It’s a question many travelers are asking: Does Southwest Fly To New Jersey? For those in the New Jersey and New York area accustomed to Southwest Airlines’ perks from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), the answer is now, unfortunately, no. Southwest Airlines has ceased operations at Newark as of November, leaving many Garden State residents seeking alternative flight options.
This news came as a surprise and undoubtedly disappointed many loyal Southwest flyers in New Jersey. Southwest built a reputation on customer-friendly policies, including the incredibly valuable Southwest Companion Pass, generous baggage allowance with “bags fly free,” and flexible change and cancellation policies without hefty fees. These benefits made Southwest a favorite for budget-conscious and family travelers alike.
For those previously relying on Southwest from Newark, the immediate question is: what now? While airports like LaGuardia (LGA), Islip (ISP) on Long Island, and Philadelphia (PHL) might seem like alternatives, they often involve longer drives, traffic congestion, and less convenient public transportation for many New Jersey residents.
If you’re searching for airlines that can offer similar benefits to Southwest, particularly after their departure from Newark, you’re in the right place. Let’s explore some airlines that can help you maintain those valuable travel perks you’ve come to appreciate.
Finding BOGO Deals After Southwest
One of the most sought-after benefits Southwest offered was the Companion Pass, effectively a “Buy One, Get One” (BOGO) for flights. Earning the Companion Pass was a goal for many savvy travelers, allowing a designated companion to fly with them for just the cost of taxes for up to a year.
Related: Maximize Your Travel Rewards: Credit Card Pairings for Travel Perks
If the BOGO perk is crucial to your travel strategy, Frontier Airlines presents an interesting alternative. While Frontier doesn’t operate from Newark, it does fly from Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) in southern New Jersey. For those in South Jersey or even Central Jersey, Trenton-Mercer can be a surprisingly convenient option. It might be a longer drive than Newark for North Jersey residents, but it can still be quicker and less stressful than navigating to LaGuardia or Philadelphia. Parking at Trenton-Mercer is also significantly cheaper, often around $8 per day, though public transportation options are limited.
With Frontier Airlines, you can access BOGO-style deals through their Discount Den membership. For an annual fee, Discount Den members can take advantage of “Kids Fly Free” or “Friends Fly Free” promotions. The “Kids Fly Free” offer is often ongoing, while “Friends Fly Free” appears periodically. Keep an eye out for announcements on the Frontier website or travel blogs for the “Friends Fly Free” deals. Unlike the Southwest Companion Pass, you don’t need to accumulate points or flights to “earn” this benefit. However, it’s important to note that Frontier’s BOGO offers come with restrictions, including specific routes and blackout dates, so careful planning is necessary.
Keeping Your Bags Flying Free
Southwest’s “Bags Fly Free” policy is another major draw. The airline allows every passenger two free checked bags, regardless of ticket type or frequent flyer status. This can translate to significant savings, especially for families who often face baggage fees of around $30 per bag on other airlines. Fortunately, even with Southwest leaving Newark, you can still avoid baggage fees with other carriers, primarily through airline credit cards and elite status.
Related: Ultimate Guide to Avoiding Checked Baggage Fees on Major US Airlines
From Newark, you still have access to major airlines like United, American, Delta, Alaska Airlines, Spirit, JetBlue, and Allegiant. Among these, United, American, Delta, JetBlue, and Alaska Airlines offer free checked baggage benefits simply by holding their co-branded credit cards.
United Airlines: A Hub at Newark
United Airlines has a dominant presence at Newark, making it a likely choice for many former Southwest flyers. Having a United co-branded credit card can significantly enhance your travel experience, especially with baggage fees waived. United offers several co-branded cards:
- United Explorer Card & United Explorer Business Card: These cards provide a free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and one companion on the same reservation.
- United Club Infinite Card & United Club Business Card: These premium cards offer even more generous baggage allowance with two free checked bags for the primary cardholder and one companion.
To utilize the free checked bag benefit, ensure you purchase your United ticket with your eligible United credit card and that the card account is open at check-in.
