Southwest Airlines serves complimentary water, soda, juice, coffee, and tea on flights over 175 miles, plus purchasable beer, wine, and liquor priced roughly $6–$9. A-List Preferred Members get up to two free premium drinks per flight, and Business Select fares include one. Knowing these rules and the current $9 liquor pricing is the real “hack” to saving money onboard.
What Is on the Southwest Drink Menu?
The Southwest drink menu includes complimentary sodas, juices, water, coffee, and tea, plus purchasable beer, wine, and spirits. Non-alcoholic drinks are free on flights of 176 miles or more; flights of 175 miles or less serve water only, according to Southwest’s official Rapid Rewards terms.
Complimentary (Non-Alcoholic) Options
- Coca-Cola products (including Diet Coke and Coke Zero)
- Dr. Pepper
- Tonic water
- Minute Maid apple juice
- Bottled water
- Hot coffee (Illy or similar roast)
- Hot tea
- Hot cocoa
Purchasable (Alcoholic) Options
- Domestic and imported beer
- Wine (sparkling and still)
- Spirits, including tequila, vodka, whiskey, rum, and scotch
Southwest Airlines Drink Menu With Prices
As of recent pricing updates, Southwest charges roughly $6–$7 for beer and wine and $9 for spirits, following a price increase reported by Food & Wine. Exact prices can vary slightly by route and are subject to change, so treat these as general benchmarks rather than fixed figures.
| Category | Examples | Approx. Price |
| Non-alcoholic | Soda, juice, coffee, tea, water | Free |
| Beer | Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Lagunitas IPA, Dos Equis | $6–$7 |
| Wine | Cruset Brut Sparkling Wine, Mossel Bay Chenin Blanc | $6+ |
| Spirits | Bacardi Rum, Cazadores Tequila, Deep Eddy Vodka, Jack Daniel’s, Dewar’s Scotch, Bailey’s Irish Cream | $9 |
Southwest accepts credit cards, its digital drink coupons, and (where still valid) unexpired paper drink coupons as payment onboard.
Southwest Margarita: What’s in It and How Much It Costs
The Southwest margarita is made using Cazadores Tequila as its base spirit, mixed with a margarita mix served onboard. Like other spirits on the flight, it falls into the $9 liquor pricing tier. It’s one of the few “cocktail” options rather than a straight pour.
If you want a margarita mid-flight, ask your flight attendant if it’s available on your route selection can vary by aircraft stock. Pairing it with a can of soda or juice as a mixer is also a common workaround if you prefer a lighter pour.
What Are the Hidden Southwest Drink Menu Hacks?
The biggest “hacks” aren’t secret menu items they’re knowing the rules. That means understanding the 175-mile water-only cutoff, stacking status-based free drinks, using digital drink coupons before they expire, and asking flight attendants about mixing complimentary sodas with purchased spirits to stretch a single drink further.
- Know the mileage rule. Flights of 175 miles or less only serve water don’t expect a full bar on very short hops.
- Ask for a mixer. Flight attendants can typically pour a complimentary soda or juice alongside a purchased spirit at no extra charge, effectively creating your own cocktail.
- Use your digital coupon before it expires. A-List Preferred and Business Select drink coupons expire at the end of drink service on that specific flight leg they don’t roll over.
- Watch for turbulence timing. Beverage service can be limited or suspended at the crew’s discretion during rough air, so don’t wait until late in the flight to order if conditions look unstable.
How Do Southwest’s Loyalty Perks Work for Drinks?
A-List Preferred Members receive up to two complimentary premium drinks per flight leg on flights of 176 miles or more, delivered digitally to their mobile boarding pass. Business Select fare purchasers get one complimentary drink. The two benefits don’t stack an A-List Preferred Member on a Business Select fare still gets a maximum of two.
| Status/Fare | Free Drinks Per Leg | Delivery Method |
| A-List Preferred | Up to 2 | Digital coupon on mobile boarding pass |
| Business Select fare | 1 | Printed or mobile boarding pass |
| A-List Preferred + Business Select | 2 (max, not combined) | Digital coupon |
| Standard fare, no status | 0 (pay per drink) | N/A |
This perk, introduced November 6, 2023, replaced the older system of paper drink coupons with digital ones accessible via Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or the Southwest app.
Best Drinks by Need
- Budget-conscious flyers: Stick to complimentary sodas, juice, coffee, or tea all free regardless of fare type.
- Status holders: A-List Preferred Members should claim their two premium drinks each leg since the digital coupon expires unused.
- Short-haul travelers: Expect water only on flights under 176 miles plan accordingly if you wanted a coffee or soda.
- Cocktail fans: The Cazadores-based margarita is the closest thing to a mixed drink on the standard list.
- Low-sugar preference: Diet Coke, Coke Zero, water, and unsweetened tea are your best complimentary bets.
Latest Menu Updates
Southwest raised its liquor pricing to $9 per spirit, according to reporting from Food & Wine, while beer and wine have generally remained in the $6–$7 range. Southwest also expanded its non-alcoholic lineup to include tonic water, apple juice, Coke Zero, Dr. Pepper, hot tea, and hot cocoa on flights of 176 miles or more, per Southwest’s own newsroom communications. The airline’s digital drink coupon system for A-List Preferred Members launched November 6, 2023, replacing the older paper-coupon-only model. This information was checked as of this writing; always confirm current pricing with a flight attendant or Southwest.com, since beverage offerings can vary by aircraft and route.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a beer cost on Southwest Airlines?
Beer on Southwest typically costs between $6 and $7, depending on the brand, including options like Miller Lite ($6) and Blue Moon ($7).
Does Southwest serve free drinks on every flight?
No. Complimentary non-alcoholic drinks are only served on flights of 176 miles or more; flights of 175 miles or less serve water only.
How many free drinks does A-List Preferred status include?
A-List Preferred Members receive up to two complimentary premium drinks per flight leg, delivered digitally to their mobile boarding pass.
Can I combine Business Select and A-List Preferred drink perks?
No. Even if you qualify for both, you receive a maximum of two complimentary drinks per flight leg, not three.
What tequila does Southwest use in its margarita?
Southwest’s margarita is made with Cazadores Tequila, mixed with margarita mix served onboard.
Do unused Southwest drink coupons roll over to future flights?
No. Digital drink coupons expire at the end of drink service on the specific flight leg they’re issued for.
How much do spirits cost on Southwest flights?
Spirits such as Jack Daniel’s, Bacardi Rum, and Deep Eddy Vodka are priced at $9 per serving, following a reported price increase.
Does Southwest offer sugar-free soda options?
Yes. Diet Coke and Coke Zero are both available as complimentary options on eligible flights.
Can I still use an old paper Southwest drink coupon?
Southwest has stated it will continue accepting unexpired paper drink coupons until their printed expiration date.
What payment methods work for Southwest onboard drinks?
Southwest accepts credit cards, digital drink coupons, and unexpired paper drink coupons as valid payment for onboard beverages.
