Finding affordable flights doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality or flexibility. Southwest Airlines offers several tools and strategies to help budget-conscious travellers score the best deals without the hidden fees that plague other carriers.
Understanding Southwest’s Fare Options
Southwest has four ticket types: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Basic fares restrict you even more than other fares, but if you are okay with the trade-offs, you’ll save a lot. Choice fares, however, give you more flexibility, and then with Choice Preferred and Choice Extra, you get premium benefits like refundability.
When shopping for flights, the Basic fare will be shown to you first, but remember, with Basic, you cannot make any changes to your flight. So if your plans are going to change, you will have to buy a ticket at a higher fare class.
When to Book for the Best Prices
The golden rule for cheap Southwest flights is to shop early and shop often. Southwest’s fares can change at any point in time, even while you are looking at flights. The earlier you book, the better chances you have of locking in the lower prices.
In addition to this, Southwest’s flexible policies will still be to your advantage even after you’ve booked. If you booked a Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra fare and you find a lower fare later, you can adjust your flight and get the difference as a Transferable Flight Credit™. For refundable fares, you can even get the difference refunded to your original form of payment.
The Low Fare Calendar: Your Secret Weapon
The Low Fare Calendar by Southwest Airlines shows you available airfare prices for an entire month, one day at a time. It’s a much better use of time than looking for tickets on different days to find the best prices.
To use a Low Fare Calendar, input the cities you are flying to and from on Southwest’s homepage. Once the page opens, select the Low Fare Calendar, and it will direct you to the page. Because it is a visual tool, you can easily adjust your dates by a day to save a significant amount of money.
Maximise Value with Rapid Rewards
In Southwest’s Rapid Rewards programme, you don’t have to deal with complicated rules or blackout dates. Because points can be redeemed for any seat on any Southwest flight, you can use your rewards as you please.
Based on the amount of your ticket’s base fare and fare type, you’ll earn points. Your points don’t expire, so that you can save for your dream holiday.
If you want to stay up to date on promotional opportunities, you can sign up for Southwest emails. You can save even more money on travel with Southwest’s sales and bonus points promotions.
Southwest’s Unique Value Propositions
Beyond competitive fares, Southwest stands out with two major perks that other airlines charge extra for:
No Change Fees: Unlike most carriers, Southwest doesn’t charge fees when you need to change your flight. You’ll only pay the fare difference if the new flight costs more. This policy applies to Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares, though Basic fares require an upgrade to make changes.
Checked Bag Benefits: While Southwest has recently updated its baggage policies, Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers on their reservation can still check their first bag at no additional cost. This benefit alone can save a family hundreds of dollars compared to other airlines.
Smart Shopping Strategies
When looking for flights on a specific day, sort by lower prices on Southwest, then check fare type prices with restrictions for the best value.
Weekdays are often cheaper than weekends for flying, and early flights and evening flights are usually cheaper than midday flights.
If a fare is good, don’t wait! It’s going to be gone! If your plans change, Southwest is great for changing flights on a whim, so don’t worry about booking early!
Your Path to Affordable Travel
Knowing how to get Southwest tickets for cheap is all about timing, having the right tools, and knowing their policies. Use the Low Fare Calendar to find the cheapest tickets, book tickets first to get the best prices, and use Rapid Rewards points to save even more.
Without change fees and helpful baggage policies for cardmembers, Southwest is removing the risk for financially booking budget flights. Your next trip is waiting, and it can be affordable.
