how to upgrade to business select on southwest

How Does Southwest Upgrade to Business Select (Choice Extra)?

You can purchase an upgrade to Southwest Airlines to Business Select for early A1-A15 boarding within 24 hours of departure. Southwest Airlines’ Business Select is now Choice Extra, which is famous for priority boarding, maximum flexibility, more rapid rewards points, and complimentary premium beverages on a carrier that primarily offers economy class.

If you are tired of traveling with Southwest’s basic fare, it’s likely due to the boarding scramble, as you need to fight for overhead bin space and seats with direct aisle access. And it gives you so much stress when you frantically check in 24 hours out in hope of avoiding the boarding group C and praying for an overhead bin space left for you. Like you, many passengers want to get rid of this pre-flight stress while traveling with Southwest Airlines. To simply skip the stress completely, you need to travel with a Southwest Business Select fare, recently labeled as Choice Extra. Flying with a Southwest Business Select fare not only ensures your early entry to the plane but also gives you a much-needed peace of mind by allowing you to decide where you want to sit and use the overhead bin space without working hard.

Don’t worry, even if you have already purchased a basic fare, we are here to guide you on how to upgrade Southwest flight to Business Select. Call +1 (800) 419-9920 to speak with our agent dedicated to handling Southwest upgrade to business select seamlessly, or go through this guide to understand the core upgrade process of Southwest if you want to do it yourself.

How Do I Upgrade My Southwest Flight To Business Select?

Let’s cut to the chase, the method you will use to upgrade to Business Select fare hinges on whether you are booking a new flight or trying to upgrade an already booked flight. Here, we have explained what you need to do in both cases, ensuring a seamless experience to make your way from basic to business select on Southwest Airlines.

Method 1: What You Can Do To Upgrade To Southwest Business Select If Booking A New Ticket?

If your Southwest ticket is still unpurchased, this is by far the smoothest way to upgrade your Southwest flight to Business Select.

  • Start Your Search: Head to Southwest’s official website and enter your travel details as you normally would.
  • Review Your Options: Once you click on the Search button, you’ll see the three fare options, Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select. These fares have been renamed as Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra, respectively.
  • Choose & Check Out: Select the Business Select (Choice Extra) fare, which includes all perks, including early boarding, and pay the amount to confirm immediately.

Method 2: What You Can Do To Upgrade To Southwest Business Select If Already Booked A Flight?

To get the benefit of early boarding on Southwest even after purchasing a basic fare, you can change your fare to Business Select, which includes all those premium perks that you would get with a direct booking of Southwest Business Select. For transparency, you must note that upgrading to Business Select on Southwest is actually not a fare class upgrade but a boarding upgrade that unlocks various benefits for you on an all-economy seat plane. Here are the steps to follow for Southwest upgrade business select:

  1. Go to Southwest’s website or app and head to the Manage Reservation section.
  2. Enter your flight confirmation number and last name to log in.
  3. Select your reservation that you want to upgrade to business select.
  4. Look for a Change or Upgrade fare option. If Business Select tickets are available, you will see the option.
  5. Check the fare difference between your original fare and the Business Select fare.
  6. Finalize the upgrade process by paying the fare difference.

Method 3: What You Can Do To Upgrade To Southwest Business Select At Last-Minute?

If you decided to change your Southwest fare to make your way into the early boarding group at the last-minute or at the airport, you must be worried about only getting a better seat and don’t need the other premium perks. Although a last-minute Southwest upgrade to Business Select can be surprisingly bargained, it does not convert your ticket to a Southwest Business Select fare but only gets you a better boarding spot, and its limited availability can be a concern. Check this to know what you can do to upgrade your boarding group at the last-minute:

  • Just before departure, probably at the gate or at the check-in counter of the airport, ask the agent if a paid business select upgrade boarding is possible for you. The agent will make a place in the A1-A15 group for you if possible.

What Does Business Select Give You On Southwest Airlines?

Southwest proudly says Business Select is its highest-tier fare, which signals you will get the maximum benefits after purchasing or upgrading to this fare. Basically, Southwest designed this fare for the passengers who need ample flexibility and guaranteed benefits during traveling. Here you can check what benefits and premium facilities are on the line if you buy or upgrade to Southwest Business Select:

Southwest Airlines

Business Select (Choice Extra)

Wanna Get Away Plus (Choice Preferred)

Upgraded Boarding Only

Boarding

Guaranteed A1-A15

Early Check-in Boarding

A1-A15 (If available)

Refund

Fully Refundable (Cash)

Transferable Flight Credit

Travel Funds/Credit

Points Earning

12x Fare

10x Fare

6-10x Fare

Free Drink

Yes

No

No

  • Priority A1-A15 Boarding: This is the biggest perk that you will get with Business Select, as you are guaranteed one of the first 15 boarding positions, allowing you to choose any window or aisle seat and secure the best overhead bin space.
  • Quick Security Lane: Breeze through security at select airports using the dedicated expedited lane.
  • Maximum Flexibility: Your ticket is fully refundable, which means you can get your money back, not the travel credits that expire after a period of time, if you cancel the ticket.
  • High Rapid Rewards Earning: With Business Select fare, you also earn 12 points for every dollar spent on the ticket, which is the maximum for any fare on Southwest.
  • Complimentary Premium Drink and Snacks: Enjoy a free alcoholic beverage or premium soft drink with snacks onboard your flight.

Conclusion

Upgrading to Southwest Business Select or Choice Extra can ultimately reduce your stress for securing your favorite seat, be it a window or aisle seat, and overhead bin space. Whether you have to purchase a new flight or upgrade your existing Southwest Airlines flight, its priority boarding adds the most value with guaranteed preferred seating privilege and higher rewards earnings. You either use the Southwest Airlines upgrade to business class method explained in this guide or call +1 (800) 419-9920 for expert upgrade assistance.

You may also be interested in:
1. How to Upgrade to Mint on JetBlue?
2. How Do I Upgrade to Business Class on Emirates?
3. How to Upgrade to Business Class on Delta?
4. How to Upgrade to Business Class on United​ Airlines?

FAQ’s

Can I upgrade to Business Select on Southwest?

Yes, you can upgrade to Business Select on Southwest by purchasing an upgrade with fare difference or directly selecting the Business Select fare during initial booking.

How much to upgrade to Business Select on Southwest?

The cost to upgrade to Business Select Southwest is dynamically calculated on the basis of various aspects like route, demand, and time of upgrade. Thus, it ranges from $100 to $400 or more.

What is upgrade to Business Select on Southwest?

Upgrade to Business Select (Choice Extra) on Southwest for you should be an elevated experience that includes your flight boarding with one of the first few groups to get on the plane, access to overhead bins for bags, ability to choose seat with extra legroom, a complimentary premium drink, a reward of extra Rapid Rewards points, enhanced comfort, and flexibility to change same day flight or cancel flight without extra charges.

Is it cheaper to upgrade to business class on Southwest during check-in?

Probably yes, it is cheaper to upgrade to business class on Southwest during check-in because purchasing an upgrade at the last-minute or at the airport often offers a huge discount, especially when seats are unsold or the flight is not full.

About the author

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Amjad

Amjad is a senior content writer at AwareTravels. He has an ambition to write travel blogs with the craft of engaging storytelling and useful tips and insights to help the audience. Amjad's writing inspires readers to plan memorable journeys and choose the right destination for their trips while securing the best travel deals.

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