Southwest Free Drinks: What Passengers Actually Get

Southwest Airlines gives every passenger free soft drinks, bottled water, and coffee at no charge, regardless of fare class. Alcoholic beverages, including domestic and import beers, wine, and spirits, are available for purchase on all Southwest flights. There is no free alcohol tier in any fare category, including Businessselect or any Rapid Rewards membership level. Southwest does not operate a tier-based free alcohol program like legacy carriers, and no fare class or status level unlocks complimentary drinks beyond the basic soft drink, water, and coffee selection that every traveler receives at no cost. On Southbound Airlines, every seat includes a baseline beverage service. Soft drinks such as cola, lemon-lime, and juice are free. Bottled water is free. Hot coffee, iced coffee, and tea are free. These are the items Southwest offers free to all passengers, no matter which fare you buy. Alcoholic beverages are never free. Domestic beers, import beers, wine by the glass or by the bottle, spirits, and cocktails are all for purchase. Businessselect passengers do not get free alcohol. Rapid Rewards members do not get free alcohol. No fare tier on Southwest unlocks complimentary alcoholic drinks. Southwest onboard drink prices are straightforward. Domestic beers typically range from $6 to $8. Import beers run about $7 to $9. Wine by the glass is usually $8 to $12, and a full bottle starts around $25. Spirits and cocktails run $10 to $15. These are approximate onboard prices; exact pricing can shift by route and season, but the ranges are consistent across the fleet. You can order and pay for drinks in three ways before boarding. First, open the Southwest app or the tablet kiosk at the gate and pre-order your drink. Second, ask a gate agent to take your order before you board. Third, order directly from a flight attendant once you are seated. Payment is card only on most Southwest routes. Cash is not accepted for onboard purchases. Pre-ordering through the Southwest app is the fastest method and saves time at the gate, especially on busy terminals. Southwest gives every passenger free soft drinks, including cola, lemon-lime, and juice. Bottled water is free. Hot coffee, iced coffee, and tea are free. These items are complimentary at no charge on every Southwest flight, for every fare class, for every Rapid Rewards member level. Snacks are not free. Peanuts, pretzels, and other snacks on Southwest are for purchase. Some flights offer a limited snack selection at the gate or onboard, but nothing is complimentary. Southwest does not tie free drinks to baggage. Checking a bag does not unlock any beverage benefit. Free drinks are tied to fare class and are the same for every passenger on a Southwest flight. Rapid Rewards members do not receive free alcoholic drinks on Southwest. No membership tier, from no-status to A-list, includes complimentary alcohol. Southwest does not run a tier-based free alcohol program. AARP and occasional partner promotions may offer beverage discounts, but these are limited and not a standing benefit. If you are planning a flight and want to understand beverage costs, the same logic applies to any operation that serves drinks. Understanding your restaurant prime cost helps you see why airlines and bars price drinks the way they do. The food cost percentage a carrier or bar targets drives the menu pricing you see on a Southwest flight or at a local bar POS system. ## FAQ Are snacks free on Southwest? No. Snacks such as peanuts and pretzels are for purchase on Southwest flights. Can I pre-order drinks before my flight? Yes. You can pre-order drinks through the Southwest app before boarding. Do I get free drinks if I check a bag? No. Free drinks on Southwest are not tied to baggage. They are the same for every passenger regardless of what you check.