Planning a trip on a budget? Southwest Airlines is a fantastic choice, known for its customer-friendly policies like two free checked bags and no change fees (on most fares). But even with these perks, getting the absolute best deals requires a bit of strategy. Ready to become a Southwest savings guru? Let's dive in!
How to Get the Best Deals on Southwest Airlines: Your Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
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| How To Get Best Deals On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are You Ready to Become a Savvy Southwest Flyer?
Before we begin, ask yourself: Are you open to being flexible with your travel dates? Do you enjoy a good treasure hunt for deals? If you answered yes to both, then you're already on your way to scoring incredible Southwest fares! The more flexible you are, the more opportunities you'll find.
Step 2: Master the Southwest Low Fare Calendar
This is arguably your most powerful tool for finding cheap flights. Forget specific dates for a moment and open your mind to possibilities!
Sub-heading: How to Access and Use the Low Fare Calendar
Head to the Southwest Website: While the mobile app is great for managing existing bookings, you'll need to use the desktop website for the Low Fare Calendar feature.
Input Your Basic Search: Enter your origin and destination cities. For your departure and return dates, you can initially put in approximate dates, or even just select a month if you're very flexible.
Click the "Low Fare Calendar" Button: Once your initial search results populate, look for a prominent green button that says "Low Fare Calendar." Click it!
Explore the Monthly View: This calendar will display the lowest fares available for each day of the month, either in dollars or Rapid Rewards points. You can easily navigate through different months to see pricing trends.
Be Flexible with Dates: Notice those days with significantly lower prices? These are your golden opportunities! Often, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays tend to have the cheapest fares due to lower demand. Adjust your travel dates to align with these cheaper days if possible.
Sub-heading: Rebooking for a Refund (A Southwest Superpower!)
Southwest has an incredible policy: if the price of your flight drops after you've booked it (and you purchased a Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fare), you can rebook the same flight and get the difference back! If you paid with points, you'll get points refunded. If you paid with cash for a Wanna Get Away fare, you'll receive a travel fund credit. This means you should always check the price of your flight regularly after booking!
Step 3: Embrace the Power of Rapid Rewards (Southwest's Loyalty Program)
Joining Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is a no-brainer and absolutely free. This program is point-based, meaning the number of points a flight costs is tied to its cash price.
Tip: Remember, the small details add value.
Sub-heading: Earning Points Like a Pro
Fly Southwest: The most straightforward way to earn points is by flying. Different fare types (Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, Business Select) earn points at varying rates, with Business Select earning the most.
Southwest Credit Cards: This is where things get exciting for serious point collectors. Southwest partners with Chase for co-branded credit cards that offer substantial sign-up bonuses and ongoing earning opportunities. These bonus points often count towards the highly coveted Companion Pass (more on that next!).
Rapid Rewards Partners: Earn points by shopping online through the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal, dining at participating restaurants, booking hotels, or renting cars through Southwest's partners. Always check for promotions!
Sub-heading: Redeeming Points Wisely
Low Fare Calendar for Points: Just like with cash fares, use the Low Fare Calendar to find the best point redemption values. Lower cash prices mean fewer points required.
No Blackout Dates: A huge perk of Rapid Rewards is no blackout dates. If there's a seat available, you can book it with points.
Points Don't Expire: Your Rapid Rewards points never expire, giving you peace of mind and flexibility.
Step 4: Unlock the Legendary Southwest Companion Pass
If you travel frequently with a specific person, the Companion Pass is the holy grail of Southwest deals. It allows you to designate one person to fly with you for nearly free on any flight you take (you just pay taxes and fees, which are as low as $5.60 one-way for domestic flights).
Sub-heading: How to Earn the Companion Pass
You need to achieve one of the following in a calendar year:
Fly 100 Qualifying One-Way Flights: This is a lot of flying for most people.
Earn 135,000 Qualifying Points: This is the more common and often easier route. Points earned from Southwest credit card welcome bonuses and spending count towards this goal. Many savvy travelers strategically open a personal and a business Southwest credit card to hit this threshold quickly.
Sub-heading: Maximizing the Companion Pass
Timing is Key: Aim to earn the Companion Pass early in the calendar year. It's valid for the remainder of the year you earn it, plus the entire next calendar year. Earn it in January, and you could have almost two full years of Companion Pass benefits!
Unlimited Use: There's no limit to how many times you can use the Companion Pass while it's valid.
Flexibility with Companions: You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year.
Step 5: Be Strategic with Fare Types and Sales
Southwest offers several fare types, and understanding them is crucial for maximizing savings and flexibility.
QuickTip: A slow read reveals hidden insights.
Sub-heading: Understanding Southwest Fare Types
Basic: This is Southwest's newest and often lowest fare. It comes with more restrictions. For flights booked on or after May 28, 2025, there are checked bag fees for Basic fares (unless you have A-List Preferred status or a Rapid Rewards Credit Card, which typically give you one free checked bag). Flight credits from Basic fares expire after six months.
Wanna Get Away: This used to be the lowest fare, offering two free checked bags and no change fees (only fare difference applies). Flight credits from these fares do not expire for reservations created on or after July 28, 2022.
Wanna Get Away Plus: A newer fare offering transferable flight credits (you can transfer the credit to another Rapid Rewards member), free same-day standby, and same-day confirmed flight changes.
