You're planning a trip, and Southwest Airlines is on your radar! Excellent choice, as their flexible policies and "Bags Fly Free" motto make them a favorite for many travelers. But unlike most airlines that open their booking windows a full year in advance, Southwest operates a little differently. This often leads to the burning question: How far in advance can you book Southwest Airlines?
Let's dive deep into this with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to help you master the art of booking with Southwest.
The Southwest Booking Mystery: Understanding the "Rolling Release"
Southwest Airlines doesn't release its entire flight schedule 11-12 months out like many other carriers. Instead, they operate on a rolling release schedule, opening up their flights in batches. This means you might find flights available for, say, the next 6-8 months, and then suddenly, a new block of dates becomes available. This unique approach is what makes proactive planning with Southwest so crucial!
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| How Far In Advance Can You Book Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are You Ready to Play the Southwest Game?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, ask yourself: Are you someone who likes to plan way, way ahead, or are you more of a last-minute decision-maker? If it's the former, then understanding Southwest's booking window is paramount to snagging the best deals! If it's the latter, you might still find good fares, but the earlier you act once dates are released, the better your chances of securing those coveted low fares.
Step 2: Checking the Current Booking Window - Your First Port of Call
The absolute first thing you should do is ascertain how far out Southwest is currently booking. This information is readily available and frequently updated.
Sub-heading: Where to Find the Current Booking Window
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Southwest Airlines Official Website: This is your primary and most reliable source. Navigate to Southwest.com. On their homepage, or when you start a flight search, you'll almost always see a prominent banner or text stating: "Now accepting reservations through [Date]". As of July 15, 2025, Southwest is currently accepting reservations through January 26, 2026.
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Southwest's "Travel Tools" or "Planning Your Trip" Sections: Look for sections dedicated to travel planning. They often list the current booking window there as well.
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A Quick Call to Customer Service (If You're Really Stuck): While the website is usually sufficient, if you're having trouble locating the information or have specific questions, you can always call Southwest customer service. They can confirm the current booking window.
QuickTip: Keep a notepad handy.
Step 3: Anticipating the Next Schedule Release - Be a Southwest Sherlock!
This is where the "game" part comes in! Since Southwest releases schedules in chunks, savvy travelers learn to anticipate the next release.
Sub-heading: How to Predict the Next Release
Southwest typically releases new blocks of flights every few months, usually extending the schedule by another 1-2 months. While there's no fixed, predictable day, historical patterns and official announcements can give you a strong hint.
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Look for Official Announcements: Southwest will usually announce the next schedule extension on their investor relations page, in news releases, and sometimes even directly on their main website.
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Keep an Eye on Travel Blogs and Forums: Many frequent Southwest flyers and travel enthusiasts closely track these releases. Subscribing to travel blogs or participating in online travel forums can give you a heads-up.
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Mark Your Calendar with Tentative Dates: Based on the current booking window (e.g., if it's currently open through late January and the pattern is to release another 1-2 months of flights every few months), you can make an educated guess about when the next set of dates (e.g., February and March) might become available.
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Consider Peak Seasons and Holidays: Always assume that flights around major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Spring Break) and peak travel seasons (summer) will be released as early as possible within their typical window. These dates sell out fastest and often see price increases.
Important Note: The exact release date can change. Southwest states that these dates are "subject to change," so flexibility and frequent checking are key. For example, they've announced that on July 29, 2025, they plan to open their schedule through March 4, 2026. This is a prime example of a specific release date to watch for!
Step 4: Setting Up Alerts and Being Ready to Book - The Early Bird Gets the Low Fare!
Once you have an idea of when your desired travel dates might become available, it's time to prepare for launch!
Sub-heading: Your Action Plan for Booking
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Set Calendar Reminders: Seriously, set multiple reminders! A week before, a day before, and then for the actual morning of the anticipated release.
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Have Your Travel Details Handy: Know your exact travel dates, desired departure and arrival cities, and the number of passengers.
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Log In to Your Rapid Rewards Account (If Applicable): If you're a Rapid Rewards member, log in beforehand. This saves time during the booking process, especially if you're using points.
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Be Ready to Act Swiftly: When new dates are released, the lowest fares tend to disappear quickly. Have your payment method ready.
