Southwest Airlines signature sales and promotions
Southwest Airlines offers a spectrum of promotions and sales, especially to its focus destinations. You can browse all live promotions in the popular ATC directory.
Here’s a list of recurring types of promotions that have historically been part of the airline’s marketing strategy:
- Fare Saver This promotion provides significant savings on flights, with discounts varying based on the day of travel. It includes up to 40% off on certain days for travel within the U.S. and 30% off for international travel, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
- Week of WOW This special offer allows customers to save up to 40% off base fares on select flights. It's a limited-time promotion with specific booking and travel periods, making it an attractive option for customers looking to snag a great deal.
- Southwest Vacations Offers Southwest Airlines frequently provides attractive vacation bundle offers, which typically include flight, hotel, and sometimes car rental packages. These bundles are designed for convenience and cost savings, offering a seamless booking experience for complete trips to various popular destinations.
When does Southwest Airlines have sales?
Southwest Airlines typically has major sales and offers discounted fares during periods outside the peak travel season. Additionally, you may want to keep an eye on special sale events that can occur anytime.
- January It’s not a popular time for most people to travel, so to incentivize travel and keep planes full, Southwest Airlines usually runs major sales campaigns.
- March–April The spring season, particularly March and April, is considered a “dead zone” for travel when most airlines offer discounted fares to boost demand. Southwest Airlines often use a spring sale to encourage early bookings for summer vacations.
- September–October These months, just after the summer peak season also see great, low fares as the American carrier tries to stimulate decreasing demand.
- Black Friday/Cyber Monday This shopping holiday in late November is one of the biggest sale periods for most airlines.
- Mid-November Southwest Airlines may run sales around 1-2 weeks before Black Friday in mid-November. This allows them to get a head start on other carriers that typically have big sales around Black Friday.
- Special sales The airline sometimes celebrates its anniversaries with special promotions. Travel Expos and fairs, where the airline participates, are also opportunities for the company to run exclusive sales, often only available to attendees.
- Last-minute deals These occasional deals are much less predictable. The airline can put some seats on sale for dates just before departure, but these are typically for unusual times and unpopular places.
- Flash sales These spontaneous, short-term sales are often one of the best ways to save on flights. Flash sales can happen at any time and are often announced with little notice. They typically last only a few hours to a couple of days.
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To take advantage of these sales, it’s essential to stay subscribed to the airline’s newsletter and follow its social media channels. The best strategy is to be flexible with your travel dates and look for off-peak times.
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A quick guide to Southwest promo codes
Southwest Airlines promo codes are one of the best ways to save money when flying with the airline. They usually come in the form of alphanumeric strings such as SUMMER25, STUDENT10, EARLYBIRD, SEATUPGRADE, etc.
You can browse the latest promo codes in our directory.
How much can I save?
The amount you can save on Southwest Airlines flights can vary — discount codes typically reduce airfare by 10-25%. Occasionally, promo codes offer savings of up to 50%.
Where to enter Southwest Airlines promo code
To book a flight with a promo code, enter it during the booking process on the Southwest website. Locate the designated field — usually labeled “Promotion Code” or similar — at the checkout screen. You will see the new price (the discount will typically apply to the pre-taxed base fare), and a success message.
The fine print
Most promo codes come with conditions, such as limited validity periods and blackout dates during peak travel seasons. Additionally, they cannot be combined with other discounts or used for bookings made through call centers or at airport counters.
Why don't OTAs
have promo fares?
When you search for flights on OTAs like Expedia, KAYAK, or Skyscanner, you’re accessing data from Global Distribution Systems (GDS) like Amadeus and Sabre, the New Distribution Capability (NDC) system, and direct airline partnerships.
These sources mainly provide standard airfares found on airlines’ websites—which explains why flights have always very similar prices across all OTAs.
However, airlines often reserve their most aggressive or enticing promotions for their own direct sales channels—primarily their websites. These special fares are not fed into GDS systems, and, as a result, OTAs usually don’t include exclusive sales and promotions.
How to keep track
of airline promotions then?
The best way is to take advantage of Air Traveler Club membership, which gives you access to the largest directory of current sales and promotions from more than 150 airlines. The offers are gathered, curated, and published daily.
All airline promotions, sales, and discounts can be viewed in one place:
Where to find Southwest Airlines promotions?
