It's no secret that airfare can be a significant chunk of your travel budget. And when it comes to Southwest Airlines, known for its customer-friendly policies like two free checked bags and no change fees (on most fares), finding ways to save even more can make your next adventure even sweeter. So, are you ready to unlock the secrets to scoring amazing discounts on Southwest flights? Let's dive in!
How to Get Discounts on Southwest Airlines: Your Comprehensive Guide
Getting a discount on Southwest Airlines often comes down to a combination of strategic booking, leveraging loyalty programs, and keeping an eye out for special promotions. Unlike some airlines that offer straightforward discount codes, Southwest's approach is a bit more nuanced. But with this step-by-step guide, you'll be a pro at finding those lower fares!
 |
| How To Get Discount Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Engage with Southwest's Digital Channels – Your First Stop for Savings!
Before you even think about dates or destinations, you need to set yourself up for success. Southwest actively promotes deals and fare sales through its own platforms.
Sub-heading: Sign Up for Southwest Emails
This is arguably the most crucial first step. Southwest frequently announces flash sales and limited-time offers directly to its email subscribers. These sales can be incredibly lucrative, offering significant percentage off base fares or even one-way flights for incredibly low prices.
How to do it: Visit Southwest.com and look for the "Sign up for email" or "Email Deals" section, usually found in the footer or a pop-up. Enter your email address and any preferences you might have.
Pro Tip: Create a dedicated email folder for travel deals so you don't miss out!
Sub-heading: Follow Southwest on Social Media
While email is primary, social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram can also be sources for quick announcements of sales or even exclusive contests.
How to do it: Search for "Southwest Airlines" on your preferred social media platform and hit "Follow." Turn on notifications for their posts if you want to be extra vigilant.
Step 2: Master the Art of Flexible Booking – Timing is Everything!
Southwest's pricing is highly dynamic. Being flexible with your travel dates and times is one of the most effective ways to snag a deal.
Sub-heading: Utilize the Low Fare Calendar
Southwest's website has a fantastic "Low Fare Calendar" tool that allows you to view the cheapest fares for an entire month. This is invaluable for finding the sweet spot for your travel.
How to do it: When searching for flights on Southwest.com, instead of selecting specific dates, look for an option to view the "Low Fare Calendar" or similar. It will display a grid showing prices for each day.
Key Insight: Weekdays (especially Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays for some routes) often have lower fares than peak travel days like Fridays and Sundays. Flying early in the morning or late at night can also yield savings.
Sub-heading: Book in Advance (but keep an eye out!)
Generally, booking Southwest flights further in advance tends to result in lower fares, especially for popular routes. However, Southwest is also known for its "fare sales" that pop up periodically.
QuickTip: Check if a section answers your question.
Strategy: Book a flight when you see a reasonable fare. Then, check back regularly! If the fare drops for your exact flight, Southwest allows you to change your reservation and receive the difference back as a flight credit (for Wanna Get Away Plus or Anytime fares) or even a refund to your original payment (for Business Select or Anytime fares). For Basic fares, you'd need to upgrade your fare to make changes. This is a huge advantage of flying Southwest!
Sub-heading: Consider Off-Peak Travel Seasons
Traveling during the shoulder seasons (spring and fall, outside of major holidays) or the true off-season can lead to significantly lower prices due to reduced demand.
Think about: Is there a local event or school break that might be driving up prices? Avoid those times if possible.
Step 3: Leverage the Rapid Rewards Program – Loyalty Pays Off!
Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is free to join and offers excellent benefits, especially if you fly with them frequently.
Sub-heading: Earn and Redeem Rapid Rewards Points
Every dollar you spend on Southwest flights (and with their partners) earns you Rapid Rewards points. These points can then be redeemed for future flights with no blackout dates! The number of points needed for a flight fluctuates with the cash price, so when fares are low, point redemption is also efficient.
How to do it: Sign up for a free Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Always ensure your Rapid Rewards number is linked to your booking.
Tip: Look for promotional offers where you can earn bonus points for specific activities or purchases.
Sub-heading: Achieve A-List and A-List Preferred Status
While not a direct "discount," elite status with Rapid Rewards brings perks that translate into savings and a better travel experience.
A-List: Benefits include priority boarding, a 25% earning bonus on points, and same-day changes/standby.
A-List Preferred: All A-List benefits, plus a 100% earning bonus, and free in-flight Wi-Fi.
How to achieve: Earn a certain number of qualifying flights or Tier Qualifying Points within a calendar year.
Sub-heading: The Legendary Companion Pass
This is arguably the holy grail of Southwest discounts. The Companion Pass allows you to choose one person to fly with you for free (you only pay taxes and fees, which are typically $5.60 one-way) on any Southwest flight you take, for the rest of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year!
How to achieve: Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
Major Tip: A significant way to earn these points is through opening and meeting the spending requirements on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, as these points count towards Companion Pass qualification.
Step 4: Explore Southwest Co-Branded Credit Cards – Unlock Exclusive Benefits
Chase offers several Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, each with its own set of benefits that can lead to significant savings and travel perks.
Sub-heading: Sign-Up Bonuses for Points
Many Southwest credit cards offer substantial sign-up bonuses in Rapid Rewards points after meeting a certain spending threshold. These points can be enough for several free flights.
QuickTip: Use posts like this as quick references.
