The Best Time to Book Southwest Flights and Score Amazing Deals!

Here, we are going to talk about something that is going to save you a bunch of money. We all want to get the best deals when we’re booking flights for our trips. Southwest is a popular choice among travelers in the US for good reasons. The airline is popular for having a lot of routes and some pretty sweet policies that other airlines don’t offer. But when exactly should you book Southwest flights to get the best prices? That’s why we’re here to help you figure it out.

We have gathered a ton of information and reviews from travelers who often fly with Southwest. “The sooner, the better,” as they say, but that is not always true when it comes to purchasing flight tickets. Sometimes, waiting is better, and sometimes you need to jump on those deals right away. It really depends on a few different factors that we’ll discuss throughout this blog post.

Without any further ado, let’s get into all the details about the best time to book Southwest flights. By the end, you will have a much clearer picture of when to hit that purchase button.

Getting to Know Southwest’s Booking System

Southwest is known for doing things a bit differently than other airlines, which is why its loyal customers love it so much. They don’t charge you those annoying fees if you need to change your flight later on. This is actually a huge deal when you are trying to plan your trips in advance. You can book your flight when Southwest flights are cheapest without worrying too much about changing it. 

Another cool thing about Southwest is that they don’t have assigned seating like most airlines do. Instead, they give everyone a boarding group and a position within that group when you check in. The earlier you check in, exactly twenty-four hours before your flight, the better positions you’ll usually get. This matters a lot if you’re picky about where you sit on the plane.

Ideal Booking Window for Southwest Flights

Generally speaking, the best time to book your Southwest flights is about three to six months ahead of scheduled departure. This gives you enough time to watch for good deals, but it isn’t so far out that prices are inflated. The sweet spot really hit that Goldilocks zone—not too early, not too late, but just right for most domestic trips.

However, if you are looking to travel during super busy times like Christmas or Thanksgiving, you might want to book even earlier. These peak travel periods fill up fast, and prices tend to climb higher the closer you get.

On the flip side, you can grab amazing deals about two to three weeks before departure if you’re flexible with your travel dates. Southwest occasionally offers flash sales to fill empty seats on flights that aren’t selling well. These can be absolute steals if you’re able to take advantage of them. 

Magic of Tuesday on Southwest Flights

You’ve probably heard this tip before—Tuesday is the best day to buy Southwest tickets!” The airline typically releases its sales on Tuesday mornings; other airlines often match these prices by the afternoon. It’s like clockwork in the airline industry; frequent travelers have been using this trick for years.

Specifically, try checking the Southwest website on Tuesday morning around 9 or 10 AM. This is when fresh deals tend to drop, and you can be among the first to snatch them up. The early bird really does catch the worm in this particular situation. Better set yourself a reminder!

Strictly avoid booking Southwest flights on weekends if possible, as prices tend to be higher then. More people are booking flights for leisure travel on Saturdays and Sundays, which drives up demand and prices. Monday night through Thursday afternoon is generally when Southwest flights are cheapest in comparison to weekends.

More people are traveling for leisure on Saturdays and Sundays, which drives up demand and prices. Monday night through Thursday is generally Southwest best time to buy tickets throughout the week.

Use Southwest’s Low Fare Calendar

Southwest has this awesome tool called the Low Fare Calendar that every budget traveler should be using. It shows you the best day to buy Southwest tickets for an entire month at a glance. This is super helpful when you have some wiggle room in your travel schedule and just want the best deal.

Using this tool is very easy. Go to the Southwest website, click the “Low Fare Calendar” option, and enter your departure and arrival cities. From there, you can browse through different months to find those golden, cheap days to fly. It’s like having a treasure map to all the best deals.

We can’t stress enough how much money this simple tool can save you if you’re flexible. Sometimes, flying just a day or two earlier or later can cut your cost in half. That’s money you can spend on fun stuff at your destination instead of just getting there.

Fare Types and What They Mean

Like any other airline, Southwest offers different fares: Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select. Each comes with varied perks and price points that you should know about. Understanding these can help you decide which is the best value for your specific trip.

Wanna Get Away fares are the cheapest option but still include two free checked bags and no change fees. These typically sell out first, especially for popular routes and travel times. If saving money is your main goal, these are what you want to look for when booking.