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Utilize the Low Fare Calendar: Southwest's Low Fare Calendar is an invaluable tool. Once your dates are released, use it to visually see the pricing for different days around your desired travel period. Sometimes shifting your travel by a day or two can result in significant savings.
Sub-heading: Why Book Immediately Upon Release?
QuickTip: Scan the start and end of paragraphs.
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Lowest Fares: This is often when you'll find the absolute cheapest fares (the "Wanna Get Away" fares). As demand increases and seats sell, prices tend to rise.
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Best Availability: You'll have the widest selection of flights, times, and routes. This is especially important for popular destinations or specific times of day.
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Flexible Policies: Southwest's flexible change and cancellation policies mean there's no penalty for booking early. If a cheaper fare becomes available later, you can rebook and receive the difference as a travel fund. If your plans change, you can cancel without a change fee and get a travel fund (or points back, if booked with points). This makes early booking a no-brainer.
Step 5: Monitoring and Adjusting Your Booking - The Southwest Advantage
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Even after you've booked, your work isn't necessarily done. Thanks to Southwest's generous policies, you can continue to monitor for better deals.
Sub-heading: Price Adjustment Magic
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Check Fares Regularly: After booking, periodically check the fare for your exact flight. If the price drops, you can rebook your flight at the lower fare.
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How to Rebook for a Lower Price:
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Log into your Southwest account.
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Go to your "My Trips" or "Upcoming Trips" section.
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Find your reservation and look for an option to "Change Flight" or "Modify Reservation."
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Select the same flight you originally booked.
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If the price has dropped, you'll see the difference credited back to you as a Southwest travel fund (for cash bookings) or points returned to your Rapid Rewards account (for points bookings).
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This unique feature means there's no downside to booking as soon as flights are released, even if you anticipate price fluctuations. You can always benefit from a price drop!
10 Related FAQ Questions (How to...)
How to Check the Current Southwest Airlines Booking Window?
You can find the current booking window on the Southwest.com homepage, usually in a prominent banner, or by starting a flight search.
How to Get Alerts for Southwest Airlines Schedule Releases?
Tip: Share this article if you find it helpful.
Southwest doesn't have a direct "notify me" feature for schedule releases, but you can subscribe to their email updates, follow their social media, or monitor reputable travel blogs and forums that track these announcements.
How to Find the Lowest Fares on Southwest Airlines?
The lowest fares (Wanna Get Away) are generally available when the schedule is first released. Use the Low Fare Calendar on Southwest.com to find the cheapest days to fly within your desired travel window.
How to Change a Southwest Airlines Flight Without Fees?
Southwest Airlines does not charge change fees. You can modify your reservation online via your "My Trips" section. You will only pay the difference in fare if the new flight is more expensive, or receive a travel credit/points if it's cheaper.
How to Cancel a Southwest Airlines Flight and Get a Refund?
Southwest allows you to cancel flights without a fee. If you booked with cash, you'll receive a travel fund valid for a future flight. If you booked with points, the points will be redeposited into your Rapid Rewards account. Cancellations must be made at least 10 minutes prior to departure.
How to Use Southwest Airlines Travel Funds?
Travel funds are linked to the original Passenger's name and email. When booking a new flight, there will be an option to "Apply Travel Funds" during the payment process. They typically expire 12 months from the date the fare was originally booked.
QuickTip: Take a pause every few paragraphs.
How to Earn Rapid Rewards Points with Southwest Airlines?
You can earn Rapid Rewards points by flying with Southwest (based on fare type), using a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit card, or through various Rapid Rewards partners (e.g., hotels, car rentals, shopping portals).
How to Book a Southwest Airlines Flight with Points?
When searching for flights on Southwest.com, select the "Show Fares in Points" option. You'll then see the cost in Rapid Rewards points.
How to Get a Better Boarding Position on Southwest Airlines?
Southwest has open seating. To get a better boarding position, check in online exactly 24 hours before your flight's departure. You can also purchase EarlyBird Check-In for automatic check-in and an earlier boarding position.
How to Find Out Where Southwest Airlines Flies?
Visit the "Destinations" or "Route Map" section on Southwest.com to see a comprehensive list of all cities they serve.
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