Government-Imposed Fees

• Government-Imposed September 11th Security Fee - Effective for travel purchased on or after October 1, 2003, the Government will impose a September 11th Security Fee on all tickets including Rapid Rewards Awards and Companion Pass travel redeemed on or after that date.
• Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) - Fee imposed by an airport on enplaning passengers. When departing from or connecting at any of the following airports, that airport's PFC will apply in addition to the fare.

Government-Imposed September 11th Security Fee

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a new division of the Department of Transportation, has mandated that all U.S. airlines add a security fee to all tickets sold on or after October 1, 2003. This government-imposed fee, called the "September 11th Security Fee," will be used to pay the government’s cost for providing Federal civil aviation security services. This includes training, salaries, and benefits for the Federal security screeners and law enforcement personnel, as well as the Federal Air Marshal program.

The government-imposed September 11th Security Fee will apply to all airline tickets, including frequent flyer award travel, and will be calculated at $2.50 per flight number to a maximum of $5 per one-way or $10 per roundtrip. In other words, if you fly from Dallas to New Orleans and change planes in Houston (which means the flight number will also change) – you will be charged $5. However, if you fly through Houston on the same plane, your flight number stays the same and you will be charged $2.50. The fee will be collected from all Customers at the time of reservation.

Attention all Rapid Rewards Members: Government-Imposed September 11th Security Fee Applies to Rapid Rewards Awards and Companion Passes

The government-imposed September 11th Security Fee will apply to all airline tickets, including Rapid Rewards Awards and Companion Passes, and will be calculated at $2.50 per flight number to a maximum of $5 per one-way or $10 per roundtrip.

• To help expedite your checkin, please visit southwest.com or call Reservations at 1-800-248-4377 to make your Award or Companion Pass travel plans and to pay the government-imposed September 11th Security Fee by credit card. Once you complete your reservation, you can elect to receive a receipt, via mail, e-mail or fax, with your confirmed flight information. Customers who have made a reservation on or after October 1, 2003 and have not paid the security fee will need to go to the ticket counter to pay before entering the secured gate area.
• If you are traveling on a Rapid Rewards Award and not checking luggage, before you go to the airport, you will need to print out a security document from the Travel Center at southwest.com in order to proceed through security. You also have the option of obtaining a boarding pass at the E-Ticket Check-In kiosk in order to proceed through security.
• Companions traveling with Companion Pass Members and not checking luggage will need to print out a security document from the Travel Center at southwest.com in order to proceed through security. However, Companions and Companion Pass Members will still need to checkin together at the Skycap Podium, Ticket Counter, or at the gate. As always, when checking in, a government-issued photo identification is required along with the plastic Companion Pass card and Rapid Rewards membership card for Companion travelers.
• Changes or cancellations for any Award or Companion Pass travel should be made by calling Reservations before you travel. This will assist in smoothly refunding unused September 11th Security Fee funds or applying them toward other travel plans. If you give your Awards to friends or family members, please make sure they are aware of this fee and process.

Please call (800) 248-4377 with any questions. We appreciate your continued support and understanding.

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Passenger Facility Charge (PFC)

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