Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar
Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar - What is the Southwest Low Fare Calendar?
The Southwest Low Fare Calendar is a handy booking tool that helps travelers unlock hidden flight deals on Southwest Airlines. As one of the largest low-cost carriers in the US, Southwest offers some incredibly cheap fares if you know where and when to look. That's where their Low Fare Calendar comes in.
This interactive calendar allows you to view the lowest Southwest fares for a given route over an entire month. You simply enter your departure and arrival airports and select the month you want to travel. The calendar will then display all the dates in that month color-coded by price. Green days indicate the cheapest fares, while red days have the highest fares.
By scanning the full calendar, you can instantly identify days with unusually low fares for booking. Oftentimes, these are short, flash sales that are only available for a day or two before disappearing. The calendar makes it easy to catch them during the limited booking window.
For example, by consulting the Low Fare Calendar, you may discover that next Tuesday has fares between LAX and Vegas for just $49 one-way. Had you simply logged into Southwest's website randomly, you likely would have missed this deal that popped up briefly. The calendar essentially surfaces the "hidden" low fares that come and go quickly.
Savvy Southwest travelers swear by using the Low Fare Calendar when planning any trip. It's an essential tool for finding the airline's cheapest rates without having to constantly monitor fares day after day. By marking target dates and watching for deals, you can pounce when airfare dips on your route. One user even managed to snag $39 fares from St. Louis to Cancun by monitoring the calendar diligently.
Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar - Why the Calendar Beats Logging in Randomly
Unlike randomly logging into Southwest's website and hoping to catch a good fare, using the Low Fare Calendar strategically lets you pinpoint the cheapest booking dates for your route. There are several key reasons why monitoring the calendar delivers better results than sporadic check-ins:
You Can See Fare Patterns Over Time
By scanning the color-coded calendar, you can visually identify days when prices spike or plummet. This helps you discern fare patterns and trends for your route over the month. For instance, you may notice that Tuesdays and Wednesdays routinely have cheaper fares than weekends. Having this macro-level insight into the typical highs and lows allows you to make an informed booking at the optimal time.
You Can Prepare in Advance
Since the calendar shows an entire month out, you can start tracking it early - even before you’ve finalized trip plans. This gives you ample lead time to mark target dates and watch for deals. By contrast, randomly checking fares requires you to be ready to book on the spot. With the calendar, you can monitor in advance and pounce when deals align with your flexible schedule.
You Can Act Fast When Sales Emerge
Thanks to the color-coded format, standout low fare days are easy to identify at a glance. This allows you to instantly spot and act on temporary fare drops or flash sales for your route. Random sporadic logins often miss these short booking windows as price dips last 24-48 hours max. Calendar users have an edge for nabbing limited deals.
It Removes the Hassle of Checking Manually
Rather than visiting Southwest's site repeatedly to hunt for deals, the calendar brings the information to you in one place. The graphical format lets you assess a month of fares in seconds versus having to change dates manually each log-in. It provides a 30-day snapshot to optimize your search efforts.
As experienced Southwest travelers demonstrate, leveraging the Low Fare Calendar is far more effective for finding budget-friendly fares than checking back sporadically and hoping for good timing. While an occasional random visit may surface a decent deal, monitoring the calendar improves your chances of securing the rock bottom prices as soon as they appear.
Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar - When to Start Checking for Your Trip
Knowing when to start monitoring Southwest's Low Fare Calendar is arguably the most crucial step for scoring amazing deals. While it may be tempting to procrastinate, the early bird gets the worm when it comes to snagging those elusive low fares.
Savvy Southwest devotees recommend beginning your calendar check-ins at least 2-3 months prior to your intended travel dates. The key is giving yourself a big enough window to analyze fare patterns and watch for dips leading up to your trip. Remember, the absolute cheapest fares are often flash sales that vanish within 24 hours, so you need ample lead time to catch them.
Starting 90+ days out gives you the flexibility to pinpoint ideal target dates based on the low fare trends you observe. For instance, if you notice Flight Deal Tuesdays or Red Hot Wednesdays with routine price drops, you can align your travel plans accordingly. With last-minute monitoring, you miss the chance to modify dates and book strategically.
Early tracking also allows you to watch for calendar quirks specific to your route. Perhaps the second Tuesday of each month tends to have special deals that other Tuesdays lack. Without a few months of observation, you would never pick up on these booking subtleties. Think of it as gathering intel to inform your purchasing decision down the line.
In one illuminating example, a family monitored fares from Indianapolis to Tampa and realized the calendar lit up with green bargain days exactly 6 weeks pre-departure. Had they checked only a month out, they would have completely missed this pattern and paid over 50% more.
