Are you ready to unlock the secrets to seriously saving money on your next Southwest Airlines adventure? If you're tired of paying full price and want to master the art of finding those elusive low fares, then you've come to the right place! Southwest is renowned for its unique approach to air travel, offering perks like two free checked bags (a major money-saver in itself!) and no change fees, which already give you a head start. But with a bit of strategy and know-how, you can magnify those savings significantly. Let's dive in!
A Comprehensive Guide to Saving with Southwest Airlines
Step 1: Embrace the Power of the Rapid Rewards Program (and Sign Up Now!)
If you're not already a Rapid Rewards member, stop reading this and sign up immediately! It's free and the cornerstone of any effective Southwest savings strategy. This loyalty program allows you to earn points that can be redeemed for flights, giving you the ultimate "free" travel experience.
Sub-heading: How Rapid Rewards Points Work
Southwest uses a revenue-based rewards system, meaning the number of points required for a flight is tied to its cash price. The more expensive the flight in dollars, the more points it will cost. This also means that when cash fares drop, so do the points needed for a reward flight – a huge advantage for flexible travelers.
Earning Points Through Flights:
Basic Fare: Earns 2 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent.
Wanna Get Away Plus: Earns 6 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent.
Anytime: Earns 10 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent.
Business Select: Earns 14 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent.
Tip: While Basic is the cheapest cash fare, Wanna Get Away Plus offers a better points earning rate and more flexibility with transferable flight credits. Consider your overall travel goals!
Earning Points Through Partners: Beyond flying, you can rack up points with various partners:
Rapid Rewards Shopping: Shop online at hundreds of retailers and earn points for your purchases. Always check this portal before making an online purchase!
Rapid Rewards Dining: Link your credit cards and earn points when you dine at participating restaurants.
Hotel and Car Rental Partners: Book through Southwest's partners and earn bonus points.
Other Partners: Explore various other avenues like florists, energy providers, and more on the Southwest website.
Step 2: Master the Art of Flexible Searching with the Low Fare Calendar
Southwest's Low Fare Calendar is your best friend for finding the cheapest flights. It's a simple, yet incredibly powerful tool.
Sub-heading: Navigating the Low Fare Calendar
Go to Southwest.com: On the main flight search, input your departure and destination cities.
Select Flexible Dates: Instead of choosing specific dates, look for the "Low Fare Calendar" option (usually a green button or link).
Browse by Month: The calendar will display the lowest cash fares and points prices for an entire month, day by day. This allows you to visually identify the cheapest days to fly.
Pro Tip: Weekdays, particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are often the cheapest days to fly. Saturdays can sometimes offer good deals too, especially if you're not planning a typical weekend getaway.
Adjust Your Travel Dates: If your dates are flexible by even a day or two, you can often save a significant amount of money or points. This is where the true power of the calendar comes in.
Rebook if Fares Drop: One of Southwest's most beloved policies is its no-change-fee policy. If you book a flight and the fare drops later, you can rebook the exact same flight at the lower price and receive the difference back as a flight credit (for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares) or a refund to your original payment method (for Anytime and Business Select). For Basic fares, you'll need to upgrade to a higher fare type to make changes. This is a game-changer! Set fare alerts or check periodically, especially after booking.
Step 3: Unleash the Power of Southwest Credit Cards
For serious Southwest savers, a co-branded Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card is an absolute must-have. These cards can supercharge your points earning and unlock incredible travel benefits.
Sub-heading: Key Benefits of Southwest Credit Cards
Generous Sign-Up Bonuses: These are often the fastest way to earn a large chunk of Rapid Rewards points, sometimes enough for several round-trip flights!
Anniversary Bonus Points: Each year you renew your card, you'll receive a bonus of Rapid Rewards points, helping you maintain your balance.
Accelerated Earning Rates: Earn extra points on Southwest purchases and often on everyday spending categories like dining, internet/cable/phone services, and local transit.
Companion Pass Qualification: This is the Holy Grail of Southwest perks (more on this in Step 4!). Spending on certain Southwest credit cards can help you earn the qualifying points needed for the Companion Pass.
Travel Perks: Depending on the card, you might receive benefits like:
Upgraded Boardings: Get reimbursed for purchasing upgraded boarding positions (A1-A15).
EarlyBird Check-In: Receive credits for EarlyBird Check-In, which automatically checks you in for a better boarding position.
Southwest Travel Credit: Some premium cards offer an annual travel credit that can offset the annual fee.
Choose the card that best fits your spending habits and travel goals. There are personal and business versions, each with different annual fees and benefits.
Step 4: Chase the Coveted Companion Pass
The Southwest Companion Pass is arguably the best deal in domestic travel. It allows you to designate one person to fly with you for free (you just pay taxes and fees, which are usually $5.60 one-way) on unlimited flights, whether you pay with cash or points, for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year.
Sub-heading: How to Earn the Companion Pass
To qualify, you need to either:
Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, OR
Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year.
