SWABIZ: Southwest’s Corporate Booking Tool Explained

Southwest Airlines Business, also known as SWABIZ, is a one-stop shop for booking business and group travel. This online tool allows you to book flights with access to the same low fares advertised on Southwest.com, while enjoying some valuable added features.

Additionally, Southwest Airlines' corporate travel program could make managing business travel easier, with customized plans to fit virtually every type of business. Here's more on how SWABIZ works and how businesses can use it to their advantage.

What you need to know

What is SWABIZ?

SWABIZ is a free corporate booking tool that business travelers can use to track and manage their travel programs. You can use SWABIZ to book:

• Southwest flights.

• Hotels at competitive rates (through SWABIZ partner Booking.com).

• Rental cars from major rental car companies.

If your company has negotiated a discount rate with a rental car company, you can register your rate code or company ID through your SWABIZ account so the discount will be automatically applied at booking.

» Learn more: What does the future of business travel look like?

Who can book through SWABIZ?

SWABIZ recognizes four types of user roles for accounts. Reservations for eligible travel arrangements can be booked through SWABIZ by any of the following:

• Guests are infrequent travelers, such as customers, business partners or interviewees.

• Travelers have a registered SWABIZ account that includes their company ID number and their Rapid Rewards member number.

• Limited-access travel managers can book reservations on behalf of guests and registered travelers.

• Full-access travel managers can handle bookings, run reports and access SWABIZ travel tools.

You can choose which type of user roles you'd like to assign when creating your SWABIZ account online. When you're ready to book Southwest flights or other travel arrangements through SWABIZ, you'll have the option to log in as a traveler or travel manager.

SWABIZ login details

To login to your SWABIZ account, head over to swabiz.com. You will need to specify if you’re a Traveler or Travel Manager and input your company ID number.

Alternatively, you can login with your Rapid Rewards account number or username and password, but you will still need your company ID number.

What are additional SWABIZ features?

Aside from allowing business travelers to book Southwest flights, hotels and rental cars, SWABIZ comes with additional features, like:

• No transaction charges.

• Tracking of unused travel funds.

• Hotel expense tracking.

• Ghost card storage for secure booking by limited- and full-access travel managers.

• Business travel reporting.

• Flight modifications through the Southwest mobile app.

These are all included with enrollment in your free SWABIZ account. These features, along with the opportunity to book at Southwest's low-fare rates, can simplify record-keeping and tracking for companies that spend regularly on travel.

» Learn more: 6 ways to maximize benefits of business travel

Benefits of booking business and group travel with Southwest

If you're traveling with 10 or more people, you can take advantage of Southwest's business and group travel booking benefits. The perks of booking through the group travel program include:

• Flexible payments: No upfront payment to book a group reservation, except a deposit in some cases.

• No hidden fees: You'll pay no booking, ticketing or change fees for group travel reservations.

• Unlimited name changes: You can make unlimited name changes to your reservation up to 72 hours prior to departure.

• Round-trip tickets: Receive one Tour Conductor ticket for every 29 group tickets you purchase.

You may need to put down a deposit of $50 per person to hold a group travel reservation, and you can pay it only with a credit card. When it's time for your flight, you can check in your entire business group online, up to 24 hours in advance.

» Learn more: 5 tips for using travel rewards with your vacation squad

Benefits of booking corporate travel with Southwest

The Southwest Airlines' corporate travel program integrates with SWABIZ, but members also have the option to connect with a Southwest business manager. Some of the key benefits on tap include:

• Dedicated account management: Have access to a Southwest staffer who can work directly with your company's travel manager.

• Custom trip planning: Personalized solutions for reducing travel costs, including discounts on flights.

• Access to Southwest's everyday low fares: An attractive perk for any budget.

• Points earnings: Earn more Rapid Rewards points for future travel.

• Classic Southwest benefits: No change fees and two bags fly free.

The program is designed to save business owners time and money. For example, it's possible to leverage discounts on business and group travel for bookings of 10 or more people.

Coordinating these benefits with a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card could enhance company savings on business travel even further.

» Learn more: Which Southwest Airlines credit card should I get?

Tip: Some business travelers can add EarlyBird Check-In

Unfortunately, you can't take advantage of EarlyBird Check-In for business group bookings, but it is a SWABIZ feature that smaller groups or solo travelers can use.

Travelers who opt for this ticket add-on will have access to EarlyBird perks including:

• Automatic check-in.

• Better boarding positions.

• Easier access to overhead bins.

There is a fee to get EarlyBird benefits: $15 to $99 one way per passenger.

» Learn more: How to hack Southwest's boarding groups

Final thoughts on SWABIZ

SWABIZ and other Southwest Airlines corporate travel benefits can make managing travel less stressful for companies and groups that regularly book flights, hotels and rental cars and prefer Southwest's low fees and flexible policies. With free enrollment, if you manage or work for a group that would benefit from a SWABIZ account, it's worth trying out.