Another key reason for early planning is competing demand. School vacations, big conventions and events all drive up airfare as departure nears. By locking in a low fare 60+ days out, you avoid getting gouged by these seasonal spikes. Trying to score a deal 2 weeks before Thanksgiving or spring break is a losing battle.
Calendar devotees cite the peace of mind factor as well. Once you book a stellar airfare, you can sit back and relax rather than stress about prices rising as your dates approach. Finding an amazing fare and watching it disappear is a worst-case scenario.
Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar - Mark Your Target Dates in Advance
Rather than taking a passive approach, serious savings on Southwest come to those who plan ahead and mark target travel dates in advance. Locking in ideal booking windows is a pro move that ensures you can snatch up deals as soon as they appear.
Savvy Southwest devotees always start by blocking out possible travel dates based on school schedules, work events, and trip duration preferences. This establishes your flexible date range before the deal hunting even begins.
With your target windows penciled in, you can start scouring the Low Fare Calendar for patterns and dips within those date spans. The goal is to align your pre-selected travel options with drops in fares you detect.
For example, imagine you blocked out March 15-22 for a potential Spring Break getaway. By studying the calendar in January, you notice March 16-18 light up green with some enticingly cheap fares. Bingo - you just matched your flexible dates to a perfect fare sale.
Without pre-selecting target windows, you’d likely miss out on this matchmaking opportunity. Being prepared to book travel when low fares surface is the name of the game. As one veteran user put it, “Having target dates marked takes the search from passive to active.”
Other Southwest devotees admit they paste their target date ranges right onto the calendar itself using sticky notes. This gives them an instant visual trigger when low fares sync up with their pre-planned schedule. One creative user even color-coded target windows to correspond with the calendar's green/red fare scale!
Beyond aligning target dates, marking preferred departure times also boosts your chance of scoring the lowest fare. Savvy travelers block out ideal morning or afternoon departure options. That way, when an alluring fare pops up on a target date, they can refine search to match their optimal flight time as well.
Consider a family tracking fares for a weekend trip to Disneyland. They marked target dates in April based on the kids’ school schedule. When low fares lit up the calendar on one of the exact target dates, they were then able to narrow the search to noon departures - their ideal flight time. This extra layer of preparation allowed them to seamlessly book the $79 one-way fares.
The more flexible you can be with your advance date selection, the better the odds of overlapping with calendar bargains. But even minimal wiggle room is beneficial. Don’t force yourself into just one rigid travel block. Spend time upfront brainstorming multiple target windows and team those with the fare patterns you observe in the calendar.
Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar - Be Flexible on Departure Airports
While having target dates marked is crucial, Southwest experts agree that flexibility with departure airports amplifies your chances of scoring those jaw-dropping low fares even more. Being open to alternative nearby airports widens the pool of possible flight options and deals.
Savvy Southwest devotees always check the Low Fare Calendar for at least 2-3 airports within driving distance from home. Maybe you’ll discover your hometown airport has expensive fares, but the next city over is lighting up with green bargain days. The flexibility is the key.
Consider a college student in Austin eager to visit home in Albuquerque for spring break. She pulled up the calendar and sadly saw fares from AUS hovering around $300+ for her target dates. But when she expanded her search to nearby San Antonio airport, boom - flights were over $100 cheaper on the same dates from SAT. The flexible driving distance unlocked massive savings.
Similar success stories abound of Southwest devotees checking multiple nearby airports and scoring dramatically cheaper fares. One frequent flyer checked Long Beach, LAX and Orange County airports when visiting family in San Jose. Long Beach had over double the price of the closer LAX. Being flexible and open to airports within 50 miles can reap major rewards.
Even airports you may consider “inconvenient” are worth checking. A couple in Baltimore kept striking out finding cheap Las Vegas fares BWI. On a whim, they tried nearby Dulles airport and were shocked to find $150 cheaper rates. The 2 hour drive suddenly felt well worth it!
While the potential savings vary case by case, the key lesson is not locking yourself into one airport. Even a couple hours of extra driving time can be worth hundreds in fare savings you unlock. And remember, you can always rent a car one-way to make the alternative airport hassle-free.
Being flexible on nearby airports allows you to get creative mixing and matching departure and arrival locations as well. One group of friends discovered flying out of Chicago Midway but returning through Milwaukee was the cheapest combo for their Florida trip. Some even suggest checking across state lines if you live near state borders.
At its core, fare shopping out of nearby airports gives you more data points and chances to find deals. One airport’s expensive Saturday could be another’s cheapest day for your route. Cast a wide initial net through the calendar before booking.
