Looking for a great getaway with the family, but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on flights? Well, Southwest Airlines has you covered. A budget-friendly company with lots of frequent promotions, Southwest offers free checked baggage and has very little fees.
With numerous different travel hacks out there, you are bound to save big time if you find the right resources. Make sure to fully understand each rewards program so you get the biggest bang for your buck. Read below to discover 18 life-changing savings hacks at Southwest Airlines.
1. Join Rapid Rewards
Southwest Airlines has a free rewards program called Rapid Rewards. This program allows you to accumulate points that can be redeemed for free flights. Rewards members earn up to 12 points for every $1 spent.
Members also have the opportunity to earn more points when they sign up for partner offers when eating out, shopping, or traveling. Also, Rapid Rewards members get four free alcoholic drinks for every 10 one-way flights they take from January to December.
2. Get the Southwest credit card
The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card gives you 2 times the points on every $1 spent on Southwest purchases as well as 1 point for regular purchases. When it is your cardmember anniversary, you are eligible for a 6,000 point bonus. You also get 50,000 points when you spend $2,000 in three months.
3. Join the Click ‘N Save program
With the Click ‘N Save program you will receive notifications anytime there is a new Southwest Airlines deal. Sign up for the program and you will receive weekly emails about deals based on your home airport preference. A great way to help you efficiently book your next flight.
4. Upgrade to Business Select at the gate
Rather than upgrading your ticket in advance, do it at the gate. When you do this way you aren’t spending double on your ticket, but only $40 for a Business Select seat. This gives you a higher possibility of getting the window or exit row seat that you want. With Business Select you are guaranteed A1-15 boarding and a premium drink onboard your flight.
5. Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining
With Rapid Rewards Dining, you can earn points whenever you eat out. Simply register your credit card or debit card and when you dine at any of the 11,000 partnerships you will earn 3 points for every dollar you spend. You also receive an extra 10 points when you complete online reviews so make sure to save your receipts! When you sign up you earn 500 bonus points if you spend $25 in the first 30 days.
6. Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping
Get points for just shopping online! With Southwest Rapid Rewards, you can earn points towards your next trip by shopping at over 850 online stores. Add the Chrome browser extension and you will get notifications while you are shopping so that you never miss out on a deal. Simply search for a participating store, complete a purchase, and get points added to your account!
7. Check your flight’s price during flash sales
We all hate that feeling of buying something one day and then a few days later you find out it is at a steep discount. Southwest does not have a change fee, therefore you can book your flight at your earliest convenience without worry. Keep checking in on your flight and then select change reservation if the price drops during flash sales. Once you rebook you will be credited the entire balance which is good for a whole year. If you booked through Rapid Rewards, then you will get your points back to your account since they don’t expire.
8. Book cars through Southwest
Southwest has partnered with numerous rental car companies that offer great deals. Some of these discounts include 30% off, 4 times as many points, or 2000+ points when you book through a specific car company. All you need to do is go to Southwest Airlines Rental Car Page, search for a car, and find the cheapest option!
9. Find extra coupons in the Southwest Airlines Magazine
Southwest: The Magazine is Southwest Airlines’ official magazine that is read by over 6 million travelers. This magazine includes coupons for airport parking garages and restaurants that are close to certain airports. Make sure to skim through the whole magazine because some deals are hidden inside.
10. Get a Companion Pass
The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass allows a companion to fly with you for FREE. This person can either be a friend, spouse, or family member. The only downside is that you need to obtain 110,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year to get this pass.
11. Give feedback if the flight is delayed
Sometimes flights get delayed because of mechanical issues or other small problems. If you have a poor experience on a flight, be sure to give Southwest your feedback because they will give you a voucher for your next flight. Also, when flights are delayed more than 45 minutes then they will rebook you to another flight at no additional cost.
12. Check out Southwest’s Special Offers page
There are so many unadvertised deals for Southwest Airlines. The company likes to keep them in secret unless they are flashy one-time events. If you check out the Special Offers page, you can see all of the less common promotions that they offer.
13. Compare prices to nearby airports
Always check the prices of multiple airports in your area. There are so many tickets that you can find at a much cheaper rate for an extra half an hour drive.
14. Southwest Airline Military Discount
Whether you are active military personnel or a member of their family, Southwest will offer a military discount to service members. To receive this discount you need to present valid identification when traveling. Southwest waives all your baggage for active-duty members, regardless if it is overweight. They also provide you up to 5 bags.
15. Get early boarding if you are flying with children under 6
If you are traveling with children under the age of six years old, Southwest Airlines will automatically give you EarlyBird check-in. Right after group A boards the plane, families with young children are allowed to board so that they can sit together for the entire flight.
16. Book flights on Tuesday at 3 pm
Tuesday at 3 pm is when Southwest announces their special fares for the following week. These deals can be found in the Click ‘N Save emails. The deals typically only last until Thursday of that week so get on them ASAP.
17. Free Wi-Fi and TV shows in flight
Southwest offers both free Wi-Fi and free streaming on all of their flights. They offer a wide variety of new releases and hundreds of customer favorites. You don’t need to sign up for anything, just bring your favorite device and pair it to the SouthwestWiFi.
18. Download the Southwest mobile app
While booking is easier on a personal computer, the Southwest Airlines app is great to update reservations, cancel a flight, view your boarding pass, and get quick gate information. It is free to download and is a great tool for any frequent travelers. This app is available on both iOS devices and Android devices.
Final Thoughts
With numerous different rewards programs and tons of hidden promotional deals, Southwest Airlines is a hidden gem in the world of airline savings. If you pre-plan the right way and know where to find certain deals, you won’t need to throw away thousands of dollars towards flights.
Southwest flies to over 100 destinations and loves to partner with local businesses, so make sure to check where you are flying out of and if they have any partnership deals with the airline. Save these savvy tricks for the next time you decide to travel.
