Ready to plan your next adventure with Southwest Airlines? Let's dive into how far out you can book your flights and how to snag the best deals!
Southwest Airlines operates a little differently than most other major carriers when it comes to releasing its flight schedules. Instead of a fixed 11-month window, they roll out their flights in chunks. This unique approach means you'll need to stay a bit more attuned to their release schedule if you're planning far in advance. But don't worry, we're here to guide you every step of the way!
Step 1: Discovering the Current Booking Window (Your First Engagement!)
Hey there, future traveler! Are you dreaming of a sunny beach escape, a bustling city break, or perhaps a snowy mountain adventure? Before we get too carried away with packing, the very first thing you need to know is how far out Southwest is currently allowing bookings. This is the most crucial piece of information for planning your trip.
How to find it:
Check the Official Southwest Website: The absolute best place to find this information is directly on Southwest.com. Look for sections like their "Low Fare Calendar" or "Travel Planning Tools." They prominently display a message stating something like "Now accepting reservations through [Date]."
Keep an Eye on News & Updates: Travel blogs and news outlets often report when Southwest announces new schedule extensions. A quick search for "Southwest Airlines booking window" will usually give you the latest updates.
Southwest's Social Media: Sometimes, they'll post updates on their official social media channels.
Current Status (as of July 14, 2025): Southwest Airlines is currently accepting reservations through January 26, 2026. They have also announced that on July 29, 2025, they will open their schedule for sale through March 4, 2026. Note: These dates are always subject to change, so always verify on their official site!
Step 2: Understanding Southwest's Unique Release Schedule
Unlike many airlines that release flights a full 330 days (or approximately 11 months) in advance, Southwest releases its schedule in smaller, periodic blocks. This means you might find that flights for your desired travel dates aren't available yet, even if they are more than six months away.
Sub-heading: Why the Block Release?
Southwest's strategy allows them greater flexibility in adjusting routes and flight frequencies based on demand and operational needs. While it requires a bit more vigilance from the traveler, it also often means you have opportunities to snag excellent deals if you book right when a new schedule is released.
Step 3: Anticipating Future Schedule Extensions
Since Southwest releases flights in blocks, you'll often need to predict when the next block will drop.
Sub-heading: The Typical Pattern
Generally, Southwest extends its schedule every few months. While there isn't a perfectly rigid pattern, you can typically expect a new batch of flights to be released roughly every 6 to 8 weeks.
Keep an eye on the end date of the current booking window. When that date approaches, it's a strong indicator that a new schedule extension is imminent.
The release often happens early in the morning, Eastern Time. If you're a serious deal-hunter, setting an alarm for the announced release day and checking Southwest's website first thing in the morning can give you an edge.
Sub-heading: Setting Up Alerts (Smart Planning!)
Many travel sites and blogs offer email or text alerts for Southwest schedule releases. Signing up for these can be incredibly helpful so you don't miss the window.
Consider setting a calendar reminder for a few days before the current booking window closes. This will prompt you to check for news about the next release.
Step 4: Booking Your Flight Once the Schedule is Open
Once your desired travel dates fall within the newly released booking window, it's time to book!
Sub-heading: The Race to the Best Fares
Act Swiftly for Peak Travel and Popular Routes: If you're planning to travel during holidays (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break) or to highly popular destinations (like Orlando, Las Vegas, or Hawaii), booking as soon as the schedule opens is often your best bet for securing the lowest fares. Fares tend to increase as demand goes up and as the departure date gets closer.
Flexibility is Your Friend: If your travel dates are flexible, use Southwest's "Low Fare Calendar" tool. This allows you to see the cheapest fares across an entire month, helping you pinpoint the most affordable days to fly.
Points or Cash?: Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is fantastic. If you have points, you can use them to book flights. The number of points required is directly tied to the cash price of the fare. Therefore, when cash fares are low, point redemption is also at its best value.
Step 5: What if Your Return Date Isn't Available Yet?
This is a common scenario when booking far out with Southwest.
