In an era of rising travel expenses, finding effective ways to save on airfare can make all the difference for savvy travelers. For those booking with Southwest Airlines, there are numerous strategies that can help you save up to $70—or even more. From fare alerts to loyalty rewards, discounted gift cards, and strategic booking times, these tactics can lead to substantial savings on your next trip.
Set Up Fare Alerts to Track Deals
Fare alerts are a practical way to stay on top of changing ticket prices, allowing you to book flights at their lowest points. By setting up alerts on platforms like Southwest Airlines’ official website, as well as third-party sites, travelers can monitor ticket prices for specific routes and be notified of any price drops.
- How to Use Fare Alerts: Set up alerts for specific travel dates or destinations. Whenever there’s a decrease in fare prices, you’ll get an immediate notification.
- Ideal Days for Fare Monitoring: Southwest often updates fares mid-week, particularly on Wednesdays. This makes Wednesday an ideal day to check for deals and price drops, especially when alerted by fare tracking tools.
By keeping a close eye on fare alerts, you’ll have better chances of booking flights at their lowest prices, maximizing your travel budget and seizing valuable deals.
Book During Off-Peak Travel Times
For significant savings on Southwest flights, consider booking during off-peak periods. Off-peak travel, typically during mid-week or outside of holiday seasons, can lead to cheaper fares due to lower demand.
- Best Days to Fly: Traveling on Tuesdays or Wednesdays often yields the lowest fares. Additionally, flights scheduled during off-peak hours, such as early mornings or late evenings, are usually less expensive.
- Flexible Dates: Using tools like Google Flights or Southwest’s flexible date options allows you to compare fare prices across various days, helping you pinpoint the most cost-effective travel times.
Planning around off-peak times not only lowers ticket prices but also offers a more comfortable travel experience with potentially less crowded flights.
Join the Rapid Rewards Program for Points and Perks
Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards program offers a robust way to earn points that can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other perks. For travelers who frequently fly with Southwest, this loyalty program adds up quickly and brings valuable benefits.
- Point Earning Opportunities: Earn points for every dollar spent on flights. Additionally, Southwest partners with various hotels, car rentals, and restaurants, enabling members to accumulate points across multiple spending categories.
- Membership Perks: As you accumulate points, you gain access to perks such as priority boarding, free same-day standby, and increased point earnings at higher membership tiers.
Rapid Rewards points don’t expire as long as there is qualifying activity every 24 months, giving you ample time to accumulate points for future travel. Members also receive exclusive deals and fare discounts, enhancing your overall travel savings.
Monitor Weekly Promotional Offers
Southwest Airlines frequently offers promotional discounts and sales, which can yield significant savings on future flights. Signing up for the airline’s email notifications keeps you informed about exclusive sales events and time-sensitive offers.
- Weekly Deals: Southwest’s “Wanna Get Away Wednesdays” bring new low fares, often making mid-week the perfect time to book a flight.
- Text Alerts: By texting FLYDEALS to 70139, you can receive real-time updates on fare sales and promotions directly on your mobile device.
Regularly monitoring these offers ensures that you don’t miss out on potential discounts, and combining these with loyalty points or other discounts can maximize your travel savings.
Take Advantage of Gift Card Discounts
Buying discounted gift cards is an effective way to save money on Southwest Airlines flights. Costco, for example, offers a $500 Southwest Airlines gift card for $429.99, allowing you to save $70 on your ticket purchases.
Gift Card Tips:
- Flexible Use: Gift cards can be redeemed online, via the Southwest app, at ticket counters, or over the phone, providing convenient usage options.
- Bulk Purchase: Costco allows members to purchase up to five gift cards in one transaction, ideal for families or frequent travelers.
- No Expiration: Southwest Airlines gift cards have no expiration date, allowing you to use them at your convenience.
By purchasing discounted gift cards, travelers can significantly reduce their out-of-pocket expenses on flights and maximize budget-friendly options for future travel.
Compare Flight Prices Across Multiple Days
Airfare prices can vary widely depending on the day of the week, and comparing prices across multiple days is a practical way to ensure you’re getting the best deal on Southwest flights. Using tools like Google Flights or Southwest’s own fare comparison can reveal price drops that might not be immediately visible when booking on one specific day.
- Mid-Week Sales: Southwest commonly releases new fare discounts on Wednesdays, so checking prices on or after this day often yields lower fares.
- Use Date Grids and Price Graphs: Date grids and price graphs available on Google Flights or Southwest.com offer a visual comparison of prices over a range of dates, making it easy to spot the lowest fares.
Flexibility with travel dates is key here. By adjusting plans by even a day or two, you may find substantial savings on your desired route.
Use a Travel Credit Card for Rewards
Using a travel-focused credit card can help offset travel expenses by accumulating rewards that can be redeemed for flights, accommodations, or even gift cards. Many travel credit cards offer rewards or cashback for purchases, which can be redeemed for future Southwest flights.
- Cash Back Rewards: Cards like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards card provide 2% cash back on wholesale club purchases, allowing you to buy discounted Southwest gift cards at a lower price.
- Loyalty Bonuses: Some credit cards, such as the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, offer cashback on all purchases with introductory bonuses, giving you extra funds for travel expenses.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card: For dedicated Southwest travelers, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® card provides additional point-earning opportunities that integrate seamlessly with the airline’s loyalty program.
Using a travel credit card smartly can enhance savings, especially when rewards are applied directly to future flight costs.
Additional Tips for Maximizing Travel Savings
While fare alerts, loyalty programs, and gift cards offer substantial savings, there are additional strategies to consider:
- Monitor Your Credit Score: A good credit score can help you secure credit cards with better travel rewards and benefits, maximizing savings on Southwest flights.
- Pack Light to Avoid Fees: Southwest Airlines already includes two free checked bags, but avoiding excessive luggage helps ensure a smooth, fee-free travel experience.
- Check for Last-Minute Deals: If you have a flexible travel schedule, last-minute deals on Southwest Airlines can provide significant discounts on unsold seats.
Conclusion: Embrace Smart Travel Habits for Long-Term Savings
Finding ways to save on travel doesn’t have to be complex. By incorporating fare alerts, booking at off-peak times, leveraging loyalty programs, and taking advantage of gift card deals, travelers can make each dollar go further. Each of these strategies offers valuable opportunities to lower the cost of Southwest Airlines flights, helping you to explore more destinations without breaking the bank. With thoughtful planning and a proactive approach, affordable travel is well within reach.
