Hey there, fellow traveler! Are you ready to unlock the secrets to scoring the absolute best deals on Southwest Airlines? If you're anything like me, you love a good bargain, especially when it comes to airfare. Southwest is known for its unique policies and often competitive pricing, but truly mastering their system can feel a bit like cracking a code. Don't worry, I'm here to guide you, step-by-step, to becoming a Southwest fare-finding pro!
Getting the Best Deal on Southwest Airlines: Your Ultimate Guide
Southwest Airlines operates a bit differently from other major carriers. They don't appear on third-party booking sites like Google Flights, Expedia, or Kayak. This means you have to go directly to the source to find their deals. But that's not a bad thing – in fact, it gives you a distinct advantage if you know how to navigate their site and policies. Let's dive in!
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| How Do I Get The Best Deal On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Become a Southwest Insider (aka Sign Up for Rapid Rewards & Email Alerts!)
First things first, let's get you plugged into the Southwest ecosystem. This is crucial for finding those elusive low fares.
Sub-heading: Join Rapid Rewards - Your Free Ticket to Savings
Are you already a Rapid Rewards member? If not, stop what you're doing and sign up right now! It's free and takes just a few minutes. Rapid Rewards is Southwest's loyalty program, and it's incredibly valuable. You earn points on every flight, which can then be redeemed for future travel. Plus, having an account makes managing your bookings and tracking travel funds much easier.
Sub-heading: Embrace the Email Alerts - Be the First to Know
Southwest regularly runs sales and promotions, often unannounced to the general public until they hit your inbox. Don't miss out! Head to the Southwest Airlines website and sign up for their email alerts. These emails are often the first place you'll hear about flash sales, fare drops, and special offers. Trust me, this is where many great deals begin.
Step 2: Master the Low Fare Calendar – Your Price-Checking Power Tool
This is where the real magic happens for flexible travelers. Southwest's Low Fare Calendar is an incredibly powerful tool that most other airlines don't offer in such a user-friendly format.
Sub-heading: How to Access and Use the Low Fare Calendar
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Go to Southwest.com: You won't find this on third-party sites.
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Enter Your Route and Dates (Roughly): Input your desired departure and arrival cities, and a general idea of your travel dates.
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Click "Search with Low Fare Calendar": This button is usually located right next to the search button.
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Behold the Monthly View: You'll be presented with a calendar displaying the lowest available fare for each day of the month. You can toggle between viewing prices in dollars or Rapid Rewards points. This visual representation makes it incredibly easy to spot cheaper days to fly.
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Look for the Sweet Spots: Generally, mid-week travel (Tuesday, Wednesday) and off-peak seasons will show the lowest fares. Early morning or late-night flights within a day also tend to be cheaper. Play around with the dates – shifting your trip by even a single day can sometimes save you a significant amount!
Sub-heading: The Power of Flexibility
The Low Fare Calendar truly shines if you have flexibility with your travel dates. If you're locked into specific dates, you can still use it to see the lowest price for those days. But if you can move your trip by a few days, or even a week, you'll almost certainly find better deals.
Tip: Read aloud to improve understanding.
Step 3: Understand Southwest's Fare Types – Not All Fares Are Created Equal
Southwest has a few different fare classes, and understanding them is key to making informed decisions and getting the best value for your needs.
Sub-heading: Wanna Get Away Fares - The King of Low Prices
This is your target! "Wanna Get Away" fares are Southwest's lowest-priced tickets. These are generally non-refundable (you'll get a flight credit if you cancel, not a cash refund), but the upside is the incredible price. If you find a Wanna Get Away fare that works for you, snatch it up!
Sub-heading: Wanna Get Away Plus - A New Tier with Added Flexibility
Southwest recently introduced "Wanna Get Away Plus." This fare type offers a bit more flexibility than the standard Wanna Get Away, including transferable flight credits (you can transfer your flight credit to another Rapid Rewards member) and free same-day changes and standby. It's a great option if you anticipate needing some wiggle room with your plans, but still want a good price.
Sub-heading: Anytime and Business Select - For Max Flexibility and Perks
These are the higher fare classes. "Anytime" fares are refundable to your original form of payment and offer more flexibility. "Business Select" is the most expensive, offering perks like A1-A15 boarding, a complimentary premium drink, and refundable tickets. While these offer premium benefits, they are generally not what you're looking for when trying to get the "best deal."
Step 4: Rebook When Fares Drop – Southwest's Hidden Gem Policy
This is perhaps the most powerful money-saving tip for Southwest Airlines. Southwest has a incredibly generous policy: if the fare for a flight you've already booked drops, you can rebook your exact flight and receive the difference back as a flight credit (for Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares) or a refund to your original payment method (for Anytime and Business Select).
Sub-heading: Your Rebooking Strategy
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Book Early: Find a decent fare and book it. Don't wait hoping for a mythical lower price, as fares can also increase.
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Monitor Fares Religiously: After booking, periodically check the price of your flight. Use the Low Fare Calendar, or simply search your exact itinerary.
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Rebook and Save: If you see the price has dropped, simply go into your "My Trips" section on Southwest.com, find your flight, and click "Change Flight." Select the exact same flight you're already on. If the fare is lower, Southwest will automatically issue you a flight credit for the difference. It's truly that simple!
Pro Tip: For Wanna Get Away fares, the credit will be tied to the passenger's name and expire six months from the original purchase date of the ticket. For Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares, flight credits expire 12 months from the original purchase date. Always double-check the exact expiration terms on your specific travel funds.
Step 5: Leverage the Companion Pass – Fly Two for the Price of One!
Tip: Avoid distractions — stay in the post.
