When it comes to flying, Southwest Airlines is one of the most popular carriers in the United States. In fact, according to a recent report from the Department of Transportation, they are the airline with the most boarded domestic passengers.
If you’re planning a trip and considering using Southwest, there are a few things you should know in order to have the best experience possible.
Use Low Fare Calendar
The Southwest Fare Calendar is incredibly beneficial because Southwest flight ticket prices are unavailable on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) or even metasearch engines such as Google Flights. Instead, they can only be accessed through the Southwest Airlines website.
If you ever see a Southwest price listed on a third-party site on the internet, it is guaranteed to be inaccurate and sometimes much higher than what you’ll discover on their official website. Looking for southwest airlines deals should be done on their website to really get the correct pricing for purchasing tickets for your flight.
Set a Booking Schedule
Southwest takes a different approach than any other major airline, releasing flights regularly around 330 days before the date of departure. Southwest accepts reservations through a particular timeline that extends every several months.
If you want to book a flight for a set date during peak seasons, keep a record of the date and set up a reminder to search for flights when the flight schedules become available. Aside from that, you can book a flight at a specified amount with the possibility of changing it later at no cost.
It will also help if you’re flexible on your travel dates and destinations. According to noordinaryhomestead.com, being flexible when booking your vacations is the best way to save a lot of money. Simply having a rough idea of when you want to travel and being willing to travel on any day and at any time can result in significant savings on flights.
Find Out Which Airplane Seat Has Extra Leg Room
Southwest Airlines aircraft is almost entirely made up of 737-700s and 737-800s. The 737-800 is larger, with much more seats and extra leg room that passengers will love.
It means you can anticipate a nearly identical flying experience on every flight. In addition, knowing which plane will be flying is important if you want to pursue extra leg room or upgrade to business select to snatch the emergency exit rows with much more room because the 737-800s have an extra 2-person row.
Free Two Checked Bags
When it comes to checked bags, Southwest Airlines is considered to be the most generous. Unlike other airlines that charge for checked bags, Southwest includes two checked bags free of charge, which is why numerous people love the airline.
All passengers, regardless of ticket type or social standing, are permitted to check two bags at no additional cost. Bags must, however, be free to meet the weight and size requirements, or else extra fees will be incurred.
Book Flight Using Points
When you buy your ticket with Southwest points, your ticket is fully refundable. While you can also get credit for cash tickets if your plans change or ticket prices drop, any difference in points is credited back to your account if you alter or cancel a point-purchased ticket.
Furthermore, booking Southwest flights with points is an excellent way to push through unexpected trips if you’re currently undecided of where and when you want to go. If you want the adaptability to fly at the last minute, booking at Southwest is a good idea as it offers competitive airfares for multiple dates.
Get Southwest Companion Pass
Traveling is more affordable for those who earn a Companion Pass so that you get to choose one companion to join you for effectively free travel. The Companion Pass is yours if you fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or acquire 125,000 qualifying points in a timetable year.
A Companion Pass, once earned, allows you to choose anyone to fly with you all the time you buy a flight or redeem reward points for a flight. But, of course, you’ll have to pay your partner’s fees and taxes.
Pack Extra Food and Snacks
Southwest Airlines offers only pretzels and refreshments as meals, so bring some of your favorite snacks from home and pass them through security.
You can eat them at the airport while standing in line for your flight or bring them with you as an in-flight snack. Furthermore, the selection of meals and drinks at the airport can be limited, and the prices can also be quite high, so bringing extra snacks is one thing that will save you a great deal of money.
Check-in 24 Hours in Advance
Southwest does not provide assigned seats, so you will select your seat while boarding on a first-come, first-served basis. While early boarding is available for an additional fee, it isn’t entirely necessary if all you want is a window or aisle seat anywhere else on the plane.
Southwest bases its overall boarding order on the passenger’s check-in time. As a result, checking in precisely 24 hours before departure is critical to guarantee you board as quickly as possible.
Final Thoughts
Despite the lack of a premium option, Southwest has a lot to offer in terms of low-cost flights with excellent service. Besides, your next getaway should be about having a great time. So hopefully, the information provided above will be useful to you on your next Southwest trip.
