Find cheap Southwest flights

Southwest Airlines is one of the world’s largest airlines, with more than 100 routes across the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. But the Dallas-based budget carrier has always boasted a unique approach, from its generous baggage and change/cancellation policies down to its unusual airline code (WN).

Big changes are ahead for Southwest, however, including its open-seating policy ending in 2025. Time will tell how the market responds, but Southwest is making a strong bid to attract new passengers while keeping its customer base (which includes me) happy. Here’s what to know if you’re considering flying Southwest.

Upcoming changes at Southwest: What passengers should know

For years, Southwest management has been hinting at big changes, and some are already in effect with more to come in 2025 and beyond. To stay updated for future travels, I highly recommend downloading the Southwest app and following Southwest on social media – not surprisingly, its accounts are both informative and entertaining.

Goodbye, Southwest open seating

Passengers who prefer the certainty of assigned seating (up to 80 percent of current passengers, and 86 percent of potential ones, according to Southwest data) will certainly appreciate its arrival in 2025. Southwest also will implement “premium seating options” with extra legroom – for an additional fee, of course.

The move, which aims to boost revenue, puts Southwest more on par with legacy carriers. Not surprisingly, the new policy was praised by some passengers but received criticism from others. However, much remains to be seen, including how the policy will affect fares. What is certain (aside from knowing which seat will be yours before boarding) is that the egalitarian nature of Southwest cabins will soon be a thing of the past.

You can soon fly redeyes on Southwest

In early 2025, Southwest will start operating its first red-eye flights on five initial routes. Those routes, which are already available for booking, are Las Vegas (LAS) to Baltimore (BWI) and Orlando (MCO); Los Angeles (LAX) to Baltimore and Nashville (BNA); and Phoenix (PHX) to Baltimore.

You can now book Southwest flights with points and cash

As of April 2024, Southwest passengers can book flights with a combination of points and cash – a handy option also available on some other carriers. This is a helpful way to snag a flight if you don’t have enough points for a full redemption.

The onboard experience with Southwest: What to expect

As with other budget carriers, Southwest’s onboard experience isn’t especially memorable. There are no seat back screens or meal service, and you’ll pay for alcoholic beverages. But snacks and soft drinks are free, and many aircraft are equipped with wifi that allows streaming from its entertainment system; messaging also is possible. But be sure to download the Southwest app beforehand to take advantage.

What to know about Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

There is a lot to like about the Southwest Rapid Rewards program: unlimited rewards seats, no blackout dates, and points that don’t expire. The program is refreshingly simple to understand – and it’s a cinch to book a flight with points, too. One main downside, however: Unlike legacy carriers, Southwest does not belong to an airline alliance. So you can’t use points to book with other airline partners.

How to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards

The most straightforward way to earn Southwest points: flying with the airline. However, points are based on money spent, not miles flown. Therefore, how many points you earn depends on the type of fare you book (and whether you’re an elite flyer).

Not surprisingly, the cheapest fares (Wanna Get Away) earn the lowest amount of points (2X per dollar), while the spendiest (Business Select seats) earn 14X per dollar. If there’s not much price difference between fares, choosing the higher fare can be well worth it for the bump in points.

Other ways to earn points beyond flying Southwest

The program partners with well-known hotel brands including Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt and rental car agencies such as Alamo and Hertz, among others. How many points you’ll earn varies depending on the partner. Before booking, it’s smart to see if your hotel or rental car is eligible. (And since partners and point allocations can change, be sure to do some homework beforehand.)

Finally, don’t forget about Southwest Rapid Rewards’ exclusive shopping portal – a lesser-known but effective way to earn points. Its 1,100 retail partners include big-name department stores, outdoor retailers, and plenty more, which let savvy shoppers score major points on online purchases. You can typically earn from 2X to 5X points per dollar spent on eligible purchases. There’s a dining portal, too, which partners with major restaurant chains.

The new Cash + Points booking option: What to know

I love that Southwest flights are now bookable with both cash and points. During the booking process, just look for the Cash + Points button, which will display the various combinations you can choose. If you cancel a reservation booked with this form of payment, the remaining point balance will go back to your Rapid Rewards account (or whichever one was used to book). Unused taxes or fees will be refunded directly or as a flight credit.

The famous Southwest Companion Pass: How to get one

Earn enough Rapid Rewards points (or spend enough on Southwest flights), and you can snag the highly coveted Southwest Companion Pass. Consistently earning rave reviews among passengers and on points sites, this gem entitles you to bring a guest on any Southwest flight for a calendar year (or more).

To be eligible, you’ll need 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 (or more) qualifying flights in a calendar year. If you manage that (and plenty of passengers do), you’ll be granted a companion pass for that calendar year and the following one. The only caveat: Taxes and fees on companion fares still apply. But those are a fraction of what you’d pay for full-fare flights.

Open seating policy: Business as usual (for now)

While the open seating policy is still in place, it’s helpful for travelers new to Southwest to familiarize themselves with it, since there is a learning curve. Each passenger is assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and, within that boarding group, a numeric position (from 1 to 60+). That figure – A35, for example, or C15 – will then determine which order you board the plane. Not surprisingly, the A group is the most coveted.

At the gate, passengers queue up in numerical order according to boarding group and number. Once onboard, you’re free to choose any seat you like. Seats with extra legroom, such as the bulkhead and exit rows, fill up first (and fast). If you wind up in Group C, especially with a higher number, you should expect a middle seat.

How to score a better boarding position

My top tip for scoring a higher boarding position: Set an alarm to check in for your flight exactly 24 hours beforehand, which is the earliest you can check in. The sooner you do that, the better chance you have to snag a higher boarding group.

You can also opt for EarlyBird Check-In, a paid extra available up to 36 hours before departure. It won’t necessarily guarantee an A boarding position, but it will give you the earliest available position. Fees – which are reasonable and well worth it, especially if you despise the middle seat – are per passenger and one-way.

Finally, you can snag a higher boarding position in other ways, too. Business Select Fares board between A1 and A15, while elite status passengers via the loyalty program also get a better boarding position. And good news if you’re active military or are traveling with a kid under six: You're allowed to board before the B Group begins. (When my son was younger, I especially loved this aspect of the open seating policy – no side-eye from a kid-adverse passenger forced to sit next to a parent traveling with a little one.)

Love Field: A reason to book Southwest out of Dallas

To the surprise of some first-time passengers, Southwest has an airport almost all its own: Dallas Love Field (LUV). Located about six miles northwest of Dallas, this airport, a former military facility named after an Army pilot, can offer a big advantage for booking Southwest flights out of Dallas.

With just 20 gates and a single runway, LUV is smaller and much easier to navigate than its crosstown cousin, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Southwest operates 18 out of those 20 gates (Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines each have one).