Southwest Airlines spent four decades as the US carrier where checked bags flew free and seats were open, and the 22 million Android installs reflected loyalty built on that promise. The 2025 product changes broke both promises. Checked bag fees apply to most fare classes, assigned seating replaces the boarding-group lottery, and the Rapid Rewards Companion Pass thresholds tightened. The same complaints repeat across Reddit, the Southwest community forum, and the airline subreddits. Two checked bags now cost $35-$80 round trip, eliminating the structural pricing advantage on family travel. The new assigned-seat model groups paying premium passengers in the front rows and pushes basic-fare passengers to the back. International routes remain shallow, with no service to Europe, Asia, or South America beyond the Caribbean and Mexico. There’s still no premium cabin, even on six-hour transcontinental routes. And the operational reliability gains from the 2022 winter meltdown have stabilized but the system still struggles during weather events. These Southwest Airlines alternatives target those frictions, from richer loyalty programs to better-equipped aircraft.
We compared seven US and international airlines that compete with Southwest on Android. The mix covers low-cost with assigned seats (JetBlue), the largest legacy carriers (Delta, American, United), the west-coast oneworld partner (Alaska Airlines), and ultra-low-cost carriers below Southwest’s new price tier (Spirit, Frontier).
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Loyalty currency | Free checked bags | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | Low-cost with premium-cabin option | TrueBlue points | Yes, on Blue Plus and above | Mint business cabin on transcontinental routes |
| Delta Air Lines | Premium experience on legacy network | SkyMiles | Free with Delta SkyMiles AmEx | Reliable operational record |
| American Airlines | oneworld alliance and international reach | AAdvantage Loyalty Points | Free for AAdvantage Gold+ | Largest US network by destinations |
| United Airlines | Star Alliance and Polaris business | MileagePlus | Free with United cards | Largest international network of US carriers |
| Alaska Airlines | West coast routes and oneworld partner | Mileage Plan | Free with Alaska card | Mileage Plan still has a published award chart |
| Spirit Airlines | Cheapest base fares with a la carte add-ons | Free Spirit | None, all charged | Lowest published fares on major US routes |
| Frontier Airlines | Cheap fares plus the GoWild! unlimited pass | Frontier Miles | None, all charged | GoWild! all-you-can-fly seasonal pass |
Why people leave Southwest
The complaints concentrate on the 2025 changes and what they unwound. Two checked bags now cost money on most fare classes, removing the structural advantage that made Southwest cheaper than legacy carriers on family travel. Assigned seating replaces open seating, which means families with kids can’t board together unless they pay for Early Bird or A-List status, and the open-cabin scrum that loyal passengers liked has disappeared. The Rapid Rewards Companion Pass thresholds tightened, requiring more spend or more flights per year to qualify and re-qualify. International routes stay shallow: no service to Europe, Asia, South America beyond Lima, or Australia.
A fifth complaint: the absence of a premium cabin matters more after the assigned-seating change. Six-hour transcontinental flights now have a paid seat selection layer but still no actual premium product, while every legacy competitor offers a first-class cabin on those routes.
Which Southwest Airlines alternative should you pick
- JetBlue for low-cost flying with a real premium cabin on long routes.
- Delta Air Lines for the most operationally reliable legacy carrier.
- American Airlines for oneworld international reach and the largest US network.
- United Airlines for Star Alliance and Polaris business class.
- Alaska Airlines for west coast routes and the last published award chart.
- Spirit Airlines for the cheapest base fare on major routes.
- Frontier Airlines for the GoWild! unlimited pass on flexible schedules.
Stay on Southwest when the route map still wins on key city pairs you fly, the A-List Preferred status earns enough nights to offset the new bag fees, and the Rapid Rewards Companion Pass actually applies to your travel pattern.
