Southwest Airlines Quietly Puts Fares On Sale

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After so much end-of-the-year holiday travel confusion from Southwest Airlines, travelers are finally back home and operations are back to normal for the carrier. Will you fly Southwest again? I’m sure that depends.

From Atlanta, the airline currently has some cheap flights for January, February and March 2023, if you want to take advantage.

How Far Out Are Southwest Airlines’ Cheapest Fares?

A sampling of airfares in the first week of January 2023 from Atlanta to Los Angeles shows fares as cheap as $148 one way deep into summer.

The airline seems to have course corrected since an epic failure of mass cancellations in which thousands of passengers were left stranded right before the Christmas holiday.

What Caused Southwest To Cancel So Many Flights?

A perfect storm of events has led Southwest to cancel its flight schedules en mass, including an unusually large arctic blast that briefly swept over the continental United States.

According to news reports, Southwest has canceled more than 15,700 flights since December 22.

Another issue that hurt the airline is its dependence on free-flying planes from one destination to another rather than a traditional “hub” system used by Delta, United and other major airlines.

Should I Fly Southwest Airlines?

Although Southwest is doing what it can to catch up its flight schedule, fliers will have to make a real decision on whether to fly the airline after this.

One thing Southwest has for it is it’s relatively cheap fares and generous baggage policy.

Finding affordable fares that allow you to travel anywhere for cheap is an art and a science this days. Thankfully, Southwest Airlines has frequent sales.

This article will tell you how to get the best Southwest fare you can get as well as what to expect on your flight.

Flying Southwest? Here’s What You Need To Know

We’ve previously covered Southwest’s Low Fare Calendar. In this article, we’ll discuss the process you’ll likely go through on a Southwest airlines flight and other things you’ll want to know.

Southwest is popular among fliers because it’s the only major airline that allows you to carry two free checked bags. Some other perks you get with Southwest are:

  • No change fees
  • No cancel fees

On most Southwest flights, you also get same-day changes, same-day standby and the fares are refundable.

Sign Up For Southwest Rapid Rewards

One way to save on a flight is to take advantage of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program.

With Rapid Rewards, you earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

To maximize your savings, you may opt to buy your fare with cash rather than use your Rapid Rewards points.

Will Southwest Flights Go Down In Price?

Southwest Airlines usually publishes its sales on a seasonal basis. If you’re a Rapid Rewards member, you’ll get an email with low fares to several destinations.

Out of Atlanta, the emails will usually look like this.

Where Does Southwest Airlines Fly For $49?

One of Southwest’s most popular fares is its cheap $49 flights, which typically cover cities between 300 to 500 miles from each other.

For example, Southwest has a route that goes from Atlanta to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Although they may advertise it for a cheap price, Southwest is known to go up on the price from one day to the next. 

What Day Are Southwest Fares Cheaper?

Southwest usually drops its fares on Tuesdays, which is when its members get emails advertising cheap flights.

On Tuesdays, Southwest matches prices to compete with low-cost carriers. You can either try to book in the morning or afternoon to get a flight.

How To Book A Flight On Southwest

To book a flight on Southwest Airlines, go to Southwest.com and enter your departing city or airport and arriving city/airport.

Is Southwest The Cheapest Airline?

Southwest Airlines is known as a low-cost airline, but it’s not the cheapest. Their are other airlines with lower fares, but you won’t get the same customer service that you get with Southwest.

JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines both have competitive flights along with Southwest, but neither of them give you two free bags.

Final Word

If you’re considering flying with Southwest, always check their Wanna Get Away fares, which are the best deals. Wanna Get Away flights offer cheap economy fares that are hard to beat.

If your destination is not as popular, you may be able to get a cheap fare closer to the departure date, but it just depends.

Thinking about getting away? Get your passport, and do your research to find the cheapest flights from Atlanta that are on sale.  And don’t forget these travel hacks to save money and time.

To Atlanta is one of the most convenient places to travel to and from. A large part of that is because Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is so accessible.

Not only is it the world’s busiest airport, but it’s state-of-the-art in every way. If you’re interested in traveling around Atlanta via car or even on scooter, here’s what to know.

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Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the co-founder of AtlantaFi.com and as an unofficial ambassador of the city, she's a lover of all things Atlanta. She writes about Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care (Wigs!) and Money.