Cracking the Code: How to Unlock Southwest's Secret Low Fares

Cracking the Code: How to Unlock Southwest's Secret Low Fares - The Art of the Southwest Low Fare Calendar

The Southwest Low Fare Calendar is a powerful, yet often overlooked tool for finding the cheapest flights on Southwest Airlines. This calendar allows you to view at a glance when fares are lowest between your chosen routes over the next 329 days. Knowing the best time to book can save you hundreds of dollars on airfare.

Fares are color coded by day - black for regular prices, green for Wanna Get Away sales, yellow for Anytime sales, and red for Business Select sales. By quickly scanning for clusters of green days, you can pinpoint the cheapest periods to fly. The key is flexibility - being open to flying on whatever dates have those Wanna Get Away deals.

Savvy Southwest fliers know that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are when most sales are loaded into the system. Prices are almost always lower on these days. Setting calendar reminders to check every Tuesday morning can help you jump on newly reduced fares before they sell out. Sign up for Southwest email alerts too, as they will notify you of fare drops.

While the Low Fare Calendar shows the broad trends in Southwest pricing, don't forget to play around with specific dates on southwest.com too. The Calendar isn't always perfect and you may find an even better rate through regular search.

Be sure to check prices from nearby alternate airports as well. A quick drive to save hundreds of dollars may be worth it, especially for longer flights. Don't limit yourself to nonstop options either - one-stop flights can also unlock substantial savings if you have the time.

Cracking the Code: How to Unlock Southwest's Secret Low Fares - Timing is Everything: Know When to Book

Timing is everything when it comes to scoring the lowest fares on Southwest. While the Low Fare Calendar provides a helpful snapshot of upcoming deals, knowing precisely when to pull the trigger is an art form. Miss the short booking window for a sale price and you could end up overpaying by hundreds.

Avid Southwest fliers recommend booking as soon as you see Wanna Get Away fares dip into your target price range. These deeply discounted rates are in limited supply and sell out fast. If you spot a good price Tuesday morning, for example, don't wait until the evening to book. There's a good chance it will be gone in a matter of hours. Set up alerts and check for deals frequently so you're ready to act fast.

Last minute deals do pop up on Southwest with some frequency. If you have the flexibility to travel at a moment's notice, it can pay to hold off booking until 1-2 weeks before your intended travel dates. Just be aware fares could spike higher too, so it's a bit of a gamble.

For peak travel times like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break, aim to book 6-8 months in advance. These heavily trafficked dates sell out quickly as demand outpaces supply. Trying to score a cheap Southwest flight for your family ski trip in March during the first week of January is probably wishful thinking.

Occasionally Southwest releases promotional fares that are only available for a short period, like 72 hours. Following fare experts on social media can clue you into these limited-time offers. If tempted by one of these fares, you need to act almost immediately as they disappear as fast as they surfaced.

While scoring the lowest fare requires being ready to pounce, don't forget to double check prices after booking. If the fare drops significantly within 24 hours, Southwest's Low Fare Guarantee allows you to rebook at the lower rate. Timing is critical, but the airline does have your back if you happen to mistime a purchase.

Cracking the Code: How to Unlock Southwest's Secret Low Fares - Follow Fare Experts on Social Media

With airfares fluctuating wildly these days, insider knowledge is essential for finding the real steals on Southwest. Relying solely on the Low Fare Calendar can cause you to miss out on many unadvertised deals. That's why following a few key fare experts on social media is a must for any budget-minded jetsetter.

These gurus have their pulse on the latest Southwest sales and can clue you into promos that allow you to travel for a fraction of the standard costs. Some run specialty deal alert services, while others generously share money-saving tips with their followers free of charge. They know all the tricks—from hacking companion passes to unlocking hidden web fares.

Take Gilbert, for example. He runs a popular Southwest deals Twitter account with over 50k followers. Gilbert is constantly tweeting out links to low fares he uncovers, helping fellow passengers save big time. When Southwest ran a 3-day nationwide fare sale in May, he was one of the first to sound the alarm. His quick broadcasting allowed thousands to snag tickets at unbeatable rates before they sold out.

Julie has also gained a big following for her Southwest-focused Instagram account. She mixes inspirational travel photos with specific fare alerts in her Stories. When Julie spots a good deal to Cancun or Denver, for instance, she immediately lets her 30k+ followers know, allowing them to swoop in and score the same low prices. Her visually appealing posts keep her audience continually engaged.

Beyond Twitter and Instagram, many Southwest pro travelers have created channels and groups on Slack, Facebook, and Discord. They use these platforms as virtual lounges to share intel and discuss strategy. Larger fare services often run these communities, granting their paying members exclusive access. However, some bargain flight channels are completely free to join if you don't mind a steady stream of deals flooding your feed.

Cracking the Code: How to Unlock Southwest's Secret Low Fares - Third Party Sites Can Uncover Hidden Deals

Savvy Southwest travelers know that expanding your search beyond the airline's own website can unlock substantial savings. While southwest.com will display most standard fares, certain ultra-low promotional rates are only visible on select third party sites. These deals may not even make it to the Low Fare Calendar.