The premium fare types give you extras like priority boarding, free same-day changes, and more Rapid Rewards points. But they cost quite a bit more, so they are only worth it if you are traveling for business or really value those extra perks. Many frequent flyers stick with the basic Wanna Get Away fares.

Booking Strategies for Seasonal Travel

The best time to book Southwest flights varies according to what season and for what purpose you’re traveling. The following points will give you a clear picture of the best strategies for travel seasons.

When Booking Summer Vacation Flights

Without a doubt, summer is the season for traveling, especially for families with school-age kids heading on vacation. If you plan to fly Southwest during June, July, or August, you should book the flights four months in advance. Prices for summer flights start climbing steadily once spring arrives and everyone starts making plans.

The Fourth of July weekend is particularly expensive, so book those tickets as early as possible. Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends that bookend the summer season are also high-demand times. Don’t wait until May to book your flight if you want to avoid paying through the nose.

Purchasing Tickets for Holiday Travel

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the busiest travel periods of the year, and Southwest flights fill up incredibly fast. You want to book as soon as flights become available for these holidays, usually around six months ahead. Better safe than sorry when it comes to holiday travel plans. 

Flights on the actual holidays are often cheaper than the days before and after. If you don’t mind traveling on the holiday itself, you can save a good amount. It’s also usually a much more peaceful experience with fewer crowds at the airport.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day flights follow similar patterns to Christmas flights. Book early for the best prices, especially if you are heading to popular destinations like Las Vegas or NYC. These routes sell out quickly as people make their holiday plans.

Planning Spring Break Trip

Spring break timing varies depending on the school, but it generally falls somewhere between late February and early April. College spring breaks can cause a huge price spike on the route to popular destinations like Florida beaches and Mexico. Book these at least three months in advance for the best deals.

The weeks when most schools have their breaks will see the highest prices. On the other hand, the weeks in between off-peak and peak seasons will be much more reasonable. If you have flexibility, aim for a much better deal for these periods. You will also enjoy fewer crowds at our destination.

Take Advantage of Southwest Sales

The airline runs sales throughout the year, but some are better than others. Southwest Airlines schedule release date for its biggest promotions is usually during October, June, and January, basically after the holiday rush dies down. It is a fantastic opportunity to grab heavily discounted flights if your travel dates align with the sales periods.

Sign up for Southwest’s email notifications or follow them on social media to be alerted when these sales drop. Sometimes, the very best deals sell out within a couple of hours. But being aware of this gives you a huge advantage. It’s like being first in line at a sale!

During these days, Southwest offers one-way flights for as low as $49 between certain city pairs. However, there are some restrictions on travel dates and times. The savings are worth it if you can work within those limitations.

Use Rapid Rewards for Southwest Bookings

If you are a part of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program, booking with points instead of cash can sometimes give you even better value. The number of points needed for a flight is loosely tied to the cash price, but it doesn’t always scale the same way during peak periods.

Booking award flights also comes with the ultimate flexibility. You can cancel and get all your points back without any penalty. This makes booking with points a no-brainer when you’re not 100% sure about your travel plans. It’s basically free insurance against changing your mind later on.

Try accumulating your points for high-demand times when cash prices are through the roof. During regular travel periods when cash prices are reasonable, you might want to pay with money and save those points.

Finding the Lowest Fares After Confirming a Southwest Ticket

There’s a little-known hack that can save you big bucks! Southwest will refund you the difference if the price of your flight drops after you book it. You just need to keep checking the price of your exact flight and request if you spot a decrease.

For cash bookings, you will get the difference in the form of a travel credit for one year. You will get the points difference directly to your frequent flyer account for reward flights. Either way, it’s free money that many travelers leave on the table simply because they don’t know about it.

Set up a reminder to check your flight prices once a week after booking. Just a few minutes of your time could save you enough for an extra nice meal or activity at your destination. It’s definitely worth the small effort for potentially significant savings on your travel budget. 

In the end:

Finding the best time to book Southwest flights is part science, part art, and a little bit of luck. The general rule of thumb is booking 3 to 6 months ahead for most trips. Tuesday mornings tend to be when the best deals appear, and using the Low Fare Calendar can help you find hidden bargains.

Keep in mind that holiday periods and peak travel seasons require earlier booking. Meanwhile, if you feel spontaneous, last-minute deals are sometimes available for off-peak times. Also, remember that those big seasonal sales in October, January, and June can potentially mean massive savings on your flights.

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