<h2>Southwest Airlines Policies Update: About Its Changed Checked Baggage Policy</h2>

<p>One of the major low-cost carriers in the United States, Southwest Airlines is the fourth biggest airline in North America regarding passenger carriers as of 2023. The airline currently covers over 110 destinations in the Americas and the Caribbean. However, Southwest Airlines&#39; CEO, Bob Jordan, isn&#39;t satisfied with all this and wants to expand its customer base and increase its revenue. Thus, it has made several changes in its current policies. If you are a traveller of Southwest Airlines or planning to travel with the airline, you must know about its new policies, which can be learnt through the provided article. So, let&#39;s stay connected and understand &quot;<strong>What is the new Southwest policy?&quot;</strong>&nbsp;Which will help you make your future journey convenient with the airline.</p>

<h2>Southwest Airlines Policy Updates</h2>

<p>Southwest Airlines&#39; policies have been updated many times to make travel easy and comfortable for its passengers. These updates apply to bookings and changes made on or after 28 May 2025. The following section explains <strong>Southwest Airlines&#39;</strong>&nbsp;<strong>potential</strong>&nbsp;<strong>changes&nbsp;</strong>and lets you know about its new principles:&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Changes in the Checked Baggage Policy based on Fare Classes</strong></h3>

<p>Based on Jordan&#39;s observation, to meet the &quot;customer&#39;s needs and wants,&quot; the policy of charging fees for checked baggage instead of two free checked bags is applied, and each customer wants a lot of choices.&nbsp;Full details of the new policies can be seen as follows:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Earlier, you were not required to pay any fee for the first two checked baggage items, regardless of the fare class you had booked, where the applicable weight and size limitations were applied as prescribed by the airline.</li>
	<li>However, for reservations booked or any voluntary changes (including the name change) made on or after May 28, 2025, you have to pay the checked baggage fee if you have booked your fare class of Anytime fares, Wanna Get Away Plus, or Basic, irrespective of your travel dates.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>However, if you have booked a business select&nbsp;fare class, you can continue to bring two free&nbsp;checked baggage like before.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>After applying the new policy, you must pay $35 to $40 for the first checked bag and between $45&nbsp;and $50 for the second one, if applicable.</li>
	<li>You can bring your first two checked bags for free if you are among the airline&#39;s A-List Preferred Members.</li>
	<li>And, if you are a Rapid Reward Credit Card member and an A-List Member, the airline allows you to bring only your first checked baggage for free.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>If you are a Hawaii resident and booked your flight with Southwest Airlines to travel between the islands, then the airline allows you to continue your first two checked baggage to travel freely.</li>
	<li>You will not receive these benefits if you travel&nbsp;with Southwest Airlines&#39; partner airline.</li>
	<li>The airline will apply the size and weight limitations as usual.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h3><strong>Changes For the Checked Baggage for Tier Members&nbsp;</strong></h3>

<ul>
	<li>The checked baggage benefits provided to the Tier members will also be applied to up to eight additional members travelling on the same reservation as yours.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>You must keep in mind that if you are an A-List and A-Lost Preferred Member, booked your flight with a Wanna Get Away fare, and made your reservation or made any changes to it before May 27, 2025, then the airline will allow you to make a same-day change, irrespective of your travel date.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h3><strong>Changes in Checked Baggage for Rapid Rewards Credit Card Members&nbsp;</strong></h3>

<ul>
	<li>Suppose you are a Rapid Rewards primary Credit Card Member or a passenger travelling on the same reservation as a Rapid Rewards primary Credit Card Member. In that case, <a href="https://www.travomint.com/flights/southwest-airlines-wn">Southwest Airlines</a> allows you to bring your first checked baggage for free.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Suppose you are eligible for these Cardmember benefits, along with other categories allowing the checked baggage advantage, such as having an A-List status. In that case, you are only allowed to have the benefits of an A-List status, and you won&#39;t be allowed to carry additional free checked baggage for having the two statuses.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>You are not eligible to take advantage of the card member benefits offered by Southwest Airlines if you have booked your flight with its partner airline.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>While checking in with Southwest Airlines, you must consider each bag&#39;s standard weight and size limitations.</li>
	<li>In addition to the free checked baggage allowance, Rapid Rewards Credit Card Members can also take advantage of the new benefit of seating and boarding in select seats.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h3><strong>Checked Baggage Benefits for Companion Pass Members</strong></h3>