Research: Compare the different Southwest credit cards (Plus, Premier, Priority for personal use, and business cards) to see which one best fits your spending habits and travel goals.
Sub-heading: Annual Point Bonuses and Travel Credits
Many of these cards also offer annual Rapid Rewards point bonuses, effectively offsetting a portion of the annual fee, and some, like the Priority card, offer annual travel credits that can be used for Southwest purchases.
Sub-heading: Perks Like Upgraded Boarding and In-flight Savings
Certain Southwest credit cards provide benefits like upgraded boardings (getting you a better boarding position) and statement credits for in-flight purchases (drinks, Wi-Fi). While not a direct fare discount, these add up to overall savings on your travel experience.
 |
Step 5: Look for Special Fares and Promotions – Beyond the Obvious
Southwest sometimes has specific fare types or programs that can offer savings, even if they aren't widely advertised as "discounts."
Sub-heading: Military and Government Fares
Southwest offers special discounted fares for active-duty military personnel and their dependents. These fares are typically not available online and must be booked by calling Southwest or at a ticket counter.
Action: If you qualify, always call Southwest's reservations line (1-800-I-FLY-SWA or 1-800-435-9792) to inquire about military fares. They also offer exemptions on baggage limits for active-duty military.
Sub-heading: Senior Fares (with a caveat)
Historically, Southwest offered specific senior fares. While they don't always advertise them widely anymore, it's always worth calling to ask if any senior-specific discounts are available for your desired route. Often, the "Wanna Get Away" fares might be the lowest available anyway, but it never hurts to inquire.
Sub-heading: Southwest Vacations Packages
Booking a flight and hotel package through Southwest Vacations can sometimes result in overall savings compared to booking each component separately. They also have a "GroupEase" program for groups of 5+ rooms, offering special promotional codes and benefits.
Consider: If you need a hotel or rental car along with your flight, check Southwest Vacations.
Sub-heading: LUV Vouchers and Travel Funds
If you've had a flight cancellation, delay, or other issue in the past, Southwest might have issued you a "LUV Voucher" or "Travel Funds." These can be applied towards future flights.
QuickTip: Scan the start and end of paragraphs.
Important: Keep track of your voucher and travel fund numbers and their expiration dates. LUV Vouchers can be used for anyone, while travel funds are typically tied to the original passenger.
Step 6: Be Strategic with Your Search – Small Changes, Big Savings
Even once you know how to look, what you search for can make a difference.
Sub-heading: Be Flexible with Airports
Southwest often flies into multiple airports in a large metropolitan area (e.g., Chicago Midway and O'Hare, Houston Hobby and Bush Intercontinental, Dallas Love Field and DFW). Check fares to and from all relevant airports – even a short drive can lead to significant savings.
Sub-heading: One-Way vs. Round-Trip Pricing
Unlike some airlines, Southwest often prices one-way flights competitively, meaning you might find it cheaper to book two separate one-way tickets instead of a round-trip, especially if you're trying to combine different fare types or if a sale applies to only one direction.
Sub-heading: Incognito Mode and Clearing Cookies
While less impactful with Southwest's transparent pricing, it's a general good practice for flight searching. Some travel sites (though less common with airline direct sites) might use your Browse history to show you higher prices.
10 Related FAQ Questions (How to...)
Here are quick answers to common questions about getting discounts on Southwest Airlines:
How to get military discounts on Southwest Airlines?
You can get military discounts by calling Southwest Airlines at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) or visiting a Southwest ticket counter, as these fares are generally not available online.
How to get senior discounts on Southwest Airlines?
While Southwest doesn't have a specific "senior discount" widely advertised online anymore, it's always recommended to call their reservations line and inquire if any special senior fares are available for your desired flight.
QuickTip: Save your favorite part of this post.
How to get student discounts on Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines does not offer specific, advertised student discounts. However, students can save by being flexible with travel dates, booking in advance, and utilizing the Low Fare Calendar.
How to use Southwest Rapid Rewards points for discounts?
Enroll in the free Rapid Rewards program, earn points through flights and credit card spending, then log into your account on Southwest.com and select the option to "Pay with Points" when searching for flights.
How to earn the Southwest Companion Pass for significant discounts?
Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. This is often achieved through a combination of flying and earning points from Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card sign-up bonuses and spending.
How to find Southwest fare sales and promotions?
Sign up for Southwest's email alerts and follow their official social media channels. These are the primary ways they announce flash sales and limited-time offers.
How to get a refund if a Southwest flight price drops after booking?
If you booked a Wanna Get Away Plus or Anytime fare, you can change your reservation online to the lower fare and receive the difference as a flight credit. For Business Select or Anytime fares, you have the option for a refund to your original payment method.
How to use Southwest LUV Vouchers for discounts?
Enter your LUV Voucher number and security code during the payment step when booking a flight on Southwest.com. Remember, LUV Vouchers typically cover the base fare but not taxes and fees directly.
How to combine different payment methods for a Southwest flight?
Southwest allows you to combine up to three payment methods, which can include LUV Vouchers, gift cards, and a credit/debit card, for one reservation.
How to save money on checked bags with Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines famously offers two free checked bags per passenger on all fares, making it easy to save on baggage fees compared to other airlines. Ensure your bags meet the weight and size limits.
 |