Sub-heading: Strategies for Incomplete Itineraries
Book One-Way Outbound: You can book your outbound flight as a one-way trip as soon as it's available. Then, when the return dates are released, you can book your one-way return.
Book and Re-Book (Southwest's No Change Fee Policy): One of Southwest's most beloved policies is no change fees (though a fare difference may apply). This is incredibly useful here.
Book a Round Trip with a Placeholder Return: If your ideal return date isn't released, book a round trip using a return date that is currently available, even if it's not your actual planned return. Choose a date far out that you know will likely decrease in price later, or a date just within the current booking window.
Monitor for Your True Return Date: Keep an eye on Southwest's schedule releases.
Change Your Reservation: Once your actual desired return date becomes available, go into your reservation on Southwest.com or the app and change your return flight. You will only pay the difference in fare (or receive a credit if the new fare is cheaper). This flexibility is a huge advantage of flying Southwest!
Step 6: Maximizing Your Southwest Booking Experience
Consider EarlyBird Check-In®: While Southwest doesn't assign seats, they have a "first-come, first-served" boarding process. EarlyBird Check-In automatically checks you in 36 hours before your flight, giving you an earlier boarding position and better access to overhead bins and your preferred seat. It's an additional cost, but can be well worth it, especially for families or those who want to guarantee a window or aisle seat.
Understand Fare Types: Southwest offers different fare types (e.g., Wanna Get Away®, Wanna Get Away Plus®, Anytime, Business Select®). While all offer their famous "2 free checked bags" policy and no change fees, they differ in terms of points earned, refundability (some offer a refund to original payment, others a flight credit), and other perks. Familiarize yourself with these to choose the best option for your travel needs.
Download the Southwest App: The app is incredibly useful for managing reservations, checking flight status, and even checking in for your flight.
10 Related FAQ Questions: How to...
Here are some common questions about booking with Southwest, with quick, helpful answers:
How to know the exact date Southwest will release new flights?
Southwest doesn't always announce exact future release dates far in advance. Your best bet is to regularly check Southwest.com's "Travel Planning Tools" section or their Low Fare Calendar, as they will prominently display the next release date when it's confirmed.
How to get notified when Southwest extends its schedule?
Sign up for email newsletters from Southwest Airlines, or follow reputable travel blogs and news sites that specialize in airline updates. Some even offer direct text alerts for schedule releases.
How to find the cheapest flights on Southwest?
Use Southwest's "Low Fare Calendar" feature on their website. It allows you to view prices for an entire month, helping you identify the cheapest days to fly to your desired destination. Booking right when a new schedule is released can also yield the lowest fares.
How to change a Southwest flight if the new date is outside the current booking window?
You can't initially book a flight outside the current booking window. However, if you've already booked a placeholder flight within the current window, you can change it to your desired future date once that date becomes available, taking advantage of Southwest's no-change-fee policy.
How to use Southwest Rapid Rewards points to book flights?
When searching for flights on Southwest.com, simply select "Points" instead of "Dollars" when entering your search criteria. The system will then display the flight costs in Rapid Rewards points.
How to handle a flight change if my return date isn't released yet?
Book your outbound as a one-way, or book a round trip with a placeholder return date that is currently available. Once your actual return date is released, you can change your existing reservation to that new date.
How to ensure I get a good boarding position on Southwest?
Purchase EarlyBird Check-In® (if available for your flight), or check in precisely 24 hours before your flight's scheduled departure time online or via the Southwest app.
How to check if my desired route is flown by Southwest?
Visit Southwest.com and use their "Where We Fly" or "Route Map" tools to see their full list of destinations and available routes.
How to get a refund for a canceled Southwest flight?
If you cancel a refundable fare (Anytime or Business Select) at least 10 minutes before departure, you're eligible for a refund to your original form of payment. For non-refundable fares (Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Basic), the value becomes a flight credit (which, for credits issued or unexpired after July 28, 2022, do not expire).
How to book a multi-city trip with Southwest?
On the Southwest.com flight search page, select the "Multi-city" option instead of "Round Trip" or "One-Way." This allows you to enter multiple segments for your itinerary.