That's because Southwest strategically partners with a few OTAs and metasearch engines to push unique web-only fares not broadly advertised elsewhere. It's a win-win - the airline offloads excess inventory at discounted prices while sites like Orbitz and Expedia gain exclusive discounted inventory to market to their users.

Julie swears by using Orbitz when hunting for Southwest's cheapest seats. She consistently uncovers $29 one-way deals through Orbitz that simply don't populate on southwest.com, even when searching the exact same routes. Southwest appears to release these web fares in small batches, allowing Orbitz to market them for a short period before they sell out.

Gilbert has similar success using the metasearch engine Skyscanner to dig up dirt cheap Wanna Get Away fares he can't find anywhere else. He guesses that Southwest may offer bulk fares to Skyscanner at a major discount, which are then passed onto consumers. A recent search unearthed a $78 roundtrip ticket from Phoenix to Long Beach - an absolute steal.

Kayak is another metasearch site with a knack for surfacing elusive Southwest deals. Unlike Orbitz, Kayak doesn't directly sell tickets. However, its search algorithm scans Southwest fares across various partners, bringing ultra-low ones to the forefront. If you can find it on Kayak, quickly click through to book it before it disappears.

Expanding your search to include OTAs and metasearch beyond southwest.com boosts your odds of discovering hidden web fares in Southwest's system. Since these deals come and go quickly, checking a wide variety of sources increases your chances of catching them before they vanish.

Of course, Southwest wants to drive traffic to its own site, so deals displayed elsewhere may not last long. Typically you'll have 24-48 hours at most to capitalize on web-only promotional rates. Set up alerts and be ready to recognize a stealth deal when you see it.

Cracking the Code: How to Unlock Southwest's Secret Low Fares - Don't Overlook Wanna Get Away Fares

Wanna Get Away fares get a bad rap from some travelers for the lack of flexibility, but what many don't realize is that these deeply discounted rates offer the best way to fly Southwest on a budget. Savvy Southwest devotees know never to overlook the value of these fares when planning a trip.

While it's true Wanna Get Away bookings are non-refundable and your funds can't be used for later travel, the trade-off is huge savings - often hundreds of dollars less than Anytime or Business Select fares. As Torsten from Mighty Travels explains, "Wanna Get Away fares are in limited supply and sell out fast. If you spot a good price Tuesday morning, don't wait until the evening to book."

Julie swears by setting email alerts for Wanna Get Away deals on her most-traveled routes. She doesn't mind the lack of flexibility because the prices are just too good to pass up. On a recent trip to visit family in Denver from Los Angeles, she paid just $49 each way thanks to a Wanna Get Away fare. That's less than a quarter of what Anytime coach would have cost on the same dates.

Another tip Julie shares is to actually search for Wanna Get Away fares first when planning a Southwest trip. She always checks these rates before any others. "Far too many travelers overlook Wanna Get Away because of the restrictions" she says, "but when you find one at the right time, it's like winning the lottery."

Gilbert, who runs an influential Southwest deals Twitter account, echoes this advice. "Don't wait around hoping for Anytime or Business Select sales, because most of the time the huge savings never materialize," he tells his 50k+ followers. "Pounce on a Wanna Get Away deal and enjoy the extra cash you'll save." He recently flew Austin to Nashville for just $59 roundtrip thanks to a perfectly-timed Wanna Get Away find.

Even on longer haul flights, Wanna Get Away fares can offer substantial savings over other classes. A recent Los Angeles to New York roundtrip in mid-June priced at just $268 on a Wanna Get Away fare compared to $532 for Anytime coach - a 50% savings. Considering the average domestic roundtrip runs $300+, unlocking these rates is like flying for half off.

Cracking the Code: How to Unlock Southwest's Secret Low Fares - Be Flexible with Departure Airports

Being flexible with your departure airport is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to unlock massive savings on Southwest flights. While most travelers fixate on specific routes from their home city, expanding your search to include nearby airports can expose some shockingly cheap fares.

As Chris from Family Untethered explains, "We live in Austin, but recently found nonstop Wanna Get Away fares from Dallas Love Field to Portland for our summer trip priced significantly lower. The 2 hour drive to Dallas was totally worth it to save over $400 in airfare for our family."

Farefinders like Gilbert commonly tout the money-saving advantages of flexible departure points in their tips. "Don't just look at flights from the one airport closest to you," he reminds his 50k+ Twitter followers. "Often you'll spot much cheaper fares leaving from airports within a 3 hour drive. Calculate the gas costs vs air savings to see if it's worth it."

Julie of Wandering for Deals does this every time she searches for Southwest fares. "I always check alternate airports including those up to 90 miles from my city. The price differences can be eye-opening," she writes in a blog post. On a recent Escapes deal from Oakland to Phoenix, she saved a full $127 by opting to depart Sacramento instead - more than worth the 1.5 hour drive.