1. JetBlue, low-cost flying with a real premium cabin
JetBlue runs a hybrid model that prices closer to Southwest on base fares but adds a real premium cabin on long routes. Mint, the business-class product on transcontinental flights and select international routes, offers fully flat seats with direct aisle access on the A321LR. Blue Plus fares include a checked bag, free Wi-Fi remains a fleet-wide standard, and TrueBlue points have no blackout dates on award redemption.
Southwest vs JetBlue: Southwest’s strength was the simple all-coach product with bags-free pricing. JetBlue keeps a single all-coach product on most routes but adds Mint for premium long-haul, which fills the gap Southwest never offered.
Where it falls short: the network outside the East Coast hubs is thinner than Southwest. JetBlue’s operational reliability dipped during the 2024-2025 disruption cycle.
Pricing:
- Blue Basic fares from low double-digit base.
- Blue Plus adds a checked bag.
Migrating from Southwest: install JetBlue, check the route map for the city pairs you actually fly, and try Mint on a transcontinental for an experience Southwest doesn’t compete on.
Bottom line: the right pick for travelers who liked Southwest’s simple coach product but want premium-cabin options on long routes.
2. Delta Air Lines, the most reliable legacy carrier
Delta consistently ranks at or near the top of the US legacy carriers on operational reliability, with the lowest cancellation rate among the big three over the past several years. SkyMiles has no published award chart, which creates the same dynamic-pricing frustration as competitors, but the Delta SkyMiles co-brand cards include free checked bags, priority boarding, and Sky Club access at the higher tiers. Delta One business class on widebodies and select transcontinental routes is a competitive premium product.
Southwest vs Delta: Southwest competed on price simplicity. Delta competes on reliability and product depth, with the SkyMiles card neutralizing the bag-fee gap that Southwest used to lead on.
Where it falls short: SkyMiles award redemptions cost more than competing programs for the same flights. Sky Club access tightened in 2024 to one entry per ticket.
Pricing:
- Main Cabin fares competitive with Southwest on most routes.
- Delta SkyMiles cards from $99 annual fee include free checked bags.
Migrating from Southwest: install Fly Delta, status-match through the SkyMiles program if Southwest A-List qualifies, and apply for the entry-tier SkyMiles co-brand if free bags matter.
Bottom line: the right pick for travelers who want the most operationally reliable US carrier with a competitive premium cabin.
3. American Airlines, oneworld international reach
American operates the largest US network by destinations and connects into the oneworld alliance, which includes British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. The AAdvantage program shifted to a Loyalty Points model that rewards spend across the AAdvantage ecosystem (cards, partners, shopping portal) rather than just flying. Free checked bags apply to Gold elite and above, plus to Citi or Barclays AAdvantage cardholders.
Southwest vs American: Southwest stayed point-to-point with no alliance partners. American’s oneworld membership opens international award redemption on Cathay, Qatar, and JAL, which Southwest can’t compete on at all.
Where it falls short: AAdvantage Loyalty Points tier qualification math is opaque. Operational reliability ranks behind Delta on industry rankings.
Pricing:
- Main Cabin fares competitive with Southwest on US routes.
- AAdvantage credit cards include free checked bags.
Migrating from Southwest: install the American Airlines app, status-match if eligible, and check the oneworld partner award space for any international travel pattern Southwest doesn’t reach.
Bottom line: the right pick for travelers who want international reach through oneworld partners.
4. United Airlines, Star Alliance and Polaris business
United runs the largest international network of any US carrier, with Polaris business class on widebodies offering fully flat seats with direct aisle access on most fleets. The Star Alliance membership opens partner awards on Lufthansa, Singapore, ANA, Air Canada, and Turkish, which gives MileagePlus members redemption options the other legacy carriers can’t match in equivalent regions.
Southwest vs United: Southwest’s domestic point-to-point map was the entire network. United’s strength is everything Southwest doesn’t fly: Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa through Star Alliance partners.
Where it falls short: MileagePlus uses dynamic award pricing without a published chart. Basic Economy restrictions are tighter than competitors, with no overhead bin space on most fares.