The Southwest Companion Pass is legendary in the travel hacking world, and for good reason. It allows one designated person to fly with you for virtually free (you only pay taxes and fees, typically $5.60 one-way for domestic flights) on any flight, whether you pay with cash or Rapid Rewards points.
Sub-heading: How to Earn the Companion Pass
To earn the Companion Pass, you need to either:
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Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, OR
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Earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year.
The easiest and most common way to earn the points is through Southwest co-branded credit cards. Often, welcome bonuses from opening one or two Southwest credit cards can get you very close to or even over the 135,000 point threshold.
Sub-heading: The Power of the Companion Pass
If you qualify for the Companion Pass, you effectively halve your travel costs for at least one other person. This is an incredible deal, especially for couples or families who travel frequently. The pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the entire next calendar year. Earning it early in the year maximizes its value!
Step 6: Consider Southwest Vacations – Bundle and Save
Sometimes, booking a flight + hotel package through Southwest Vacations can be cheaper than booking the flight and hotel separately.
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Sub-heading: Why Bundle with Southwest Vacations?
Southwest often offers exclusive deals and discounts when you combine your flight with a hotel stay or car rental through their vacation packages. You might also earn extra Rapid Rewards points on these bookings. Always compare the bundled price to booking each component individually to ensure you're getting the best value.
Step 7: Utilize Southwest Credit Cards – Points and Perks Galore
As mentioned with the Companion Pass, Southwest's co-branded credit cards can be a fantastic way to earn points and enjoy various perks.
Sub-heading: Key Benefits of Southwest Credit Cards
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Bonus Points: Sign-up bonuses can be significant, giving you a huge head start on earning free flights or the Companion Pass.
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Earning Rate: Earn accelerated points on Southwest purchases and sometimes on other categories like transit or internet/cable services.
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Annual Travel Credits: Some cards offer annual Southwest travel credits, effectively offsetting a portion of the annual fee.
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Upgraded Boardings: Certain cards provide upgraded boardings each year, helping you snag a better seat.
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Anniversary Points: Many cards offer a bonus of Rapid Rewards points each year on your card anniversary.
Always read the terms and conditions of any credit card offer to ensure it aligns with your spending habits and travel goals.
QuickTip: Treat each section as a mini-guide.
Step 8: Take Advantage of Southwest's "Bags Fly Free" (with caveats!)
Historically, Southwest was famous for its "Bags Fly Free" policy, allowing all passengers two free checked bags. However, this policy has recently changed for most travelers as of May 28, 2025.
Sub-heading: The New Baggage Policy
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Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, and Anytime fares: Most passengers on these fares will now pay $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second.
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Business Select Fares: Still include two free checked bags.
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Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members: Still receive two free checked bags.
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Rapid Rewards A-List Members and Southwest Credit Cardholders: Receive one free checked bag.
While not as universally free as before, if you fall into one of the categories that still gets free bags, this can still be a significant saving compared to other airlines! Always check the latest policy on Southwest's website before you fly.
Step 9: Be Patient and Persistent
Finding the absolute best deal often requires a bit of patience and persistence. Fares fluctuate constantly. If your travel dates aren't set in stone, keep checking the Low Fare Calendar and be ready to jump on a good price when you see it.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some common questions about getting the best deals on Southwest, with quick answers:
How to: Find the cheapest days to fly on Southwest?
The Southwest Low Fare Calendar on their website is your best friend for this. It displays the lowest fares for each day of the month, making it easy to spot cheaper travel days, usually mid-week.
How to: Get notified about Southwest sales?
Sign up for Southwest's email alerts on their official website. They frequently announce flash sales and special promotions directly to their subscribers.
How to: Get a refund if Southwest fares drop after I book?
Tip: Don’t rush — enjoy the read.
For Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares, you can rebook your exact flight and receive the difference as a flight credit. For Anytime and Business Select fares, you'll get a refund to your original form of payment. Do this through the "Change Flight" option in your "My Trips" section online.
How to: Use Rapid Rewards points for the best value?
Redeem your points for "Wanna Get Away" fares, as these typically offer the best redemption rate (points per dollar value). The more flexible you are with your dates, the more points you can save by using the Low Fare Calendar.
How to: Earn the Southwest Companion Pass quickly?
The most common and often quickest way is by earning the sign-up bonuses from one or two Southwest co-branded credit cards in a single calendar year, aiming for the 135,000 qualifying points needed.
How to: Know if Southwest is cheaper than other airlines?
Since Southwest doesn't appear on most third-party sites, you'll need to check their fares directly on Southwest.com and then compare them manually to other airlines' prices on sites like Google Flights, Expedia, or airline-specific websites. Remember to factor in baggage fees on other airlines versus Southwest's (potentially) free bags.
How to: Use Southwest travel funds from a cancelled flight?
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account, go to "My Account," and then "Payments" to view your flight credits. When booking a new flight, you'll see an option to apply a travel fund on the payment screen by entering the confirmation number.
How to: Change a Southwest flight without paying a fee?
Southwest famously does not charge change fees. You will only pay the difference in fare (if the new flight is more expensive) or receive a flight credit for the difference (if the new flight is cheaper). Basic fares require an upgrade to a higher fare type to be changed.
How to: Get priority boarding on Southwest?
You can purchase EarlyBird Check-In (for a fee), have A-List or A-List Preferred status, or purchase a Business Select fare. Checking in precisely 24 hours before your flight also helps secure an earlier boarding position for general boarding.
How to: Save on baggage fees with Southwest?
While the "Bags Fly Free" policy has changed for most, you can still save by booking Business Select, holding Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred or A-List status, or having a Southwest co-branded credit card, which may grant you one or two free checked bags. Always check the latest policy for your specific fare and status.
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