<ul>
	<li>Suppose you are a Companion Pass Member of Southwest Airlines and are eligible for any free checked baggage allowance due to your tier status or fare class. Your benefits will also be applied to your companion under the airline&#39;s new policy upgrade.</li>
</ul>

<h3><strong>Changes for Flight Credits in Fares of Southwest Airlines in Phases</strong></h3>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Phase 1:</strong>&nbsp;Since the start of March 2025, Southwest Airlines has changed the earn ratio in its Rapid Rewards program. If you are flying in Business Select fares, you can earn a high ratio, and with Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares, you earn a lower ratio in Rapid Rewards. Moreover, the redemption rate of the airline also varies for its different fare products, depending on the travel period&#39;s low and high fare demand.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Phase 2:</strong>&nbsp;From May 28, 2025 onwards, Southwest Airlines has introduced a new basic fare on its aircraft. You have to pay the least to book this new fare class, where flexibility is also the least compared to other aircraft fare classes.</li>
	<li><strong>Phase 3:</strong>&nbsp;The airline will change the name of its fare class later this year. Thus, you will book Choice instead of Wanna Get Away Plus, Choice Preferred for Anytime, or Choice Extra for Business Select class fare.</li>
	<li>For all the flight credits and transferable flight credits that you have created after the reservation that you have made, or you make any voluntary changes on or after 28 May 2025, the eligibility for you to use your credit will be one year or less, based on the fare class that you have booked.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li>If you created your flight credit on or before 27 May 2025, they won&rsquo;t expire.</li>
	<li>However, if you use your flight credit points and cancel or create flight rewards on or after 28 May 2025, then the same travel credit or flight credit points have a specific expiry, which previously didn&rsquo;t have any.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Southwest Airlines&rsquo; Details of Various Policies Based On Fare Classes After Its Policy Changes</h2>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Checked Baggage fee:</strong>&nbsp;Business select passengers can bring two free checked bags, whereas passengers in all other travel classes must pay for each checked baggage.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Earning Rapid Reward Points:</strong>&nbsp;While travelling in Business Select fare, you will earn 14X Rapid Rewards points, in Anytime, you will earn 10X, in Wanna Get Away plus fare, you will earn 6X, and for Basic fare, you will earn 2X Rapid Rewards points.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Expiration of the flight&#39;s credit:</strong>&nbsp;Flight credit earned in Basic fare would expire in 6 months, whereas for any other fare class, the flight credit will expire after 12 months.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Transferability of flight credits:</strong>&nbsp;Every other fare class traveller can transfer their flight credit, except for Basic fare passengers.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Refundability eligibility:</strong>&nbsp;Business Select and Anytime fare tickets are refundable, whereas Wann Get Away Plus and Basic fare tickets are non-refundable.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Allowances for changes in flight schedule:</strong>&nbsp;Where the Basic fare passengers are not allowed to make changes in their flight schedule, all other passenger can change their flight itinerary, provided that they have to pay for the difference in the price of the two flights.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Cancellation allowance:</strong>&nbsp;Irrespective of fare class, everyone on Southwest Airlines is allowed to cancel their flight.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Eligibility for same-day changes and standby:</strong>&nbsp;All passengers except Basic fare passengers are eligible for same-day flight changes/standby.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Qualification for priority boarding:</strong>&nbsp;The airline allows priority boarding with the Business Select and Anytime fare classes. However, you must pay extra charges to experience priority boarding with the Wanna Get Away Plus and Basic fare.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Inclusion of complimentary in-flight entertainment:</strong>&nbsp;Everyone on board, irrespective of their fare class, will be allowed to enjoy the complimentary in-flight entertainment offered by Southwest Airlines.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Allowance for priority or express lane:</strong>&nbsp;If you have booked a Business Select or Anytime fare on Southwest Airlines, you can access the airline&rsquo;s priority/express lane.</li>
	<li><strong>Getting Premium drinks onboard:</strong>&nbsp;Southwest Airlines offers complimentary premium drinks on its flights for Business Select passengers, whereas for other fare classes, you must buy your drinks during the flight.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Permission for in-flight internet:</strong>&nbsp;You are allowed to use in-flight internet for free if you have booked a Business Select fare, and for the other fare classes, you have to pay to use the internet on board.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>

<p>Southwest Airlines has changed its policies for its travellers in 2025. The airline&#39;s new policies will apply to booked flights or any changes made in the itinerary on or after 28 May 2025. Bookings made on or before 27 May 2025 will follow the previously established policies of the airline. All these new changes have significantly impacted various airline rules and regulations, which you should understand to make a comfortable future flight with the airline.</p>


Learn what?s new with Southwest Airlines? updated checked baggage policy, including key changes, allowances, and how it may affect your travel plans.

