Ready to unravel the mystery of Southwest Airlines' booking window? Fantastic! You're about to gain some serious insider knowledge that can save you money and stress when planning your next adventure with the airline known for its quirky charm and customer-friendly policies. Let's dive in!
Understanding the Southwest Booking Philosophy
Unlike many other airlines that release their flight schedules a full 11-12 months in advance, Southwest Airlines operates on a somewhat unique system. They extend their booking calendar in chunks throughout the year, typically releasing flights about 6 to 8 months in advance. This means you won't always see flights available a year out, but it also creates opportunities if you know when to look!
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| How Far In Advance Does Southwest Airlines Book |
Step 1: Discovering the Current Booking Horizon
So, the first and most crucial step is to figure out just how far out Southwest is currently allowing bookings.
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Where to Look: The most reliable place to find this information is directly on the Southwest Airlines official website.
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Navigating the Site: Look for sections like "Travel Tools," "Plan Your Trip," or often, a banner or message on the homepage itself will state something like, "Now accepting reservations through [Date]."
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Current Information (as of July 14, 2025): Southwest is currently accepting air reservations through January 26, 2026. This gives you a good range for planning late 2025 and early 2026 trips.
Step 2: Mark Your Calendar for Future Release Dates
Since Southwest releases its schedule in segments, knowing when the next extension is expected is incredibly valuable. This allows you to be among the first to grab those potentially cheaper fares when they become available.
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Upcoming Release Dates: Southwest often announces its next schedule extension date on their website's "Travel Tools" section. As of now, July 29, 2025, is the next projected date for Southwest to open its schedule for sale through March 4, 2026.
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Why This Matters: When a new booking window opens, that's often when you'll find the lowest fares. Airlines use dynamic pricing, and generally, the further out you book, the lower the price. Being an early bird can truly pay off with Southwest, especially because of their flexible change policy.
Step 3: Understanding the "Sweet Spot" for Booking
QuickTip: Don’t just scroll — process what you see.
While you can book as soon as the schedule opens, there's often a "sweet spot" where you're more likely to snag a good deal.
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Domestic Flights: For domestic Southwest flights, the general consensus is that the best time to book is about 1 to 3 months before departure. However, booking right when the schedule opens can still be advantageous, especially for popular routes or peak travel times.
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International Flights: For international routes, consider booking a bit further out, typically 3 to 5 months in advance.
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The 21-Day Rule: Keep in mind the "21-day rule" – fares tend to rise significantly within three weeks of departure. Avoid last-minute bookings if you can!
Step 4: Leverage Southwest's Flexible Policies to Your Advantage
One of the biggest benefits of booking with Southwest is their incredibly flexible change and cancellation policies. This significantly reduces the risk of booking early.
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No Change Fees: If you book a flight and the fare drops later, you can rebook your flight at the lower price and receive the difference as a flight credit. This is a game-changer! You can continually monitor prices even after booking.
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No Cancellation Fees: If your plans change, you can cancel your flight up to 10 minutes before departure and receive a flight credit for the full value of your ticket (for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares). Basic fares, if canceled, will be forfeited. For Wanna Get Away fares, the funds become a reusable flight credit.
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Rapid Rewards Points: If you book with Rapid Rewards points and the price drops, you can change your flight to the lower-priced option and get a points refund. This is another powerful reason to book early with points.
Step 5: Strategies for Monitoring Fares and Bagging Deals
Even with the booking window open, being strategic about when you search can lead to even better savings.
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Southwest's Low Fare Calendar: Southwest has a "Low Fare Calendar" tool on their website. This allows you to see the lowest fares available for an entire month, making it easier to find flexible travel dates with better prices.
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Fare Alerts (Third-Party Tools): While Southwest doesn't have a built-in price tracker, you can use third-party tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, or AirTrackBot to set up fare alerts for specific routes. These services will notify you if the price for your desired flight drops.
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Watch for Sales: Southwest is known for its frequent sales, which often begin on Tuesdays and run through Thursdays. Keep an eye on their "Promotions" page or sign up for their email updates to be notified of special deals.
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Be Flexible with Dates and Times: If your travel dates are flexible, you'll have a much better chance of finding lower fares. Mid-week flights (Tuesday, Wednesday) and early morning or late-night flights are often cheaper.
Step 6: Consider EarlyBird Check-In (Strategically)
While not directly related to how far in advance you book, EarlyBird Check-In ties into the Southwest experience and can be part of your overall booking strategy.
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What it Is: EarlyBird Check-In automatically checks you in 36 hours before your flight, giving you an earlier boarding position and a better chance to choose your preferred seat (since Southwest has open seating) and access overhead bin space.
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When to Consider It: If you absolutely want an aisle or window seat, or if you're traveling with someone you want to sit next to, EarlyBird can be worth it. However, if you're traveling with a child under six, you can use Family Boarding after Group A, often negating the need for EarlyBird.
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Cost: EarlyBird Check-In costs vary but typically range from $15-$25 one-way per passenger. It's often included with "Anytime" and "Business Select" fares, and a benefit for A-List/A-List Preferred Rapid Rewards members.
By following these steps, you'll be well-equipped to navigate Southwest's booking system and secure the best possible fares for your travels. Happy flying!
QuickTip: Pause before scrolling further.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to find out when Southwest will release new flights?
You can find the next schedule extension date on the Southwest Airlines official website, usually in the "Travel Tools" or "Plan Your Trip" section, or sometimes announced via their press releases.
How to get the cheapest Southwest flights?
To get the cheapest flights, book early (especially when the schedule first opens), be flexible with your travel dates and times, use the Low Fare Calendar, and sign up for fare alerts from third-party tools.
How to track Southwest flight prices?
While Southwest doesn't have a built-in tracker, you can use external tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, or AirTrackBot to set up price alerts for specific Southwest routes.
QuickTip: A short pause boosts comprehension.
How to change a Southwest flight without fees?
Southwest does not charge change fees. You can modify your reservation online, and if the new fare is lower, you'll receive the difference as a flight credit.
How to cancel a Southwest flight for free?
You can cancel a Southwest flight up to 10 minutes before departure without a cancellation fee. For Wanna Get Away fares, you'll receive a reusable flight credit; for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares, you can receive a refund to your original form of payment (for Anytime and Business Select) or a transferable flight credit (for Wanna Get Away Plus).
How to use the Southwest Low Fare Calendar?
On the Southwest website, navigate to the flight search, and look for an option like "Search with low fare calendar." This will display a calendar view showing the lowest fares for each day of the month.
How to get a good boarding position on Southwest?
QuickTip: Read section by section for better flow.
To get a good boarding position, check in online exactly 24 hours before your flight's departure, or purchase EarlyBird Check-In for automatic check-in 36 hours before departure. Business Select fares and A-List/A-List Preferred members also receive priority boarding.
How to rebook a Southwest flight if the price drops?
Log into your Southwest account, find your existing reservation, and select the option to "Change Flight." Search for the same flight or a new one, and if the price is lower, the system will apply the difference as a flight credit to your account.
How to tell if Southwest will extend their calendar soon?
Keep an eye on the "Travel Tools" section of the Southwest website; they typically announce the next schedule extension date there a few weeks in advance. You can also follow Southwest's official social media channels or news releases.
How to find Southwest sales and promotions?
Regularly check the "Flight Deals" or "Promotions" section on Southwest.com, and sign up for their Click 'n Save email updates to receive notifications about their latest sales directly in your inbox.
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