Pricing:
- Basic Economy and Economy fares competitive with Southwest on US routes.
- United Explorer card from $95 annual fee includes free checked bags.
Migrating from Southwest: install the United app, status-match if eligible, and check Star Alliance partner awards for any travel pattern that includes international destinations.
Bottom line: the right pick for travelers who fly internationally and want Star Alliance partner award access.
5. Alaska Airlines, west coast routes and a published award chart
Alaska Airlines runs the strongest west coast network outside Hawaiian (now part of the Alaska Air Group) and is the only major US carrier still publishing a partial award chart. The Mileage Plan program redeems on Alaska’s own metal plus partners across oneworld, with miles often delivering 1.5-2.5 cents in value on long-haul partner awards. The Hawaiian Airlines integration adds inter-island Hawaii routes and the trans-Pacific Hawaii network.
Southwest vs Alaska: Southwest was a coast-to-coast point-to-point network. Alaska is concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, California, and Alaska, with the oneworld partnership unlocking international awards Southwest never offered.
Where it falls short: the East Coast network is thin relative to Delta, American, and United. International routes outside Hawaii and Mexico are limited.
Pricing:
- Main Cabin fares competitive on west coast routes.
- Alaska Airlines Visa from $95 annual fee includes free checked bag.
Migrating from Southwest: install Alaska Airlines for any travel concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, California, or Hawaii. The Mileage Plan award chart on partner redemptions remains a standout in the industry.
Bottom line: the right pick for west coast travelers who want a published partner award chart.
6. Spirit Airlines, cheapest base fares with a la carte add-ons
Spirit runs an ultra-low-cost model that prices the seat alone and charges separately for every add-on, including carry-on bags, seat selection, water, and printing a boarding pass at the counter. The base fare on major routes consistently undercuts Southwest by 30-50%, even after the recent fare-class changes. The 2024 fleet refresh added Big Front Seats with extra legroom for a modest upcharge.
Southwest vs Spirit: Southwest’s pre-2025 model bundled bags into the fare. Spirit’s model unbundles everything, which produces a lower headline price for passengers traveling light.
Where it falls short: the unbundled fees stack quickly. A round trip with a carry-on, a checked bag, and a seat selection at $60-$120 per leg can match or exceed a Southwest fare.
Pricing:
- Ultra-low base fares.
- Every add-on charged separately.
Migrating from Southwest: install Spirit, calculate the total fare including any bags and seat selection you actually need, and compare against Southwest’s new fare structure.
Bottom line: the right pick for travelers flying light on flexible schedules who want the absolute cheapest base fare.
7. Frontier Airlines, GoWild! unlimited pass on flexible schedules
Frontier runs a similar ultra-low-cost model to Spirit, with the GoWild! pass adding a wrinkle that no other US carrier matches: an unlimited-flight subscription that lets pass holders book Frontier flights for a small fee ($0.01-$99 per leg) within the seat availability window. The pass works for travelers with flexible schedules who can book inside the 1-3 day pre-departure window where GoWild! seats open up.
Southwest vs Frontier: Southwest’s predictable schedule and Companion Pass rewarded loyalty volume. Frontier’s GoWild! pass rewards flexibility, with the trade-off that confirmed seats far in advance cost more than Southwest equivalents.
Where it falls short: confirmed advance seats cost the standard low-cost-carrier rate plus add-ons. GoWild! availability isn’t guaranteed on peak routes during peak times.
Pricing:
- Standard base fares plus all-the-charges model.
- GoWild! pass at varying seasonal prices, often $399-$999 for an annual window.
Migrating from Southwest: install Frontier, calculate the per-flight cost for a flexible-schedule traveler, and price the GoWild! pass against a year of expected Southwest fares.
Bottom line: the right pick for flexible travelers who can fly off-peak and want the GoWild! unlimited pass.