What are the updates to Southwest Airlines' policies?

southwest-airlines-policy-updates

<p>Airport lounges offer the most comfortable and convenient experience compared to general airport terminals. Many airlines offer lounge services, and you can take advantage of these amenities, which include comfortable seating, complimentary food and drinks, Wi-Fi, and sometimes even shower facilities or spa services. After availing of the lounge services, you can wait in the lounge area until the departure of your scheduled flight is announced. They also offer a quieter and more private space for travelers to relax, work, or refresh before a flight, which is particularly beneficial during long layovers or delays. Thus, you need to get information about how you can further get lounge access. You can go through the information mentioned below and get updated accordingly.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>The Ways to Get to the Airport Lounge.</h2>

<p>Airport lounge access can also be obtained through various other ways, including purchasing a membership, flying premium class, learning elite status with an airline, or using specific credit cards. To further brief you, grab the information about how you can avail yourself of airport lounge access. Go through the information mentioned below and proceed with the following accordingly.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Flying in a Premium Cabin:</strong>&nbsp;Passengers with a business-class or first-class ticket often come with complimentary lounge access. You can also choose to fly with the respective airline&#39;s premium cabin class and get access to the airport lounge accordingly.</p>

<p><strong>Airline Elite Status:&nbsp;</strong>Achieving a specific tier in an airline&#39;s frequent flyer program can grant you access to the lounge even when you have further reserved your scheduled flight in economy class.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Lounge Memberships:&nbsp;</strong>A Program that includes Priority Pass offers access to a vast network of lounges for a membership fee. You can purchase a lounge membership to get access to the airport lounge.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Day Passes:&nbsp;</strong>Some lounges sell one-time passes for those who don&#39;t frequently travel or prefer not to commit to a membership. There, you get a pass for lounge access per day that you can further use to avail the service.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Credit Cards with&nbsp;</strong><strong>Lounge Access:&nbsp;</strong>Many travel rewards credit cards offer complimentary lounge access, directly through their lounges or through partnerships&nbsp;with programs like Priority Pass.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Airlines-specific credit card:&nbsp;</strong>Co-branded airline credit cards often provide lounge access to that airline&#39;s lounge.</p>

<h2>Is it Worth accessing the Airport Lounge?</h2>

<p>If you further wonder if it is worth accessing the airport lounge services, well, in conclusion, this query generally depends on the traveler&#39;s habits and preferences, as this is an entirely personal choice of the passenger traveling. For frequent travelers with long layovers, lounge access can significantly upgrade comfort, convenience, and cost savings on food and drinks. Thus, the reasons why it is worthwhile to access the airport lounge are mentioned below.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Enhanced Comfort and Relaxation:</strong></h3>

<p>The lounge offers a more comfortable and peaceful environment than crowded gate areas with comfortable seating, quiet zones, and often, even nap pods.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Complimentary Food and Drinks:</strong></h3>

<p>Many lounges offer complimentary snacks, meals, and beverages, which can be a significant cost-saving option, especially for those with extended layovers.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Productivity and Workplace:</strong></h3>

<p>Lounges usually offer reliable Wi-Fi workspaces, and sometimes even printing and other business facilities, making it easier to stay productive while traveling and also get entertained.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Shower and Restroom Facilities:&nbsp;</strong></h3>

<p>Airport Lounges often provide clean and private restrooms and showers, which can be a welcome perk, especially after a long flight or during a long layover. You can get refreshed there after a long layover or flight.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Flight information and concierge assistance:</strong></h3>

<p>Some lounges further tend to offer you flight information updates and concierge assistance, which can be really helpful for navigating delays or changes.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Consider your needs:&nbsp;</strong></h3>

<p>Airport lounges can be very valuable if you value comfort, privacy, and convenience and frequently experience layovers or long waits. Avail the airport lounge service and consider your needs.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Information about the Cons of the Airport Lounge Access.</h2>

