Does Southwest Airlines Require Covid Test?

If you’ve traveled in the last year, you probably heard about the COVID-19 test requirement before returning to the U.S.

Unfortunately, it has been very difficult to get a COVID-19 test in some countries due to the shorter testing window and the rise of Omicron surges.

Through its partnership with CityHealth, Southwest is now offering international passengers a discounted rate of $50 per test.

CityHealth noted that the RapidReturn kit has been a popular choice for COVID-19 testing. Through this partnership, Southwest passengers will be able to get their results in under a day.

Order your RapidReturn test kit through the CityHealth website and it will be shipped Monday through Friday.

The company noted that these travelers can now secure their results through a secure portal. They can also check their results before they travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accepts at-home COVID-19 tests that are made by Abbott, Quest, and other companies. These include the BinaxNow COVID-19 Home Test and the Qured RapidPac.

Cancellation Policy For Southwest Vacations

We have broken down Southwest Airlines’ cancellation policies and change policies due to COVID-19.

No fees are charged to change or cancel flights. Also, if you cancel your reservation, you can still get the same discounted rate for future travel.

If your trip is canceled due to an event, you will receive a credit for the full amount. Southwest Vacations also noted that you do not need to contact them to discuss your situation.

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Southwest Vacations has issued travel restrictions to some destinations. These restrictions will result in hotel and flight cancellation.

Related: Guide to Southwest Transfers and Partnerships

Extensions Of Loyalty And Status Upgrades

In 2021, Southwest Airlines also offered some perks to its credit card holders. These initiatives have already expired.

Learn about the various elite status extensions and upgrades that other airlines are offering to their elite travelers.

Flight Cancellations And Reductions

Due to the COVID-19 issue, Southwest Airlines has implemented a number of schedule reductions. Although the impact on other airlines has been minimal, Southwest is still considered a domestic carrier.

In response to the quarantine restrictions for visitors to Hawaii, Southwest has increased its service to the islands. It also added many new nonstop routes during the 2022 summer schedule.

During the pandemic, Southwest temporarily suspended its international flights.

Although many international destinations are currently open for travel, many require special entry requirements.

Important Southwest Information

As a result of the government aid provided to Southwest, the company was required to maintain its workforce at the same level through September 2021.

For flights that are less than 250 miles, Southwest suspended its onboard beverage and snack service.

Southwest does not allow passengers to buy an extra middle seat. They can only board and select their seat order in the order noted on their boarding pass.

Related: Which Airline Is Better Southwest Or American?

On May 1, 2020, the company will implement new procedures that will allow its Flight attendants to more effectively clean the cabins of the aircraft. These procedures are expected to last for six hours each night.

Due to an increase in the number of flights, Southwest's COVID-19 sanitation procedures were reduced. Instead of disinfecting the overhead bin areas and tray tables, the company will only disinfect the high-touch areas.

The company is using an EPA-approved disinfectant to clean the cabins. According to the WHO and the CDC, this procedure meets or exceeds their recommendations.

Changes To The Boarding And Deplaning procedures

In Q3 2021, Southwest noted that as of September 30, 2021, it had 24 to 700 aircraft in temporary storage.

Despite not reducing its flights as much as its competitors, Southwest still has a small reduction in its fleet.

Passengers will be asked to confirm that they have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 and that they do not have a fever while they're boarding a plane.

On June 16, 2020, Southwest Airlines introduced a requirement that customers must acknowledge their health declaration during their online check-in.

In April 2021, Southwest Airlines started accepting groups of 30 passengers. This is no longer the case.

Conclusion

Although Southwest has avoided experiencing the same issues as its competitors, it has been severely affected by COVID-19. As a result, it has implemented various measures to ensure that its passengers are safe and are able to travel on their flights.