Airlines Compared

Saver fare: no changes or cancellations permitted outside the 24-hour risk-free window

No free carry-on bag ($10-75 by route); Trip Flex add-on ($29-43/segment) needed to avoid most change/cancel fees; no credit issued for no-shows or cancellations made within 7 days of departure

No changes allowed; $99 cancellation fee (domestic 48 states, AAdvantage members); $129-$199 for other regions; 24hr risk-free window applies to any fare

Basic ticket cancellation fee $99 (US/Canada/Mexico/Caribbean/Central America) to $199-$330 elsewhere; not eligible for Same-Day Standby/Confirmed

No free carry-on bag; no free changes without purchasing the Flight Flexibility add-on; nonrefundable outside the 24hr window; tickets bought within 7 days of departure are not eligible for the 24hr refund at all

Blue Basic: no changes allowed (including same-day switches/standby); cancellation fee $100 (North America/Central America/Caribbean) or $200 (other routes); no free seat selection

Southwest's cheapest fare is named Basic and does function as a basic-economy tier: no free checked bags (the $45/$55 rate applies), boards last in Group 8, no seat selection, and excluded from same-day change and standby unless the passenger holds A-List status. Carry-on stays free at every fare, and no fare carries a change or cancel fee (nonrefundable fares return travel funds/credit, not cash). Corrected 2026-09-04: this field previously claimed Basic keeps free bags, which stopped being true when the checked-bag fee took effect 2026-04-09.

No changes allowed (cancel and rebook only); 24hr full refund if booked 7+ days out, then partial travel credit only; NO carry-on bag allowed onboard on most domestic flights