By
- Mark Heim | mheim@al.com
Southwest Airlines is rolling out a new program, “Business Priority,” a new business travel service aimed at enhancing travel options for corporate clients
“Business Priority” will provide eligible travelers with priority rebooking, standby, and boarding privileges, along with enhancements such as designated seating, extra legroom, and high-speed WiFi
According to a release, the program is part of the airline’s strategy to improve the overall travel experience
“Southwest is focused on elevating the travel experience to meet the expectations of today’s and tomorrow’s business Customers through initiatives like assigned and Extra Legroom seating, cabin upgrades, including in-seat power, Starlink ultra-fast WiFi,1 larger overhead bins, and international partnerships,” Aileen Furlong, Vice President of Sales, said in a released statement. “And Southwest Business is building on that by making it easier for corporate buyers to access these enhancements through expanded distribution options and priority travel from booking to boarding.”
The airline also is introducing NDC capabilities to provide new connectivity options and ensure Customers have access to Southwest’s fare products and seating ancillary services in the channels they use every day
As part of this effort, Southwest is evolving its industry-leading, in-house API. This new direct-connect option is expected to be available to partners by the end of 2026
The service is expected to launch in early 2027
