Best Time to Book Southwest Flights in 2024

Are you tired of paying high prices for air travel? You must have wondered if the flight can be an affordable and accessible mode of transportation for everyone. Not to worry anymore. Southwest Airlines cheap flights are the most affordable, focusing mainly on routes within California.

Southwest Airlines has been a game changer for the aviation industry since its inception in the 1970s; it has made air travel more affordable and convenient for millions nationwide. With its exceptional business model and customer-centric approach, Southwest has created a loyal customer base that keeps returning for more. Being the largest low-cost airline in the world, it holds a unique record of 47 consecutive profitable years between 1973 to 2019.

What are the Benefits of Traveling with Southwest Airlines?

The Free 2 Checked Bags on All Fares

Think this: Most U.S. airlines charge $30-$40 for checked bags. As a solo traveler, you can save up to $140 on a roundtrip in a checked bag alone. Traveling with family but worried about luggage, you can easily save up to $240 as a family of 4.

Southwest Airlines is the sole major airline operating in the United States that offers two complimentary checked bags to each passenger on all its flights. And even if you don't travel with checked bags, you can do it for free when flying with Southwest.

No Cancellation or Change Fees

This is one of the best and most flexible advantages any other airline offers. Whichever ticket you purchase, or no matter where you are flying, you will never have to pay an additional fee to change or cancel your flight to Southwest.

Southwest Airlines' cheap flights cover you for any last-minute flight changes! You'll only have to pay the difference in fare (if there is one). Remember, canceling your reservation at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure is essential to avoid losing travel funds.

Receive flight credits when you Cancel

Enjoy the flexibility of flight credits that don't expire and are non-transferable. Plus, cancel your flight at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure, and flight credits will be issued to you. And, for those who love booking travel with Rapid Rewards points, the airlines have something exciting for you!

When booking Southwest Airlines cheap round trip flights with Wanna Get Away® or Wanna Get Away Plus™, you can keep your points safe by canceling your reservation at least 10 minutes before the flight's original scheduled departure time. If you fail to cancel, the points used for booking and any taxes and fees associated with your reward travel reservation will be forfeited. With Wanna Get Away Plus, for an extra $30 each way, you can transfer your flight credits, make same-day changes, and fly standby without any fare difference, giving you more flexibility and options for a smoother travel experience.

Easy Refunds

If you ever need to cancel your reservation with Southwest Airlines, remember to do it at least ten (10) minutes before your scheduled flight departure. By doing so, you'll be eligible to receive a refund of 100% of your ticket value back to your original form of payment. If you had previously used Southwest flight credit on a Business Select or Anytime fare, don't worry! You'll receive a Transferable Flight Credit instead. Also, if you booked your trip with Rapid Rewards points, know that if you cancel, the points will be returned to the same account from where the booking has been made.

Fond Tip: Read the Southwest Airlines Refund Policy, or contact us at +1-571-389-6426 for easy refunds.

How to Find Cheap Flights on Southwest Airlines?

The cheap flights provided by Southwest Airlines have been a great help to ordinary people while traveling.

Some of the essential tips to follow to get cheap flights on Southwest Airlines are:

• Use Low Fare Calendar: This helpful tool permits you to explore the cheapest fares across a month instead of specific dates. You can find it directly on Southwest's website. By being adjustable with your travel dates, you can snag significant savings using the Southwest low fare calendar.
• Be alert for sales: Southwest often has sales on Tuesdays. These sales can bring down fares on various routes.
• Consider weekdays and off-peak times: Generally, flying during weekdays and off-peak hours is the best day to book Southwest flights (early mornings, late evenings, red-eye flights) will be cheaper than weekends and peak travel times.
• Look for alternate airports: If your destination has multiple airports, check fares for each. Occasionally, flying into a smaller airport can be more economical.
• Become a Rapid Rewards Member: Southwest's loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, allows you to earn points towards future flights. These points can be valuable for getting cheap fares, especially if you can be flexible with travel dates. There are even credit cards available that can help you rack up points even faster.
• Search using third-party tools (with caution): While Southwest doesn't directly show fares on third-party sites, you can use them to search for general flight options. However, to book the Southwest flight at the advertised price, you'll still need to go through Southwest's website.

Fond Tip: Use the Southwest Airlines cheap flight calendar to view monthly prices. This can be a great way to save money on your next flight!