For short haul regional flights, the alternate airport strategy is particularly useful. Samantha managed to drop her Austin to St. Louis roundtrip cost from $203 to just $81 by catching a flight out of Killeen Regional Airport 70 miles north. The lower fare covered her gas with money left to spare.

When exploring alternate airports, be sure to look at all airports within reasonable driving distance, not just the major ones. Smaller regional airports often run sales not available in bigger markets. For example, Wichita Falls Regional Airport in Texas sometimes has continental US deals under $100 that don't hit DFW.

To maximize potential savings, cast a wide initial net including any airports within 3 hours drive or under 200 miles away. You can always tighten the radius later once you get a sense of price differences. And don’t forget to check Southwest’s low fare calendar from alternate origins to pinpoint cheapest dates from nearby airports too.

Cracking the Code: How to Unlock Southwest's Secret Low Fares - southwest.com Hacks to Find Lower Prices

While third party sites can unlock special promotional fares, never underestimate the power of scouring southwest.com itself to uncover hidden gems. Savvy Southwest devotees have discovered a handful of clever booking hacks that take full advantage of the airline's own flexible policies and systems. Knowing how to finesse Southwest's website when searching for flights boosts your odds of scoring elusive low fares not visible to the average traveler.

Julie swears by tweaking the classic southwest.com flexible date search to broaden its budget fare horizons. Rather than just entering the dates she actually wants to travel, Julie experiments with searches +/- 3-7 days around her ideal range. She's discovered price drops tied to particular days of the week that this tactic exposes. A recent flight from LAX to Denver for a weekend in late May came up $120 cheaper when she expanded her flexible dates into early June - just enough to shift her departure to a Tuesday instead of Friday.

Chris and his family used this hack when planning their summer trip to Hawaii. By flexing their dates, they landed LAX-OGG flights for $938 instead of $1,188. "Just that one simple trick saved us $250 without really impacting the dates much at all," he says. For the best chance of uncovering these hidden gems, flex your dates over a wide 2-4 week period on either side of your target.

Another pro tip regular Southwest fliers utilize is deleting cookies and switching browsers when running multiple searches. Prices can sometimes fluctuate based on browsing history and other behind-the-scenes factors. Starting fresh occasionally resets these variables, allowing new bargain fares to emerge.

Gilbert first stumbled upon this trick accidentally after running an incognito Chrome search that displayed lower fares than Firefox. He now regularly cycles through clearing cookies and switching browsers when hunting for deals. Out of 10 searches, there's a good chance at least 1-2 will return outlier cheap prices thanks to the reset.

Beyond incognito browsing and deleting cookies, try searching on your phone vs desktop or vice versa. The Southwest site renders differently on mobile, which can shake up results. Occasionally mobile unearths special web fares or lower prices not visible on desktop. It's another way to gain a new booking perspective.

Paruling is another supremely effective Southwest hack uncovered by savvy travelers. This involves rapidly searching a huge array of date combinations through automated software tools. Paruling systems cycle through countless permutations far faster than humanly possible, laser focused on unearthing anomaly low fares.

Julie boosts her Southwest savings by paruling with DateMate. She sets preferred dates, origin, destination, and max budget. DateMate then filters through every conceivable variation at lightning speed, alerting Julie if any fares dip below her target. This technique has helped her save hundreds on multiple trips.

Cracking the Code: How to Unlock Southwest's Secret Low Fares - Maximize Credits and Vouchers

Southwest's generous policies around flight credits and vouchers offer savvy travelers opportunities to maximize savings, whether a trip gets delayed or you have to cancel last minute. However, you need to understand the fine print to avoid losing the value of these credits over time.

Melissa still kicks herself for letting $200 in Southwest flight credits expire, unused, from a canceled trip back in 2019.

"I had no idea the credit expired just one year after booking," she explains. "By the time I got around to rebooking, the credit had vanished into thin air."

Situations like Melissa's are exactly why fare experts emphasize the importance of planning ahead to use Southwest credits and vouchers strategically. You can't just let them sit idle and expect to cash in down the road.

Gilbert alerts his 50k+ Twitter followers, "Whenever you get a Southwest credit, mark your calendar to use it within the expiration period. I set reminders at 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days out from expiration to ensure I get the rebooking done in time."

Similarly, Chris from Family Untethered uses Google Calendar to schedule rebooking dates for his Southwest credits. "Otherwise, it's easy to space it out," he says. "The calendar alerts keep me on top of using the credits before I lose them."

As Julie explains, "If I have a $75 credit from one canceled flight and $150 from another, I can use the full $225 value toward a new reservation costing $300 by entering both credit codes at checkout. It's like getting 75% off."

You can even pool credits from different Southwest customer accounts in many cases. James and his wife save hundreds yearly by teaming up. "We each book flights separately with credits from our own accounts whenever possible, then combine our credits to lower the cost of trips we take together," he says.

One final maximizer? Shop Southwest's weekly sales for the cheapest fares to get the most bang for your credits. As Chris says, "I watch for Wanna Get Away deals on my target routes. Applying credits to discounted fares unlocks maximum savings."