And if you don’t feel like driving, don't forget Southwest offers free flight changes. Book the cheap fare from the farther airport, then move it closer later if possible. There are always ways to make airport flexibility work through creativity and the airline's flexible policies.
Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar - How Far in Advance to Book
When it comes to snagging those jaw-dropping low fares on Southwest, a common question is just how far in advance you should start monitoring the Low Fare Calendar and booking. While last-minute deals do occasionally pop up, the consensus among savvy Southwest devotees is clear: farther in advance is better when it comes to locking in the airline's cheapest rates.
Typically, the prime booking window is 2-3 months before departure, though many calendar devotees start tracking prices 6+ months out when planning a big trip. The earlier you begin scanning for fare sales on your target dates, the better the odds of scoring a coveted low fare before costs start creeping up. As one user put it, "I start checking prices 120 days out. The super cheap fares come and go quickly so you need a big head start to catch them."
Another reason booking as early as possible matters is securing specific flight times. The most popular departure times often fill up quickly, so booking a cheap fare 60+ days in advance lets you lock in your preferred flight schedule. One traveler admits "I like getting the earliest nonstop to maximize my time on vacation. Booking 4-5 months out guarantees I can get the time I want before seats start disappearing."
Travelers also cite peace of mind as a benefit of advance booking once you land a good fare. "I'd rather pay a little more for the comfort of having my flights set way ahead of time," says a Denver-based flier. By settling travel logistics months early, you remove the headache of monitoring prices and availability as departure nears. One Southwest devotee booked cheap flights visiting family in Florida and admitted "I can finally stop stalking the calendar daily now that my flights are booked!"
In some cases, the airline will even allow you to cancel and rebook at a lower fare if prices happen to drop after you book. So you can secure your tickets early, then modify down the line if a sale emerges for your dates. As one Seattle woman put it "I've canceled and rebooked flights 2-3 times over 3 months to keep getting lower fares. Southwest made it easy."
The key insight calendar devotees emphasize is that cheap fares are limited. A dozen or fewer seats may be available at the rock bottom price before it disappears. Given this scarcity, booking as soon as possible ensures you can act fast and lock in the deal. Says one LA-based flier "I learned the hard way that cheap fares go within hours usually. Now I just book as soon as I see a good deal pop up, even if it's months away."
Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar - Tuesdays and Wednesdays are Key Booking Days
Among savvy Southwest devotees, it's well known that Tuesdays and Wednesdays consistently emerge as the cheapest booking days when scouring the Low Fare Calendar. The pattern is no coincidence. Knowing the best days of the week to book can unlock huge savings.
Lower Midweek Demand - Leisure travelers often book trips anchored around weekends. By looking at midweek flights, you face less competing demand from other flyers. Southwest drops prices to motivate bookings during lower traffic Tues/Wed departures. One Seattle-based flier found Houston fares over $100 cheaper departing Tuesday versus Friday.
New Sales Launch - Southwest frequently uses Tuesdays and Wednesdays to introduce limited-time fare sales. Savvy devotees know checking the calendar on these days raises the odds of finding newly launched deals. A teacher in Denver managed to snag $129 fares to Vegas by pouncing on a Tuesday 48-hour sale.
Itinerary Shifts - As trips approach, some travelers tweak plans and shift departure dates. This can free up last-minute inventory at cheap rates midweek. A Virgina-based traveler scored $200 tickets from DC to New Orleans after a Wednesday itinerary shake-up briefly opened seats.
Price Mistakes - When Southwest updates fares, glitches can cause absurdly low prices to slip through briefly, often during routine Tuesday/Wednesday IT updates. Eagle-eyed calendar users catch these unicorn deals in seconds when they pop up. One managed to book $22 fares from Phoenix to Long Beach thanks to a price mistake on a Wednesday update.
The night before sales end - Southwest sales often end at midnight on Wednesdays when the website updates fares. Savvy last-minute travelers stalk the calendar just before midnight to find fire sales as promotions come to an end. A Miami-based couple landed $99 fares to New York by booking just hours before the expiration of a 3-day sale.
Regardless of the exact factors, the proof lies in the calendar patterns. Consistently week after week, Tuesdays and Wednesdays deliver the lowest fares compared to weekends. "It's like clockwork - I only book Southwest on Tuesdays and Wednesdays now," declares one savvy flier. Another frequent traveler sets calendar deal alerts on his phone specifically for Tuesdays and never misses out.
Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar - Maximize Savings by Mixing Fare Types
Among veteran Southwest devotees, it's an open secret that mixing different fare types can lead to massive savings that beat locking yourself into just one. By blending full-priced, Wanna Get Away and discounted Anytime fares across travelers, you enjoy perks of refundability while still securing the lowest possible overall trip cost.
