In a world of inflated travel prices, Southwest Airlines remains a widely popular choice among budget-friendly travelers. With competitive pricing and pro-consumer policies, there are plenty of other ways savvy flyers can save even more money.
How To Get the Cheapest Southwest Flights
If you want to book your seat at the Southwest flights at the Cheapest prices then you need to utilize all the resources that are available. Here are some tips on how to get the cheapest Southwest flights so you can travel more while spending less.
1. Book Early
One of the most powerful tips on how to get the cheapest Southwest flights is to book way in advance. Southwest usually opens up its flight schedule about 6-8 months in advance. When you book at the moment flights become available, you are likely to have the cheapest rates, especially for popular routes and peak periods of travel. This strategy is particularly crucial during holidays or on flights to places in high demand.
2. Constant Fare Checks
Southwest’s pricing is dynamic, which means its fares change many times a day based on accepted yields and demand. Another of the important tips for finding the cheapest Southwest flights is that fares need to be regularly checked. Set up fare alerts using Southwest’s website or third-party applications, and make it a practice to check prices several times a week. All this vigilance shall come in good stead when you find surprise price drops.
3. Date Flexibility
Another valuable tip on how to get the cheapest Southwest flights is to have flexibility with your travel dates. Southwest’s low-fare calendar is very user-friendly for comparing prices between different days. Sometimes you will see that moving your trip out by a day or two can save you huge money. This particularly works well for people who have flexible schedules or plan leisure travel.
4. Fly into Alternative Airports
Southwest Airlines tends to fly into more secondary airports than most other carriers, which often charge fewer fees and have less competition. A smart tip for getting the cheapest Southwest flights is to check all possible airport options nearby. Flying to Oakland instead of San Francisco or Chicago Midway instead of O’Hare could yield astronomic savings.
5. Use Rapid Rewards
Use Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program to get the cheapest Southwest flights in this way: score points when flying, using their credit cards, or when promotional offers are available. The points can later be redeemed for free flights, helping one save some money on travel costs. With this in mind, be on the lookout for some credit card sign-up bonuses since they might be worth hundreds of dollars, if not equivalent to the points of not just one but multiple flights.
Read Also: How do I Speak to Southwest Customer Service
6. One-Way Booking Strategy
Sometimes, round trips can be expensive. At that time booking for two one-way tickets is cheaper and a great choice. Another extra mile tip that can help to get the cheapest Southwest flights is as follows: check the price of a round-trip ticket and compare it with the price you will get when buying two one-way fares in both directions.
8. Use a no-change fee policy
One unique benefit of Southwest’s no-change-fee policy that can be utilized as a tip for getting the cheapest Southwest flights is that, in case you find a lower fare after you’ve booked, you can change your reservation with no penalty and get travel credit for the difference. This will let you book early to secure a good rate while still getting the benefit should prices drop later.
9. Consider an alternative airport
Look at surrounding airports. Southwest tends to fly into secondary airports, which have lower fees, and thus costs, that it can pass on to you. For a given destination, check all the surrounding airports for the best fares.
10. Look for Sales
Southwest runs frequent flash sales and holiday promotions. One key tip for how to get the cheapest Southwest flights is to keep up to date on limited-time listings. Sign up for Southwest’s email list and follow their social media accounts to be the first in the know for sales. These deals can have greatly discounted fares, but require you to act fast.
11. Fly on holidays for free drinks
Now, here is something that will not directly reduce the price of your ticket, but here is an insider tip on how to get the cheapest Southwest flights—making the most out of your flying experience. On some holidays, Southwest will give free alcoholic drinks to passengers who are 21 years old or older. That’s on major U.S. holidays like New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and the Fourth of July.
Conclusion
By following these tips on how to get the cheapest Southwest flights, travelers will be able to maximise their savings and make more affordable air travel a huge part of what makes these wanderlust dreams a reality. Keep in mind that prices of airfare are constantly changing, so persistence and flexibility are important. With just a little strategy and some patience, you will be well on your way to finding awesome deals on Southwest flights, which stretch that travel budget further than ever.