How to use Southwest Flight Price Tracker?

Southwest Airlines doesn't have an in-built price tracker, but you can track Southwest flights and get the best Southwest Airlines deals by following these methods:

1. Google Flights or Hopper App: While Southwest flights won't appear directly on Google Flights, you can manually check prices and set up notifications for alternative flights to the same destination. Apps like Hopper also help you track flight prices, though they don't include Southwest data.
2. Subscribe to Southwest Email Alerts: Sign up for Southwest's email alerts to receive notifications about fare sales, special promotions, and low-fare deals. You can also customize your preferences to track specific routes.
3. Use Third-Party Trackers: Some third-party services, like Airfarewatchdog or Thrifty Traveler, track price drops and fare sales, including Southwest Airlines.
4. Low Fare Calendar: This tool lets you search for the lowest fares by month, offering an overview of deals for flexible travelers. It's an excellent way to see when the lowest prices are available.
5. Track with a Spreadsheet: If you frequently fly specific routes, manually track the price trends in a spreadsheet. You can check fares regularly or call us for the same information.

When Does Southwest Have Sales?

Southwest Airlines holds several fare sales throughout the year, with some common trends:

• Tuesday Sales: Southwest releases new sales on Tuesdays, especially around 3 PM ET. They often last through Thursday of the same week.
• Semi-Annual Fare Sales: Southwest typically runs two significant fare sales each year:
• Summer Sale (June/July)
• Fall/Winter Sale (October)
• End-of-Year Sales: These can appear around Thanksgiving and Christmas. You might also find deals for New Year's travel.
• Special Event Sales: Southwest offers sales on national holidays, such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July.

Southwest Airlines $39 Flights

Occasionally, Southwest offers promotional fares starting at $39 for short-haul flights (typically less than 400 miles). To find these:

• Check the Low Fare Calendar: The tool will list the available fares for specific dates and destinations.
• Watch for Promotional Sales: These $39 fares are more likely to be advertised during significant sales, especially for less popular routes.

Southwest Airlines $49 Flights

Like the $39 flights, $49 fares are often available during fare sales. These usually apply to short routes, like:

• Intrastate flights (e.g., within California or Texas).
• Regional routes: between Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Diego.

To find these, keep an eye on seasonal sales and last-minute deals.

Southwest Airlines $53 Tickets

These are also part of promotional sales. $53 flights are most often found during Southwest's frequent fare sales, particularly for:

• Midweek travel (Tuesday and Wednesday).
• Shorter routes.

They can also pop up during Southwest's semi-annual and flash sales.

Southwest Airlines $59 Flights

Southwest frequently offers $59 fares, especially for regional travel or during specific promotions. Popular routes include:

• Short-distance flights (e.g., Denver to Las Vegas).
• Intrastate flights are available in states like California, Texas, and Florida.

Again, the best way to spot these deals is through the Low Fare Calendar or during Southwest's fare sales.

Southwest Airlines Sale $69

The $69 fares are a bit more familiar and apply to many more routes across the country. These are often available:

• During more extensive fare sales or special promotional events.
• This is for off-peak travel times, such as non-holiday weekdays.

Check the Low Fare Calendar or subscribe to Southwest's email alerts to find these sales.

However, the availability of these fares can change frequently, so it's essential to be flexible and check regularly.

Overall, the best way to track Southwest flight prices and find the best deals is to be proactive and use a combination of methods.

What is the Best Time to Buy Southwest Flights?

Book your tickets on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday when flying with a Southwest flight. These are usually the cheapest days and the best days to book Southwest flights. If you're looking to save some money, make sure to keep that in mind when booking your flight. To make things even easier, you can use a travel service or planner to help you find the cheapest flying days. They'll give you all the information you need to make an informed decision and book your flight at the best possible rate.

Here's another tip: Try to book your flight with any airline, be it United Airlines or any other during non-peak hours or avoid traveling during Christmas.

This way, you'll have a better chance of finding a cheaper flight. You can also save money using your Southwest award miles to book your flight. Keep an eye out for special deals that Southwest offers so you can take advantage of the best time to book Southwest flights.

You can contact us at +1-571-389-6426 directly to get more information about these deals and sign up to our newsletter to get updates on the latest deals and discounts. Hope these tips help you save money on your next flight with Southwest Airlines!

FAQ’s