<p>Along with the pros, there are also a few cons that might prevent you from availing yourself of airport lounge access. To learn more about the following, look at the details mentioned and get updated with the cons of airport lounge access.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>The Lounge access can be expensive, whether it is&nbsp;through individual day passes or annual memberships.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Depending on the lounge and the time of day, some lounges can become crowded, diminishing the peaceful ambiance.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>If you only have a short layover, you may not have enough time to fully utilize the lounge&#39;s amenities. The quality and amenities of airport lounges can vary significantly between locations and airlines.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>Therefore, airport lounge access can be a valuable perk for those who travel frequently and appreciate the benefits of a more comfortable and convenient airport experience. However, for infrequent travelers or those with short layovers, the cost may not be justified. Further, you can consider your travel habits and needs to determine if lounge access is right for you.</p>


Discover how to access airport lounges, from credit cards to memberships, and find out if lounge access is really worth the cost for your travel style.

Airport Lounge Access: How to Get In and Is It Worth It?

how-to-get-airport-lounge-access-and-is-it-worth-it

<p>Indians no longer have to make hefty real estate investments or start a business to obtain the UAE&#39;s Golden Visa; all credit goes to the new pathway created by the pilot program. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a new method for Indian citizens to obtain their Golden Visa in the latest update and a significant policy alteration. The UAE already had a&nbsp;Golden Visa program for foreign nationals&nbsp;who wish to move to the country, making it a prime destination for affluent individuals seeking to relocate. However, the &quot;New Nomination-Based Golden Visa&quot; distinguishes itself in many ways from the existing one. The following are the differentiations:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Unlike the real estate-linked Golden Visa system, the new method does not require substantial real estate investments in local UAE properties.</li>
	<li>In the earlier system, the visa was considered invalid if the property linked to it was sold or divided. However, the new system eliminates this issue.</li>
	<li>Rayad said, &quot;Those nominated will also get to bring their families to Dubai and keep domestic help(s) and drivers, based on their visa.&quot;</li>
	<li>The new&nbsp;UAE Golden Visa can be obtained at a one-time fee of AED 100,000 (approximately 23.30 lakh), whereas the existing system requires an investment of at least AED 2 million.</li>
</ul>

<h2>What is a Golden Visa?</h2>

<p>The <a href="https://www.travomint.com/article/what-is-dubai-golden-visa">Golden Visa</a>, also known as &quot;Residence by Investment,&quot; is a scheme that&nbsp;grants citizenship in a country to foreign individuals who make significant investments in the country&#39;s economy, such as real estate investments, when they are seeking residency. However, the UAE Golden Visa is quite different because it eradicates the need for local sponsors. It permits visa holders long-term residency (usually 10 years or more), enabling them&nbsp;to live, work, or study in the country with&nbsp;no re-entry or exit limit and continued residence even if they spend long durations outside the UAE.</p>

<h2>How to apply for the UAE Golden Visa?</h2>

<p>You must know the procedure to obtain the UAE Golden Visa so you can effortlessly procure the country&#39;s residency permit. Here&#39;s what you need to do: Get in touch with an authorized agent of the Rayad Group, in partnership with VFS Global and One Vasco, because they are currently&nbsp;managing the nomination and screening process in India.&nbsp;Share your qualifications, background, and intent through One Vasco centers in India and pay the one-time service charge of AED 100,000. After you qualify, for the security and background checks, your UAE Golden visa will be issued and valid for life.</p>

<h2>Key Features of the New Nomination Model</h2>

<p>The UAE New Nomination-Based Golden Visa highlights various features that differentiate it and make it superior for those seeking residence in the country compared to the real estate-linked Golden Visa system. The following pointers discuss the indispensable components of the country&#39;s new Golden Visa model:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Indians are no longer required to&nbsp;provide&nbsp;a business license or make a real estate or business investment to procure the UAE Golden Visa.&nbsp;The program aligns with the UAE&ndash;India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in 2022.</li>
	<li>This program only&nbsp;applies to those with skills,&nbsp;experience, expertise, and knowledge in specific sectors that the UAE wants to attract. For example, senior professionals in education, health care, corporate sectors, university lecturers, online creators, e-sports players, and maritime industry workers.</li>
	<li>Applicants must qualify for the nomination process, undergo criminal, financial, and social media history background checks, and&nbsp;pay a one-time fee of AED 100,000 (nearly INR 23.3 lakh) to obtain their Golden Visa. The UAE Golden Visa provides&nbsp;visa holders with a long-term residency permit (usually 5 to 10 years).</li>
	<li>The program aims to attract global talent, amplify the knowledge-based economy, reinforce relationships with India through economic and cultural exchange, and promote&nbsp;smoother migration, trade, and business.</li>
</ul>


Discover the latest changes in the UAE Golden Visa for Indians, including updated eligibility criteria, new benefits, visa categories, and recent policy updates to help you plan your move or career in the UAE.

