Editor’s observe: This can be a recurring publish, often up to date with the newest info.
When you have but to e-book flights for the upcoming months, now is a superb time to snag Southwest flights.
Though some carriers let you e-book flights about 11 months upfront, Southwest extends its reserving window in batches of just a few months at a time.
Beforehand, you may solely e-book Southwest flights by means of early October. However yesterday, Southwest prolonged its schedule by means of Nov. 4, 2023. This makes now a superb time to snag a very good deal on Southwest flights this summer season and fall.
Right here’s what you might want to find out about maximizing Southwest’s most up-to-date schedule extension.
Why e-book when Southwest extends its schedule
Reserving flights rapidly when Southwest extends its schedule can prevent critical cash. Though availability will in all probability nonetheless be round for some time, you seemingly gained’t discover decrease costs than can be found now for peak journey dates.
Southwest’s change and cancellation coverage additionally makes it straightforward to e-book now, even for those who aren’t certain you’ll take the journey. Listed here are Southwest’s cancellation guidelines for those who cancel at the very least 10 minutes earlier than a flight’s scheduled departure:
- In the event you paid for a Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus fare: You’ll obtain journey funds.
- In the event you paid for an Anytime or Enterprise Choose fare: You may request a refund to your authentic type of fee or settle for journey funds.
- In the event you redeemed Southwest factors: Factors will mechanically return into the account from which they have been booked and you’ll request that Southwest refund taxes and charges to your authentic type of fee.
So, you possibly can cancel your flight at no cost if your loved ones’s journey plans change. Plus, if the value decreases after reserving, you possibly can rebook and obtain the distinction as journey funds or factors. So, reserving Southwest flights for journeys you hope to take is a really low-risk state of affairs.
Associated: How one can get seats collectively as a household on Southwest Airways
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How one can rating the perfect Southwest offers
Listed here are 5 suggestions for getting the perfect deal on Southwest flights.
Guide proper now
I like to recommend reserving Southwest flights instantly when the reserving window opens, particularly if you wish to fly throughout peak occasions. Though flights have already opened up, you should still be capable to snag some good offers.
As talked about above, there may be minimal danger with reserving Southwest flights as a result of airline’s versatile insurance policies. So, chances are you’ll wish to e-book now even if you’re not 100% sure of your plans. If you’d like a full refund to your authentic fee methodology, redeem Southwest factors in your flights or e-book costlier Anytime or Enterprise Choose fares.
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Switch Chase Final Rewards factors to Southwest
As a result of airline’s versatile award insurance policies, redeeming Southwest factors is my most popular methodology for reserving a Southwest flight. If you might want to cancel a flight booked with factors, your factors go straight into your Speedy Rewards account, and you will get the taxes and charges you paid returned to your card.
Incomes a sign-up bonus on a brand new Southwest bank card is a superb technique to enhance your account stability, however that can take a while. It’s also possible to switch Chase Final Rewards factors to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio when you’ve got an Final Rewards-earning card such because the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card, Ink Enterprise Most well-liked Credit score Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve.
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Use a Companion Move, however you possibly can add it later
The Southwest Companion Move is my favourite profit within the journey business. In any case, a good friend or member of the family can fly with you at no cost (plus taxes and charges) as a perk of the Companion Move. The go usually expires on Dec. 31 of the yr after the yr wherein you earned it.
If you don’t but have a Companion Move however plan to earn one earlier than your flight, you possibly can nonetheless e-book now and add your companion’s ticket later. The one requirement for including your companion to your reservation is that there have to be at the very least one seat left on the market. Simply remember the fact that if you’re flying throughout peak occasions on fashionable routes, there’s a probability that your flight will promote out for those who wait too lengthy.
If you’d like a Companion Move rapidly, take into account opening one of many following bank cards. Every is awarding new cardholders a promotional Companion Move as a part of its welcome supply:
- Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit score Card: Earn 30,000 bonus factors plus a Companion Fare (excludes taxes and charges from $5.60 one-way) legitimate by means of Feb. 28, 2024 after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Provide ends March 13.
- Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card: Earn 30,000 bonus factors plus a Companion Fare (excludes taxes and charges from $5.60 one-way) legitimate by means of Feb. 28, 2024 after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Provide ends March 13.
- Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card: Earn 30,000 bonus factors plus a Companion Fare (excludes taxes and charges from $5.60 one-way) legitimate by means of Feb. 28, 2024 after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Provide ends March 13.
Associated: How one can rapidly earn the Southwest Companion Move
Have various dates in thoughts
When you have some flexibility, use that to your benefit when reserving your flights. You should utilize Southwest’s low-fare calendar to examine the least costly dates for the flights you need.
The costliest days to fly are usually Fridays and Sundays. So, for those who can shift your dates a number of days, you may discover the worth considerably much less. In fact, lacking work or taking children out of faculty won’t work for everybody, however having backup dates may repay.
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Search for value drops
In case your flight occurs to go down in value between whenever you e-book and whenever you fly, you possibly can simply get the distinction in Speedy Rewards factors again into your account. In fact, these versatile insurance policies nonetheless exist whenever you pay in your fare with money, however you’ll find yourself with Southwest journey funds.
Associated: How one can re-price a Southwest flight when the fare decreases
Instance pricing
Listed here are some pattern fares I got here throughout for journey in October. You’ll see that you may save some huge cash in case your dates (and willingness to fly connecting itineraries) are versatile.
Houston’s William P. Pastime Airport (HOU) to Cancun Worldwide Airport (CUN)
There are many methods to save in your subsequent journey to Cancun with factors and miles. And, beginning at below 4,500 Speedy Rewards factors (plus about $42 in taxes and charges) subsequent October, you possibly can fly to Cancun from Houston. As soon as in Mexico, take a look at our final guidelines of issues to do in your Cancun journey.
Associated: 10 international locations you didn’t know you may fly to on Southwest
Oakland Worldwide Airport (OAK) to Kahului Airport (OGG)
You may fly to Kahului (on the island of Maui) from 11,035 Southwest Speedy Rewards factors plus about $6 in taxes and charges on some dates in October. You may even fly 2-for-1 to Hawaii along with your Southwest Companion Move.
Lengthy Seashore Airport (LGB) to Las Vegas’s Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS)
For these seeking to go to Las Vegas, you possibly can fly from Lengthy Seashore (situated between Los Angeles and Orange County) to Las Vegas for charges beginning at simply over 3,000 factors (plus about $6 in taxes and charges) in October. Try our tales about 9 new issues to do in Las Vegas and e-book this, not that Las Vegas whereas planning your journey.
New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Chicago’s Halfway Worldwide Airport (MDW)
Southwest doesn’t have the most important New York route community, however some hidden gems exist. If you wish to e-book a late summer season journey to the Windy Metropolis, you possibly can fly for as few as 5,257 factors (plus about $6 in taxes and charges) per particular person in October.
Keep in mind that Southwest permits all passengers to deliver two checked luggage (as much as 50 kilos every) at no cost on its flights, a notable differentiator from most different U.S. airways.
Associated: Southwest baggage charges and easy methods to keep away from paying them
Backside line
Realizing the ins and outs of reserving a Southwest flight can let you e-book the perfect flights attainable for your loved ones on the lowest value. These seeking to journey this spring ought to e-book now to attain the perfect offers on Southwest.
If you might want to e-book flights additional out, know that Southwest plans to increase its schedule once more on Might 4, 2023, for flights by means of Jan. 7, 2024.
Extra reporting by Katie Genter, Andrew Kunesh and Kyle Olsen.