American Airlines: Free Bags for You and Companions
American Airlines also offers baggage benefits through its co-branded credit cards. Four American Airlines credit cards come with a free checked bag perk:
- AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: These cards provide a free first checked bag on domestic flights for the primary cardholder and up to four companions on the same reservation.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: This premium card extends the free bag benefit to the primary cardholder and up to eight companions.
Unlike United, you don’t necessarily need to purchase your American Airlines ticket with the co-branded card. However, your AAdvantage number must be linked to your reservation at least seven days before travel.
Delta Air Lines: Extensive Credit Card Options
Delta Air Lines offers a wide range of six co-branded credit cards, all providing the same baggage benefit: a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation. These cards include:
- Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
- Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
- Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
- Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
- Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express
- Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card
JetBlue Airways: Free Bags with TrueBlue Loyalty
JetBlue provides free checked bag benefits through two of its credit cards. Both the JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card offer a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to three companions on the same reservation. Similar to American Airlines, ensure your TrueBlue number is attached to your reservation at least seven days prior to departure. While technically requiring payment with the JetBlue card, data suggests this isn’t always strictly enforced.
Alaska Airlines: West Coast Option with Newark Connections
Alaska Airlines, while not as prominent at Newark as United, still offers routes that might be relevant, especially for West Coast travel. Both the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card and Alaska Airlines Visa Business® card waive the first checked bag fee for the cardmember and up to six guests on the same reservation. Simply ensure your Mileage Plan number is in your reservation.
Related: Do You Really Need to Pay With Your Airline Credit Card for Free Baggage?
Flexibility with Change Fees: JetBlue’s Mosaic Status
Southwest is renowned for its change and cancellation flexibility. While no airline perfectly matches Southwest’s policy, JetBlue comes close, especially for its Mosaic elite status holders. JetBlue Mosaic members enjoy waived change and cancellation fees. Additionally, Mosaic members can reprice their flights if fares drop, receiving a voucher for the difference, even on award bookings. A key advantage over Southwest is that JetBlue vouchers, when issued for cancellations or downgrades on paid fares, can be used by any passenger, unlike Southwest vouchers which are passenger-specific.
You can achieve JetBlue Mosaic status through two pathways:
- Flying with JetBlue: Earn 15,000 base flight points or fly 30 segments plus 12,000 base flight points within a calendar year.
- Credit Card Spending: Spend $50,000 on a JetBlue Plus or JetBlue Business Credit Card within a calendar year.
Bottom Line: Navigating Post-Southwest Newark Travel
The departure of Southwest Airlines from Newark is undoubtedly a loss for travelers in the region. However, alternatives exist to maintain similar travel benefits. Most of Southwest’s former nonstop destinations from Newark are still served by other airlines.
- Chicago: While Southwest flew to Midway (MDW), you can still reach Chicago O’Hare (ORD) via Frontier, American, and United.
- Oakland: Nonstop service to Oakland (OAK) is no longer available, but United and Alaska Airlines serve San Francisco (SFO), and Alaska also flies to San Jose (SJC).
- Denver: United offers nonstop flights to Denver (DEN).
- San Diego: United and Alaska Airlines provide nonstop service to San Diego (SAN).
- Phoenix: American and United both offer nonstop flights to Phoenix (PHX).
- Austin: United flies nonstop to Austin (AUS).
- St. Louis: United provides nonstop service to St. Louis (STL).
- Nashville: Frontier and United offer nonstop flights to Nashville (BNA).
- Orlando: Frontier, Spirit, United, and JetBlue all fly nonstop to Orlando (MCO).
- Baltimore: Nonstop flights to Baltimore (BWI) are no longer available, but United flies to Washington, DC (IAD and DCA).
While no single airline perfectly replicates the Southwest experience, by leveraging airline credit cards and loyalty programs, particularly with airlines like Frontier and JetBlue, you can continue to enjoy valuable perks like free baggage, BOGO-style travel, and change fee flexibility, even after Southwest’s exit from Newark. Carefully consider your travel priorities and explore these alternatives to find the best fit for your needs.