Anytime: More flexible than Wanna Get Away fares, with the option for refunds to the original form of payment. You earn more Rapid Rewards points.
Business Select: The highest fare, offering priority boarding (A1-A15), free in-flight Wi-Fi, two free checked bags, and a complimentary premium drink. You earn the most Rapid Rewards points with this fare.
Sub-heading: Hunting for Fare Sales
Sign Up for Email Alerts: Southwest frequently announces sales through email. Make sure you're subscribed to their promotional emails.
Tuesday Sales: Southwest is known for releasing new sales on Tuesdays, often around 3 PM ET, which typically last until Thursday. Keep an eye out during this window.
Semi-Annual and Holiday Sales: Look for larger sales around major holidays (e.g., Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas) and semi-annually (often summer and fall/winter sales).
Act Fast: Good deals, especially on popular routes, tend to go quickly. If you see a price you like, don't hesitate!
Step 6: Consider Off-Peak Travel and Alternate Airports
Sometimes, saving money is about thinking outside the box.
Sub-heading: Traveling During Off-Peak Times
Midweek Flights: As mentioned, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are generally cheaper to fly. Avoid Fridays and Sundays if possible, as these are peak travel days.
Early Morning/Late Night: The earliest flights in the morning and the latest flights at night often have lower demand and, consequently, lower prices.
Shoulder Seasons: Traveling just before or after peak tourist seasons can lead to significant savings on flights and accommodations.
Sub-heading: Exploring Alternate Airports
Check Nearby Airports: If your destination has multiple airports (e.g., Dallas Love Field and DFW, or Chicago Midway and O'Hare), always check fares to and from all of them. Sometimes, a slightly longer drive can result in substantial savings.
Southwest's Network: Southwest primarily operates out of specific airports in many major cities. Familiarize yourself with their network to see if there's a less-trafficked airport near your desired location.
Step 7: Utilize Southwest's Unique Policies to Your Advantage
Southwest's customer-friendly policies can indirectly lead to savings.
Sub-heading: The Power of Two Free Checked Bags
This is a huge cost-saver! Many other airlines charge $30-$60 per checked bag. With Southwest, you get two free checked bags per person (for most fares), which can easily save you $60-$120 per round trip. Factor this into your overall cost comparison when looking at other airlines.
QuickTip: Scan quickly, then go deeper where needed.
Sub-heading: No Change Fees
Southwest doesn't charge change fees (on most fares, excluding Basic fares). This flexibility is invaluable. If your plans change, you can modify your flight without incurring hefty fees, only paying the difference in fare if the new flight is more expensive. This also ties back to rebooking for a lower fare – you can change without penalty!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to use the Southwest Low Fare Calendar effectively?
The Southwest Low Fare Calendar is found on their desktop website after an initial search. It displays the lowest fares for each day of the month. Use it to find cheaper travel days, typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, and be flexible with your dates to snag the best deals.
How to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points quickly?
The fastest ways to earn Rapid Rewards points are by flying Southwest (especially on higher fare types like Business Select), using Southwest co-branded credit cards with their generous sign-up bonuses, and leveraging Rapid Rewards Shopping and dining partners.
How to get the Southwest Companion Pass?
You can earn the Southwest Companion Pass by flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or by accumulating 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. Points earned from Southwest credit card welcome bonuses count towards this goal, making credit card sign-ups a popular strategy.
How to rebook a Southwest flight if the price drops?
Tip: Read mindfully — avoid distractions.
If you booked a Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fare and the price drops, go to "My Trips" on the Southwest website, find your flight, and select "Change Flight." If a lower fare is available for the same flight, you can rebook and receive the difference as a travel credit (for cash fares) or points (for point bookings).
How to find Southwest Airlines sales and promotions?
Sign up for Southwest's email alerts and check their "Special Offers" page on Southwest.com regularly. New sales are often released on Tuesdays and last a few days. Major sales also occur around holidays and semi-annually.
How to determine the cheapest days to fly on Southwest?
Generally, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are the cheapest days to fly Southwest due to lower demand. Early morning and late-night flights on any day can also offer better prices. Use the Low Fare Calendar to visually identify these cheaper days.
How to avoid checked bag fees on Southwest Airlines?
Southwest is famous for allowing two free checked bags per passenger on most fare types (Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, Business Select). For Basic fares booked on or after May 28, 2025, checked bag fees may apply unless you are an A-List Preferred member or a Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmember (who typically get one free checked bag).
How to use Rapid Rewards points for hotel or car rentals?
While the best value for Rapid Rewards points is usually on Southwest flights, you can also redeem them for hotel stays or car rentals through the Rapid Rewards portal on Southwest's website. However, the redemption value for these options might not be as high as for flights.
How to get A-List or A-List Preferred status with Southwest?
A-List status is earned by flying 25 qualifying one-way flights or earning 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year. A-List Preferred status requires 40 qualifying one-way flights or 70,000 tier qualifying points. Benefits include priority boarding, earning bonuses, and more.
How to get reimbursed for inflight purchases with Southwest credit cards?
Many Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards offer a percentage back (e.g., 25%) on inflight purchases like drinks and Wi-Fi, which appears as a statement credit on your bill. Check the specific benefits of your Southwest credit card to see if this is included.
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