Credit Card Strategy: The most common and often easiest way to earn the Companion Pass is through a combination of credit card sign-up bonuses and ongoing spending. Be strategic about when you open cards to maximize the Companion Pass validity period. For instance, if you earn it early in the year, you'll have it for almost two full years!
Qualifying Points: Points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card spending (including sign-up bonuses), flights, and Rapid Rewards partners generally count towards the Companion Pass.
Step 5: Be a Savvy Shopper for Sales and Promotions
Southwest is known for its frequent fare sales. While they might not be as predictable as they once were, staying alert can lead to significant savings.
Sub-heading: How to Spot and Leverage Sales
Sign Up for Email Alerts: This is the easiest way to be notified directly when sales drop.
Follow Southwest on Social Media: Airlines often announce flash sales or special promotions on their social channels.
Check the "Special Offers" Page: Regularly visit the "Special Offers" section on Southwest.com.
"Unofficial" Tuesday Sales: While not always guaranteed, many frequent Southwest flyers will tell you that Tuesdays are often the day when new fare sales are released or existing ones are updated. It's a good day to check for price drops!
Book Fast: The best deals, especially on popular routes or peak travel dates, sell out quickly. Be prepared to book as soon as you find a price you like.
Consider Southwest Vacations Packages: Sometimes bundling your flight with a hotel or car rental through Southwest Vacations can result in overall savings, even if the flight fare itself isn't the absolute lowest.
Step 6: Strategic Booking and Travel Habits
Beyond points and promotions, certain booking habits can lead to savings.
Sub-heading: Optimize Your Booking Strategy
Book in Advance (But Check Often): While Southwest doesn't have the same strict "book X months out" rule as some airlines, booking further in advance generally gives you access to a wider range of lower fares. However, always recheck prices after booking, as fares can drop.
Be Flexible with Departure Airports: If you live near multiple airports served by Southwest, check prices from all of them. Sometimes, flying out of a slightly less convenient airport can save you a bundle.
Consider Off-Peak Travel: If your schedule allows, traveling during the off-season for your destination, or during less popular times of the day (early morning, late night), can yield lower fares.
Utilize the "Bags Fly Free" Policy: This is a massive saving compared to other airlines that charge for checked bags. Pack wisely and avoid baggage fees entirely!
Family Boarding: If you're traveling with a child age six or under, two adults can board with the child during Family Boarding (after the A group), regardless of your assigned boarding position. This can save you from buying EarlyBird Check-In for your entire family.
LUV Vouchers and Gift Cards: If you receive a Southwest LUV Voucher (often compensation for a flight disruption) or a gift card, make sure to use them before they expire. LUV Vouchers generally cannot be used for taxes and fees, while gift cards can. You can use up to three forms of payment per person per reservation (including LUV Vouchers, gift cards, and flight credits).
By diligently following these steps and incorporating them into your travel planning, you'll be well on your way to becoming a Southwest savings pro! Happy travels!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to get the cheapest flights on Southwest Airlines?
The cheapest flights are often found by being flexible with your travel dates and using the Southwest Low Fare Calendar, typically flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, and booking during fare sales.
How to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points quickly?
The fastest way to earn Rapid Rewards points is by signing up for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card and meeting its sign-up bonus requirements, along with utilizing Rapid Rewards Shopping and Dining partners.
How to use the Southwest Low Fare Calendar effectively?
To use the Low Fare Calendar effectively, input your desired route and then view the entire month's prices to identify the cheapest days for both cash and points bookings, being flexible with your exact travel dates.
How to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass?
You can qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass by flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year, most commonly achieved through a combination of credit card sign-up bonuses and spending.
How to rebook a Southwest flight if the price drops?
If the price of your Southwest flight drops, you can rebook the same itinerary online via the "Change Flight" option in your "My Trips" section and receive the difference back as a flight credit (for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, Business Select fares) or a refund to the original payment (Anytime, Business Select).
How to avoid checked bag fees on Southwest?
Southwest Airlines inherently offers two free checked bags per passenger, so there are no fees to avoid for your first two bags, making it a built-in saving.
How to get early boarding on Southwest without paying?
You can get early boarding by achieving A-List or A-List Preferred status through frequent flying or qualifying points. If traveling with a child age six or under, two adults can board during Family Boarding (after the A group).
How to use Southwest LUV Vouchers?
Southwest LUV Vouchers can be applied towards the base fare of a flight when booking online, over the phone, or at a ticket counter. You will need the voucher number and security code, and all travel must be completed by the voucher's expiration date.
How to find Southwest Airlines sales and promotions?
You can find Southwest sales and promotions by signing up for their email alerts, following them on social media, and regularly checking the "Special Offers" section on Southwest.com, especially on Tuesdays.
How to maximize savings when traveling with family on Southwest?
Maximize savings with family by leveraging the "bags fly free" policy, utilizing Family Boarding for earlier access, and most significantly, by earning the Companion Pass to fly one family member almost free on every trip.
