Best Time To Book Southwest Flights

Booking Southwest Airlines flights needn't be a game of guesswork. It is a matter of having the correct timing and plan. This is how you acquire cheaper rates to avoid spending above the needed amount. Are you in search of flexible rates? Choose Southwest as it is beloved for that. This literally means no change fees and free checked bags. But what really makes the price difference is when you book. 

Planning a domestic getaway or a long-awaited trip? This guide will walk you through the best time to book Southwest flights. We break down when to book and which days and months offer the best deals. Know how to make your dollars go further with expert insights from Trip Formers.

Flight Booking Statistics You Should Know

This helps to understand broader airfare trends. 

According to Forbes, the booking window matters: 

• Domestic Travellers can save up to 25% by booking flights 1 to 3 months in advance. So, it’s better to do it early than at the last minute. 
• For international flights, it’s a bit different. Booking 18 to 29 days before departure can save you a lot of money. That’s about 17% of savings if you compare it to three months early.
• When booking, domestic flights are mostly the cheapest. That’s the case if you book it 1 to 3 months early.

Source: Fidelity 

How Southwest Flight Pricing Works

Southwest uses dynamic pricing. This means that the fares rise and fall based on many factors. These are demand, seat availability, route popularity, and travel dates. You can find the prices on the official website of Southeast. 

Another key difference is flexibility. Southwest allows:

• No change fees
• Free rebooking
• Flight credits if prices drop

Your timing is way less risky this way. But smart booking always comes in handy in saving money.

What Is The Best Time to Book Southwest Flights?

Best Time for Domestic Flights

The sweet spot for booking Southwest flights is mostly 3 to 6 weeks in advance. That said, this is the perfect time for most domestic routes. This is a period when the airlines are able to see the demand clearly. However, they haven’t yet raised their fares because of last-minute reservations.

Booking too early also doesn’t work out for the best. This may lock in higher prices. So avoid doing it too early, like 4 to 6 months before departure. But you can see fewer seats available if you wait too long.

Best practice is to start monitoring prices 2-3 months before the flight and then look for one-way fares when they drop in the 3-6 week range.

Best Time for Peak Travel Seasons

If you’re travelling in:

• Summer vacation
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas & New Year
• Spring Break

You should book 3 to 4 months in advance. That is because these periods see consistently high demand. Southwest flights mostly sell out earlier than expected.

You should really avoid waiting for alast-minutee deal during peak season. It really is risky and rarely pays off.

Best Time for Longer or International Routes

Southwest’s international routes are more limited. This means fewer seats and less price flexibility.

For these routes, booking 3 to 5 months in advance is best. It is usually the safest strategy. This is especially for winter travel when demand spikes.

Best Day of the Week to Book Southwest Flights

Do you know which are the best days to book flights? Tuesday and Wednesday have been considered the best days to book flights. Pricing algorithms have become more complex. Mid-week still tends to show more competitive fares due to lower booking activity.

That said, Southwest pricing updates can happen any day. So instead of waiting for a specific weekday, it’s smarter to:

• Track prices consistently
• Book when you see a fare that fits your budget
• Rebook later if prices drop

What Is The Best Day Of The Week To Fly on Southwest?

Even more important than booking day is departure day.

Cheapest days to fly:

• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday

Most expensive days to fly:

• Friday
• Sunday

Flying midweek can save you a noticeable amount. That is especially on popular domestic routes.

Best Months to Book Cheap Southwest Flights

Cheapest Months to Fly

• January 
• February
• September
• Early December

These months are considered off-peak. They come with lower demand and more frequent fare drops.

Most Expensive Months

• June
• July
• Late November
• December

If you must travel during expensive months, then make sure to book early. This is when it becomes even more important.

How To Save Money on Southwest Flights?

Use the Low Fare Calendar

You can see the cheapest fares for an entire month on Southwest’s Low Fare Calendar. This makes it easy to spot the best days to travel.

Sign Up for Fare Alerts

Southwest mostly runs flash sales and limited-time promotions. Email alerts ensure you don’t miss them.

Rebook When Prices Drop

One of Southwest’s biggest advantages is its flexible policy. You can rebook if the fare drops. Then receive the difference as flight credit.

Stay Flexible with Dates and Airports

Make sure to fly a day earlier or later. Or choosing a nearby airport can lead to major savings.

Conclusion

There isn’t a “magic day” that will give you assuredly low prices and give you a guaranteed best rate, but there are patterns and systems in play. For most people, it’s a good idea to look 3-6 weeks in advance. Midweek and not travelling in high season will give you even better results than you hopefully can get now with Southwest’s change policy in play.