with partners, and redeem them for flights. Elite tiers and the Companion Pass add benefits. Program rules change, so check your account for the current conditions.

Flight status and customer service Official sources

For current operational information, use Southwest's official services:

Southwest website

southwest.com for booking, check-in, trip management and flight status

Southwest app

Available for iOS and Android, with mobile boarding passes and flight notifications

Ground transport

Airport transportation for Southwest Airlines passengers

Public transport, authorized taxis, shared shuttles or a pre-booked private transfer. Arriving long-haul or with a lot of luggage is the case for booking ahead: fixed price, and a driver in arrivals with your name on a sign.

Book from DEN →Book from LAS →Book from PHX →Book from HOU →Book from ATL →Book from CUN →Book from SJD →Book from PVR →Book from MCO →Book from LAX →Book from HNL →

Airport Transportation is an independent platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Southwest Airlines.

Questions

Southwest Airlines FAQs

What are Southwest Airlines' codes?

Southwest's IATA code is WN, its ICAO code is SWA, and its callsign is SOUTHWEST.

Does Southwest have assigned seats?

Yes. Southwest switched to assigned seating on 27 January 2026, with Extra Legroom, Preferred and Standard seats.

Are bags still free on Southwest?

Not on most fares. Since May 2025 checked bags are free only with certain fares, Rapid Rewards tiers or card benefits.

Does Southwest fly to Cancún?

Yes. Southwest flies to Cancún from several US cities.

What is Southwest's loyalty program?

Rapid Rewards.

Is Airport Transportation affiliated with Southwest Airlines?

No. Airport Transportation is an independent transportation-booking platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Southwest Airlines.

Information reviewed in October 2026. Airline schedules, fleet figures, baggage rules and passenger services are subject to change.

Transfer for Southwest Airlines arrivals

Fixed price, driver in arrivals

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