The Guide to Southwest Choice Extra
Southwest's Choice Extra fare is its most premium, but it isn't a traditional premium cabin.
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Choice Extra is Southwest's most premium fare type, giving travelers the most flexibility and perks when they fly with the airline.
If you're willing to pay up for the priciest option, you'll get benefits like priority boarding, faster Rapid Rewards points earning, flexible changes and the ability to select an extra legroom seat. (Keep in mind that Southwest doesn't offer a traditional "first class" product, although Choice Extra is the closest you'll get to it on the airline. Extra legroom seats aren't wider, but they do offer more space for your legs.)
Here's how to determine if Southwest’s Choice Extra is the right fare for you.
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What you need to know about Southwest Choice Extra
While there’s no such thing as Southwest first class in the traditional sense, the airline’s Choice Extra fares offer some important perks that might be worth the extra cost.
- You are guaranteed to board in Groups 1-2.
- You can select any seat at booking, including extra legroom seating with five extra inches of seat pitch.
- If you’re a Rapid Rewards member, you’ll earn 14 points per dollar spent on the Choice Extra fare, rather than 10x, 6x or 2x for mid- and low-level fares.
- You have access to express security lanes, which allows access to designated (and presumably faster) security checkpoints at some airports (see which airports offer express security lane access here).
- If you often make last-minute changes, you’ll enjoy the fact that Choice Extra fares are eligible for same-day change and same-day standby tickets. You can make these changes as long as there’s an open seat on a different flight on the same date as your original flight and it’s between the same cities.
- Choice Extra tickets receive one complimentary premium drink on flights over 250 miles, including beverages like margaritas, gin and tonics, mimosas, and seasonal beers.
- Two free checked bags, making Choice Extra the only fare type that offers complimentary bags.
Does Choice Extra include first class seats?
Southwest does not have a first class cabin on its planes, so Choice Extra seats are unfortunately not wider than other seats. Regardless of fare type, there is no difference in seat size on Southwest's all-economy planes.
However, with your Choice Extra fare, you can select any seat on the plane for free, including extra legroom seats. Those seats are located in the front of the plane and at the exit rows, and they provide five additional inches of seat pitch.
These seats are subject to availability, so make sure you select the seat you want at booking.
Is Business Select worth it on Southwest?
Southwest has four fare classes: Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, Choice and Basic, each with various benefits — and different costs.
The value of Choice Extra vs. Choice fares
The two most expensive fare classes — Choice Extra and Choice Preferred fares — both have a key benefit that the folks in Choice and Basic won’t get, and that’s fully refundable tickets (rather than receiving credit for returned tickets as a credit for a future flight).
If you value that level of flexibility, then consider booking either Choice Extra or Choice Preferred. But keep in mind that it’s going to cost you, as Choice Extra fares can often be much more expensive.
That said, you will rack up seven times the Rapid Rewards points for choosing Business Select over Southwest’s lowest fare class. Still, the additional value from points is far from enough to make up for the additional cost, in most cases.
Consider the cost of a nonstop one-way flight from Fort Lauderdale to Nashville in October 2025. Here’s how many Rapid Rewards points you would earn per fare class if you buy your ticket in cash (note that if you choose the Cash + Points option at checkout, you will not earn any Rapid Rewards points).
Below, you’ll also find the value of those points, based on NerdWallet’s valuation of Southwest points at 1.5 cents:
| Fare class | Cash price | Rapid Rewards points earned | Approximate value of Rapid Rewards points earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $602.96. | 1,066. | $15.99. |
| Choice | $642.96. | 3,418. | $51.27. |
| Choice Preferred | $762.95. | 6,814. | $102.21. |
| Choice Extra | $862.95. | 10,841. | $162.62. |
In this case, you’re paying $260 more for a Choice Extra ticket compared to Basic, but only getting about $147 more in value from the Rapid Rewards points earned. Accounting for that, you’ll be out an extra $113 for choosing the premium ticket.
With this in mind, you’ll have to decide if that upcharge is worth it to you for access to priority boarding, a premium drink (on select flights), the ability to get a full refund rather than a credit, priority security, easy cancellations or last-minute flight changes, two free checked bags, and extra legroom seating. (Keep in mind that Basic fares don't include seat selection at all, so that flexibility may be worth it to you.)
The value of Southwest Choice Extra vs. Choice Preferred
For a one-way flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Nashville, Tennessee, in December 2025, we found Southwest Choice Extra cost $50 more than the Choice Preferred fare ($332 vs. $382).
With Choice Extra, you'll get priority boarding by Group 2, express security line access (where applicable), a complimentary premium drink, two free checked bags and the ability to select an extra legroom seat.
Those benefits can be worth the upcharge, especially if you're planning to check bags or want more room for your legs.
If you want to fly Southwest Choice Extra
Choice Extra can offer travelers a more streamlined Southwest experience, including easy flight changes or cancellations, the perk of being among the first to board, two free checked bags, and a complimentary drink.
If you’re wrestling between Southwest Choice Extra versus Choice Preferred fares and you don’t mind banking more Southwest Rapid Rewards points, then it’s usually worth it to pay a bit more for the full Southwest Choice Extra experience and booking the top fare.
But if you’re seeking a true first-class experience with a full airport lounge, a plush seat and a dedicated flight attendant, it might be a good idea to save your money to fly first class elsewhere, and just book a Basic or Choice fare when traveling on Southwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Choice Extra on Southwest?
Choice Extra is not synonymous with first class, but when flying Southwest, it’s the closest thing to it. Choice Extra is the highest of Southwest’s fare classes, offering benefits including priority boarding, two free checked bags, extra legroom seat selection, 14x Rapid Rewards points earning, and access to priority check-in and security lanes, where available.
Is Southwest Choice Extra worth it?
Southwest Choice Extra is worth it if you’d otherwise pay for upgrades like extra legroom seating or checked bags. It’s also worthwhile if there’s a good chance you want to change or cancel your flight and would prefer a cash refund (certain fares can be canceled, but you receive the cost of your ticket back in credits that expire).
Since you earn 14x points per dollar on Southwest Choice Extra fares versus 10x on Choice Preferred fares, Southwest Choice Extra is typically a better deal.
Since you earn 14x points per dollar on Southwest Choice Extra fares versus 10x on Choice Preferred fares, Southwest Choice Extra is typically a better deal.
What are the benefits of Southwest Choice Extra?
Among the best benefits of Southwest Choice Extra are an accelerated earnings rate (14 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on your airfare), priority boarding, check-in and security lanes (where available), two free checked bags, refundable fares and extra legroom seat selection.
What is the difference between Choice Extra and Basic fares on Southwest?
Basic is Southwest’s lowest fare class. While you’ll earn 2 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on Basic fares, you’ll earn much more than that when you book Choice Extra fares at 14 Rapid Rewards points per dollar. Plus, Choice Extra throws in tons of extra perks including priority boarding, two free checked bags and extra legroom seating, when available. Basic fares are more restrictive, with no complimentary seat selection and no checked bags.
Are Southwest Choice Extra seats bigger?
Southwest Choice Extra is similar to your conventional airline first class in some ways, but there’s one huge difference: Southwest Choice Extra doesn’t have designated seats.
However, it does give you the option to select extra legroom seats for free at booking. Those seats are located at the front of the plane and in the exit rows, and they offer five extra inches in seat pitch.
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