Southwest Rapid Rewards - What's the difference between Business Select / Anytime / Wanna Get Away fares?

Business Select / Anytime / Wanna Get Away fares?

Really new to Southwest so this can be categorized as a noob question but as I understand it all fares are refundable and there isn't any first class seating? So why the big fare differences? What do the other fare buckets give you that Wanna Get Away doesn't?
Thanks

This will give a general idea.

http://www.southwest.com/flight/pop_fareCompare.html?airline=WN



Wanna get away fares are not refundable, but the funds are deposited and can be reused. One of the biggest differences is the amount of points earned.

Thanks for the link!

I retitled the tread for clarity. Using vague thread titles to attract more readers wastes people's time and is not permitted on FT.

Furthermore in this forum virtually every question will get an answer if someone hear knows it. That's an advantage of a relatively quiet forum: People have time to read everything.

Thanks!

Thanks!

Yes, the members here are very helpful. Also check out the mega-faq at http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Southwest_Rapid_Rewards

Curious what others think - I generally feel that there's no reason to purchase an Anytime fare. The difference in cost between Anytime and Business is select is usually so minimal that it's worth the slight premium for boarding and more points. Anyone have a different experience?

Curious what others think - I generally feel that there's no reason to purchase an Anytime fare. The difference in cost between Anytime and Business is select is usually so minimal that it's worth the slight premium for boarding and more points. Anyone have a different experience?

For myself, I agree completely. But believe it or not, there are some people travelling alone who really don't care where they sit or when they board, especially on a short flight.

For myself, I agree completely. But believe it or not, there are some people travelling alone who really don't care where they sit or when they board, especially on a short flight.

The big kicker is the 2x points we A+ get.

For myself, I agree completely. But believe it or not, there are some people travelling alone who really don't care where they sit or when they board, especially on a short flight.

Though I've never traveled on a BS or AT fare and would (and have) taken my usual seat of 17A even when bulkhead and exit row was available if I ever did buy full fare I would still take BS without much thought just for the point bonus.

Curious what others think - I generally feel that there's no reason to purchase an Anytime fare. The difference in cost between Anytime and Business is select is usually so minimal that it's worth the slight premium for boarding and more points. Anyone have a different experience?

Unless you are traveling for business and the company policy is economy only. "Business Select" jumps out on the receipt and can cause the expense report to be rejected.

In my experience, 'Business Select' does not show on the receipt - where are you seeing it?

In my experience, 'Business Select' does not show on the receipt - where are you seeing it?

I just checked my last BS flight and both the online receipt and the email receipt clearly say Business Select.

Pasted from email:

Depart KANSAS CITY INTL (MCI) at 4:40 PM
Arrive in NASHVILLE TN (BNA) at 6:10 PM
Travel Time 1 hrs 30 mins
Business Select

Pasted from online receipt:

Flight MCI-BNA Business Select

The name Business Select is such a joke. As an airtran flyer, I am dreading the day I will have to use Southwest. So you get flight dollar credit instead of actual refund on the lower fare. If you intend to fly again, I see no big difference in the refund value. No business class, no real perks. Not worth it. Oh yeah, some consider standing in line early a perk. A real perk would be assigned seating so I can just sit in my seat after the crowd has filed in slowly.

I find it difficult to believe that you 'have to use Southwest' at any point. You don't have other choices for your routes? Where does Airtran fly that no one but Southwest offers any other options?

The name Business Select is such a joke. As an airtran flyer, I am dreading the day I will have to use Southwest. So you get flight dollar credit instead of actual refund on the lower fare. If you intend to fly again, I see no big difference in the refund value. No business class, no real perks. Not worth it. Oh yeah, some consider standing in line early a perk. A real perk would be assigned seating so I can just sit in my seat after the crowd has filed in slowly.

WN has never pretended that Business Select is a replacement for Business Class on other airlines.

Had the business model of AirTran been able to profitably support the combination of a LCC and true Business Class, there would never had been opportunity for the merger in which WN effectively took over the operations of AirTran. It is the way business works. They try something and if it fails the competitors pick up the pieces. Former AirTran passengers need to understand that their perks were paid for out of losses and could not continue in the long term. I am glad you could enjoy them while you did. It's over. Try delta.com for your next flight. They still have business class and you will pay for it in relation to the value.

Airtran comparison aside, my main point was Business Select offers very little that you cant get with the cheapest WN fares to justify the fare structure. One gets flight dollar credit in case of cancellation with the lowest fare. Unless you do not plan on flying WN again, I find this an acceptable option.

Airtran comparison aside, my main point was Business Select offers very little that you cant get with the cheapest WN fares to justify the fare structure. One gets flight dollar credit in case of cancellation with the lowest fare. Unless you do not plan on flying WN again, I find this an acceptable option.

Allow me one polite exception. My work often ends early or late. When I change a flight in the last day, BS offers me great flexibility to make additional moves, at least doubles my points, I do not lose line position because of the insane 36 hour cut off, and it is nearly always less expensive than the same day walk up fare of any other airline. (I do not have status for low cost standby on other carriers.)