Stay in touch with the airline. The primary source is Southwest Airlines official website with the dedicated Special Offers page. The airline’s social media channels are also excellent resources for current promotions. Additionally, subscribing to Southwest Airlines newsletter can give you access to exclusive offers and early notifications about upcoming sales.
Does Southwest Airlines have student discount?
Southwest Airlines doesn’t offer a standardized student discount on airfare. Instead, the airline occasionally rolls out promotional fares specifically aimed at both American and international students — often timed with school breaks in America or the start of semesters. However, these student discounts are not part of the airline’s regular fare offerings.
Nevertheless, the airline frequently engages in seasonal campaigns, package deals and limited-time offers that students can leverage to reduce travel costs. These promotions can vary in scope and may include “youth fares” (for travelers under a certain age) or promotion fares for specific routes, particularly those starting at the airline’s main airport hub (Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport ATL) and leading to educational hubs or popular vacation destinations.
Furthermore, Southwest Airlines occasionally partners with educational institutions in America, and travel platforms such as IYTC, ISIC, StudentUniverse or STA Travel to offer reduced fares. These platforms usually require verification of student status through educational email addresses or student ID. Once verified, students can access a curated selection of discounted Southwest Airlines flights — usually ranging from a 5% to 20% reduction on regular ticket prices.
It may also be worth it for students to check with their university or college for their study-abroad programs, internships, or educational tours, where they partner with airlines to provide students with discount codes, coupons and vouchers for flights. A valid student identification is generally required to benefit from these programs.
Child promo
Do kids fly free?
Southwest Airlines discounts for children
Southwest Airlines doesn’t offer regular free or discounted flight tickets for kids. However, infants can travel for free if they don’t occupy a seat. According to the airline’s policy, children under 2 years old can travel for free on the lap of an accompanying adult passenger on domestic flights. For international flights, fees may apply, typically amounting to 10% of the adult ticket price.
For a detailed explanation, check out the ‘Flying with children’ section on the airline’s website.
In the world of commercial aviation, the notion of “free flights for kids” is largely a myth — airlines don’t like to give away seats for children who are too old to sit on your lap for the entire journey. However, discounted fares for young travelers are much easier to find.
Southwest Airlines occasionally offers promotions where children can fly for a fraction of the adult fare. They typically target children aged 10 to 12 and below, offering savings ranging from 25% to 75% off the ticket price. But there’s a catch — these promotions are often timed to avoid peak travel seasons like school holidays and may be restricted to specific, less popular routes.
Family discounts and promo tickets
While Southwest Airlines doesn’t offer dedicated family discounts, it does provide various services to make travel more convenient and enjoyable for families. These offerings range from seasonal promos to an array of family-centric packages, travel perks and benefits.
Southwest occasionally rolls out seasonal promotions and partnerships that may include family vacation packages, often in collaboration with popular resorts and tourist destinations. There may be special family-oriented flight discounts during school holidays and festive seasons, and early bird discounts for those who book their flights in advance. However, these family deals are not part of the airline’s regular fare offerings.
While not a family-specific discount, Southwest Airlines Economy Plus seating offers more legroom and is often situated closer to the front of the aircraft. Dedicated overhead bin space and priority boarding may also be included. Families often opt for this upgrade to ensure a more comfortable journey and faster disembarkation.
Vacation packages
Holiday deals and special offers
from Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines often runs special promotions on its holiday and vacation packages. During these sales, you can receive not only price discounts but also extra amenities like free airport transfers, dining credits, or activity vouchers. Special rates are often available for off-peak seasons or holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, or school vacations.
Additionally, holiday packages often include flights, hotels, and sometimes car rentals and activities bundled together. Even with no current promotion, these bundling services result in a lower overall cost than booking each component separately. packages usually come with the added benefit of Southwest Airlines customer support to assist with any issues during your trip.
For the most current information, visit the official page ‘Southwest Vacation’.
Exclusive promotions
Rapid Rewards® — loyalty program promotions
Southwest Airlines frequently rolls out seasonal promotions and special offers dedicated exclusively to members of its loyalty program, Rapid Rewards®. They offer opportunities to boost your points balance with extra points (miles) and accelerate your progression through the program’s elite tiers. During promotions, members may purchase additional miles at a discounted rate, earn them faster, or redeem flights at significantly discounted mileage rates.
Periodic promotions may include partnerships with hotels and car rental companies, offering members exclusive discounts or additional points when booking through Southwest Airlines partners.