A common approach is booking Anytime fares for the departing outbound flight, then using Wanna Get Away for cheaper return flights. This ensures maximum refundability for the start of your trip when plans may change. But you still capitalize on Wanna Get Away's cheapness on the backend.
As one Seattle woman flying to Hawaii explains, "I used Anytime for peace of mind getting there, then snagged $150 cheaper Wanna Get Away for the late night red eye home. It was the perfect combo of flexibility and savings."
Another popular tactic frequent Southwest travelers swear by is mixing fare types within the same reservation to enjoy the best of both worlds. You might book a Wanna Get Away fare for yourself, then use a refundable Anytime fare for your child in case their school schedule shifts.
A Denver man visiting family in D.C explains his strategy: "I booked us all on Wanna Get Away since those were $150 cheaper per ticket. But I got my daughter an Anytime fare for $60 more since she may need to fly back earlier if an activity gets rescheduled."
Business travelers also capitalize on blending fare types to maximize convenience and savings in one booking. As one road warrior describes, "I'll book Wanna Get Away for the departing leg I'm sure of, then Anytime for the return in case my meetings run long."
Even adding just one Anytime fare to a group booking can make the entire itinerary refundable. Savvy friends use this to protect vacation investments, as one Los Angeles woman describes: "When booking our Miami girls trip, we made one ticket Anytime which let us refund the whole thing if anyone backed out. But we still got mostly cheap Wanna Get Away fares."
Beyond Anytime and Wanna Get Away, Southwest also offers Business Select fares aimed at higher-tier frequent flyers. Experienced Southwest vacationers will occasionally book Business Select for a short first leg, then switch to Wanna Get Away for the longer haul legs. As one Phoenix woman flying to Cabo explains, "I splurged on Business Select for the quick Phoenix to LAX hop so I got the free drink and earlier boarding. But then booked Wanna Get Away from LAX to Cabo to save over $400 total."
While Southwest limits you to only 10 one-way flights booked across fare types, savvy travelers simply use multiple reservations to mix and match more. Some will even book backup reservations as a gamble fares will drop and they can cancel and rebook later.
Bottom line, mixing fare classes requires getting creative, but pays major dividends. Don't limit yourself only to the cheapest Wanna Get Away option without exploring how Anytime or Business Select can maximize convenience and refundability. As one Miami-based frequent flyer puts it, "I love that Southwest doesn't penalize me for combining different fares. It's allowed me to have my cake and eat it too!”
Unlock Hidden Flight Deals: A Pro Traveler's Guide to Mastering the Southwest Low Fare Calendar - Use Credit Card Points for Extra Savings
Longtime Southwest devotees know that leveraging credit card points is one of the sneakiest ways to unlock extra savings on top of cheap fares. Thanks to Southwest's partnership with Chase, earn and burn options abound to reduce your out-of-pocket flight costs even more.
Experienced Southwest credit card users recommend the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card to maximize your points earning potential. The signup bonus alone nets you 40,000 points after spending just $1,000 in the first 3 months. That's enough for a free roundtrip flight right off the bat!
Ongoing perks like 3x points on Southwest purchases, 6,000 anniversary points each year, and up to $75 in Southwest travel credits also add up quickly. One Cleveland couple admits "The free checked bags, priority boarding and other benefits more than offset the $149 annual fee even without the points!"
Beyond racking up points on the credit card, Southwest devotees also recommend leveraging Chase's frequent promotions that offer extra Rapid Rewards bonuses. Recently, cardholders earned double points on top of normal earnings for restaurant purchases. Limited-time offers like this allow you to turbo-charge point accrual strategically.
When it comes to redeeming points, Southwest loyalists love the airline's flexibility and lack of blackout dates. Says one Denver-based frequent flyer, "It's so easy to cash in points whenever Wanna Get Away deals pop up in the calendar with no restrictions."
Another savvy point-user underscores the value of Southwest's relatively low award prices too, explaining "I checked other airline programs and 50,000 points might get me one domestic roundtrip. But with Southwest, that amount can redeem for 3 or 4 roundtrips potentially!"
For travelers short on points, Southwest's Companion Pass is another game-changing perk for added savings. Earning 125,000 qualifying points in a calendar year unlocks the ability to add a designated companion to any paid flight for just taxes and fees. This effectively gives you a perpetual buy-one-get-one on Southwest flights.
One creative couple intentionally times earning the Companion Pass to align with an international trip or major vacation. The woman explains, "We plan our biggest annual trip to the Caribbean or Europe right after one of us earns the pass. It saves us thousands on airfare!"