Southwest Wanna Get Away+ in 2026: Bags, Seats, A-List

Wanna Get Away Plus (WGA+) is Southwest Airlines’ mid-tier fare class, introduced in 2022 to sit between the cheapest Wanna Get Away (WGA) and the most-flexible Anytime fare. After Southwest’s substantial 2026 operational changes (assigned seating effective January 27, 2026, and Bags Fly Free ending April 9, 2026), the value calculation for WGA+ shifted meaningfully.

The headline WGA+ inclusions over basic WGA: same-day standby access, free flight changes (no rebooking fee or fare difference), 8x Rapid Rewards earning rate (vs WGA’s 6x), transferable flight credit (WGA credits are name-bound), and after April 9, 2026, 1 free checked bag included.

Typical WGA+ price premium over WGA is $30-100 per flight depending on route and timing. For travelers who would otherwise pay for a checked bag separately, value same-day standby, or are working toward A-List status via accelerated Rapid Rewards earning, the WGA+ upgrade is structurally worth it.

What’s included in Wanna Get Away Plus

WGA+ fare includes:

• Same-day standby access: take an earlier same-day flight without fare-difference payment (subject to seat availability)
• Free flight changes: no rebooking fee, no fare-difference payment to switch to a different Southwest flight
• 1 free checked bag (after April 9, 2026; before that date, Southwest’s Bags Fly Free included 2 free bags on WGA+)
• 8x Rapid Rewards earning per dollar spent on the fare (vs WGA’s 6x earning)
• Transferable flight credit (WGA credits are name-bound to the original passenger; WGA+ credits can be transferred to other Rapid Rewards members)
• Personal item and carry-on bag (industry-standard, included on all Southwest fares)
• In-flight entertainment via Southwest’s wireless system on aircraft equipped (free for messaging via T-Mobile partnership)
• Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks (standard Southwest service)

What’s NOT included (versus WGA, Anytime, Business Select)

WGA+ is mid-tier, so some benefits are reserved for higher fare classes:

• 2nd free checked bag: only included on Anytime and Business Select (not WGA+)
• Refundable fare: WGA+ is not refundable as cash; you get flight credit on cancellation (Anytime and Business Select are refundable)
• Premium boarding: Business Select gets Group A1-A15 priority boarding; WGA+ boards mid-tier under the 2026 assigned-seating system
• 10x or 12x Rapid Rewards: only Anytime (10x) and Business Select (12x) earn at higher rates
• Fly By priority security: only Business Select gets priority security at select airports
• Free drink coupon: included on Business Select only

How does WGA+ compare to Anytime and Business Select?

The Southwest fare structure as of post-April 2026:

For a typical 7-day domestic round-trip, the price spread is approximately: WGA $200-400, WGA+ $260-500 (+$30-100), Anytime $400-700, Business Select $500-900.

The 2026 changes that affect WGA+ value

Two major Southwest changes effective in 2026 changed the WGA+ value calculation:

Assigned seating effective January 27, 2026. Southwest transitioned from its iconic open-seating model (A-B-C boarding groups with first-come-first-served seat choice on board, based on check-in time) to assigned seating at booking. Seats are selected at the time of ticket purchase, matching industry-standard practice from American, Delta, United, JetBlue, and others. Boarding still occurs by group but the groups are based on assigned seat location and fare class rather than check-in time order.

This change made Wanna Get Away (WGA) less competitive because the open-seating workaround for family travel (everyone check in at the 24-hour mark to get good boarding positions, then sit together onboard) no longer exists. Families with kids under 6 now must book seats together at ticket purchase, which often requires WGA+ or higher fare for seat selection.

Bags Fly Free ends April 9, 2026 for new bookings. The new schedule is $45 first checked bag / $55 second checked bag on WGA fares. WGA+ continues to include 1 free checked bag; Anytime includes 2; Business Select includes 2. This change ended Southwest’s iconic decades-long “Bags Fly Free” promotion that distinguished Southwest from other US carriers.

For travelers who would check 1 bag, the post-April 2026 economics now favor WGA+ over WGA when the price premium is under $90 round-trip ($45 bag fee each direction). The WGA+ premium typically lands $30-100 per flight, often within the $90 bag-fee equivalent.

Rapid Rewards A-List and Companion Pass impact

WGA+ earning rate (8x per dollar) accelerates progress toward Southwest’s elite status tiers:

A-List: requires 35 qualifying one-way flights OR 35,000 tier-qualifying points per calendar year. Benefits include 1 free checked bag (regardless of fare), priority boarding (Group A or earlier), and 25% bonus Rapid Rewards earning. WGA+ at 8x earning gets to 35K tier points roughly 33% faster than WGA at 6x.

A-List Preferred: requires 70 qualifying one-way flights OR 70,000 tier-qualifying points per calendar year. Benefits include 2 free checked bags, free WiFi, priority boarding, 100% bonus earning, and same-day standby on WGA fares (which they wouldn’t get otherwise).

Companion Pass: earned by 100 qualifying one-way segments OR 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Allows naming a companion who travels for taxes and fees only on any Southwest flight (revenue or award) for the remainder of the earning year plus the entire following calendar year. The Companion Pass is widely regarded as the best status earning benefit in US aviation.

For travelers actively working toward A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass status, WGA+ at 8x earning meaningfully accelerates progress vs WGA at 6x. Combine with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card (3x earning on Southwest purchases) or Priority Card (3x on Southwest + 2x dining/local transit) for additional acceleration.

When WGA+ makes sense

Book WGA+ if:

• You will check 1 bag (saves $45-90 round-trip after April 9, 2026)
• You value same-day standby flexibility (tight connections, schedule changes)
• Your travel dates may shift (free changes save $99+ change fees on other carriers)
• You are working toward A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass status
• You have travel companions who might use transferable flight credit
• The WGA+ premium over WGA is under $90 round-trip (bag-fee equivalent)

Stick with WGA if:

• You travel personal-item-only with no checked bag
• Your dates are firm and no flexibility needed
• You’re not building Rapid Rewards status
• The WGA+ premium exceeds $90 round-trip (where bag fee + flexibility value doesn’t justify the gap)
• You don’t have travel companions who would use transferable credit

Upgrade to Anytime or Business Select if:

• You need 2 free checked bags
• You need refundable cash refund (Anytime, Business Select are cash-refundable; WGA+ gives flight credit only)
• You need premium boarding (Business Select Group A1-A15)
• You want maximum Rapid Rewards earning (10x Anytime, 12x Business Select)

The bottom line

Wanna Get Away Plus is Southwest’s mid-tier fare introduced in 2022 and increasingly valuable after the 2026 operational changes. The key inclusions over basic WGA: same-day standby, free flight changes, 8x Rapid Rewards earning, transferable flight credit, and 1 free checked bag (post-April 2026).

For travelers who check 1 bag, value flexibility, or are working toward A-List status, WGA+ at typical $30-100 premium over WGA is structurally worth the upgrade. For personal-item-only travelers with firm dates and no Rapid Rewards goals, basic WGA remains the cheapest option despite the new bag fees.

Southwest’s 2026 transition to assigned seating and end of Bags Fly Free fundamentally changed the airline’s competitive positioning. The historical advantages (free bags, open seating, casual operational culture) are largely gone; the new Southwest competes on fare and Rapid Rewards loyalty rather than the operational distinctives that defined the brand for decades.

For broader Southwest guidance, see Southwest Airlines Financial State in 2026 which covers the operational changes and financial position. For airline-specific carry-on rules, see the Southwest carry-on guide. For comparison with other US carriers’ basic economy products, see American Basic Economy, Delta Basic Economy, and United Basic Economy.