Even without ongoing promotions, Rapid Rewards® offers substantial value to loyal customers. Program members get access to numerous benefits, such as: Earn points towards flights and elite status, additional perks like priority check-in, boarding, and more points earned per flight at the A-List and A-List Preferred tiers.
Visit the official “Rapid Rewards” page for more details:
Business class promotions
In the competitive world of commercial aviation, Southwest Airlines deploy an array of marketing strategies to entice business class passengers. It frequently offers attractive promotions for business class seats — aimed at filling seats and solidifying long-term relationships with customers. Regularly, the carrier rolls out percentage-based discounts for its premium cabin, which can range from 10% to as high as 25%.
Senior citizen discounts and promos
Southwest Airlines typically does not offer specialized senior citizen discounts for flight tickets. As a low-cost carrier, its primary focus is on delivering competitive fares across the board, rather than catering to specific age demographics. Nevertheless, the airline periodically rolls out special promotions and sales events that may include discounted fares to select groups of passengers — including senior citizens.
Such promotions may not always be publicly advertised and may not be available for all routes. Instead, senior travelers must inquire directly with the airline or through the reservations team to see if a specific route offers any discounts for older travelers.
Discounts for military personnel and veterans
To honor the service of both active-duty military personnel and veterans, Southwest Airlines offers discounted flights to those in uniform. The extent of the discount varies based on several factors, including the route, seat availability, and whether the travel is for official duty or leisure.
For current information about military discounts, visit the ‘Military travel’ page on the southwest.com website:
In addition to discounted fares, military personnel and veterans can benefit from perks like priority boarding, flexible ticketing, and waived baggage fees — essential for active-duty members with gear that surpasses standard limits. These advantages often extend to their families as well.
To access these special rates and perks, travelers need valid ID such as military IDs, discharge papers, or other official documents confirming active-duty or veteran status. While military-specific discounts aren’t usually listed online, they can be obtained by contacting Southwest Airlines or authorized agents directly.
Rewards from co-branded credit cards
Southwest Airlines co-branded credit cards provide a fast track to travel rewards, exclusive perks, and premium services. With generous sign-up bonuses (sometimes sufficient for a round-trip domestic flight), cardholders can quickly earn Rapid Rewards® points redeemable for flights, seat upgrades, and more. Moreover, cards typically come with robust travel insurance, such as trip cancellation insurance and baggage loss reimbursement.
As with any financial product, the key is in the details. Check out the airline’s official website to scrutinize the terms and conditions:
Southwest Airlines corporate deals
For large businesses and corporations, Southwest Airlines offers a comprehensive range of services that go beyond mere transportation. From customized fare packages, corporate rewards, and priority services to dedicated support and travel data analytics — the focus is on making corporate travel efficient, comfortable, and easy to manage.
FAQ
Can I get discount on Southwest Airlines?
Yes, Southwest Airlines offers a spectrum of promotions, seasonal sales, and discount codes throughout the year. You can find them all in the directory created and maintained by Air Traveler Club.
How can I get notified about upcoming Southwest Airlines promotions?
Air Traveler Club has the option of email or mobile app notifications for promotions run by Southwest Airlines (and over 150 other airlines). Alternatively, you can subscribe to the airline’s newsletter, or follow them on social media.
Do Southwest Airlines flights ever go on sale?
Yes, Southwest Airlines flights often go on sale during off-peak travel seasons. The airline also participate in major sale events like Black Friday and sometimes offer flash sales or last-minute deals with little notice. To catch these offers, it’s best to subscribe to their newsletter, follow their social media channels.
How to use Southwest Airlines flight coupon?
Southwest Airlines flight coupon is a physical or digital voucher that has a certain monetary value or specific offer attached to it. Flight coupons may be issued as compensation for delayed or canceled flights, as part of a loyalty program reward, or may be distributed during special promotional events. They can also be purchased for future use or given as gifts. Flight coupons can be applied to various aspects of your travel experience, from ticket fares to seat upgrades and even in-flight amenities.
Like promo codes, these coupons may have specific conditions such as route restrictions, blackout dates, or a minimum booking value.
Is Southwest Airlines promo legit?
Yes, all Southwest Airlines promotions, promo codes, and discounts listed in our directory are legit. We only publish offers that are available on the official website, or through airline marketing channels such as newsletter, social media accounts, etc.
Are Southwest Airlines promo tickets refundable?
All Southwest Airlines discounted tickets are non-refundable, unless otherwise stated.