What are the changes in UAE Golden Visa for Indians?

what-are-the-changes-in-uae-golden-visa-for-indians

<p>Unforeseen events are always there, especially regarding air travel, leading to unexpected mass flight disruptions. Recently, Delta Air Lines has seen mass flight cancellations and delays. Around 1000 flights have been canceled by Delta Airlines due to extreme weather conditions near Atlanta and other cities.&nbsp;Delta airlines has released an advisory about the effect on several flights due to severe weather conditions in the Northeast regions. In their advisory, Delta has highlighted some destinations where the flights would be departing and arriving and asked the respective passengers to keep up to date with the news about the flight status.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A red alert has been announced for massive disruptions caused by a strong thunderstorm coming through some of the major northeastern air corridors. This can trigger ground stops, gate holds, and flight schedules for international and domestic travel. Airport terminals may overflow, and passengers can be stranded from coast to coast. Major Airlines, including <a href="https://www.travomint.com/flights/delta-airlines-dl">Delta Airlines</a>, are relocating aircraft and crews.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>What does Delta Air Lines state about this situation?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Erik Snell,&nbsp;Chief Customer Experience Officer,&nbsp;Delta Air Lines,&nbsp;states in a statement on June 27 that,&nbsp;<strong>&quot;The storm resulted in hundreds of system cancellations across the system for Saturday. Delta expects additional delays and cancellations as teams work to safely reset aircraft and reposition flight crews.&quot;</strong>&nbsp;Also,&nbsp;<strong>&quot;Teams across Delta are hard at work to take care of customers and recover our operation following a major weather event at our Atlanta hub on June 27,&quot;</strong></p>

<p>Erik wrote,&nbsp;<strong>&quot;Thunderstorms developed over the evening, bringing rain, lightning, hail, and hazardous wind. The storm caused an evacuation and temporary power loss at the ATL air traffic control tower.&quot;</strong>&nbsp;Also,&nbsp;<strong>&quot;The hail led to required inspections for over 100 aircraft, which our teams completed by Saturday morning. We expect continued disruption this weekend as we recover safely and as quickly as possible.&quot;</strong></p>

<h3><strong>Delta Flights Disruptions Information.</strong></h3>

<p><em>FlightAware</em>&nbsp;is one of the flight information providers; they have shared data on Delta Airline&#39;s flights that have been delayed or canceled for a few days.</p>

<ul>
	<li>On June 29, only 59 Delta flights were counted as canceled, and nearly 775 flights were delayed.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>On June 28, the flight cancellation figure was around 581 flights,</li>
	<li>On June 27, there were 366 Delta flights&nbsp;cancelled,</li>
	<li>On June 26, only 25 Delta flights were cancelled, and over&nbsp;1,100 were delayed</li>
</ul>

<p>Delta Airlines stated,&nbsp;<strong>&quot;Due to the threat of severe weather in the Northeast U.S., travel to, from, or through the destinations listed below may be affected.&quot;</strong>&nbsp;People will receive updates about their flights to/from the affected airports directly to their mobile phones via email or One-Time Notification.</p>

<p>Erik Snell also shared that Delta will&nbsp;<strong>&quot;pay for accommodations, vouchers, rental car reimbursement, and more for customers whose travel has been impacted by this event.&quot;</strong></p>

<p><strong>&quot;On behalf of Delta&#39;s 100,000 people who are working to restore our operation to its hallmark reliability, I am sorry for the inconvenience and uncertainty this event has caused.&quot;</strong>&nbsp;He added,&nbsp;<strong>&quot;If your travel is affected, please continue to consult the Fly Delta app and consider it your travel companion for the latest updates and flexible booking options.&quot;&nbsp;</strong></p>


Discover why Delta is canceling flights?ranging from severe weather disruptions at its Atlanta hub to mechanical issues, regional partner inspections, and network-wide adjustments amid fluctuating travel demand.