Hey there fellow flight deal hunter! If you‘re looking to score big savings on Southwest Airlines, you‘ve come to the right place. I‘ve pooled together the most up-to-date promo codes, insider tips, and hacks to help you land the lowest fares.
As a self-proclaimed aviation geek and bargain travel expert, I live for this stuff! In this super in-depth guide, we‘ll uncover:
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Exactly how Southwest promo codes work and how much you can save
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Where to find the latest and greatest Southwest promo codes
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How to stack promos with other discounts for max savings
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When Southwest releases new promo codes
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Pros, cons and exclusions to watch out for
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A complete list of current Southwest promo codes and deals
Let‘s dive in and start saving you major money off your next Southwest adventure!
How Do Southwest Promo Codes Work?
Before we reveal the promo code goodness, let‘s start with the basics. Here‘s a quick 101 on how Southwest promo codes work:
Southwest promo codes are discount codes offered by Southwest Airlines that give anywhere from 10% to 50% off flight bookings. Here are some examples of typical promo code offers:
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25% off base fares with code FALL25
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$50 off return flights over $200 with code TREAT50
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$125 off return flights over $400 with code DEAL125
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Buy 3 flights, get 1 free with code 4FOR3
These promo codes provide added discounts off Southwest‘s already low fares. They‘ll typically have restrictions around eligible travel dates, routes, blackout periods, etc. But used strategically, they can add up to incredible savings!
Some key stats on Southwest promo codes:
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Average Discount: 25% off base fares
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Average Minimum Booking: $200-$400 flight value
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Expiration Timeframe: Typically 24-48 hours only!
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Eligible Routes: Continental US flights usually included, just not peak days/times
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Limit: Often limit 1 promo code per customer
As you can see, Southwest drops some amazing promo code offers, but you have to hop on them fast before they expire or seats sell out. That‘s why it pays to stay on top of the latest deals!
Now let‘s talk about…
Where To Find Southwest Airlines Promo Codes
Southwest doesn‘t publish their current promo codes all in one place. They spread across social media, email, blogs, etc. Here are the inside tricks for finding promo codes the second they drop:
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Sign up for Southwest emails – Southwest sends email alerts whenever they launch a new promo code. Perfect for instant notifications!
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Follow @SouthwestAir on Twitter – This is their main channel for announcing flash promo code sales. Enable tweet notifications so you never miss a deal.
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Join Southwest promo code Facebook Groups – Groups like "Southwest Airlines Discounts" and "Southwest Airlines Deals" quickly share codes.
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Check Southwest‘s website banners – Homepage banners will advertise new promo sales. Then click thru to find the codes.
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Google "Southwest Airlines promo codes" – Running a quick Google search can reveal any new promo code articles or blog posts.
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Use aggregator sites – Sites like Promocodes.com track Southwest promo code offers in one spot for convenience.
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Leverage airline blogs – The Points Guy, Thrifty Traveler and other miles blogs share Southwest promos.
I recommend casting a wide net by following Southwest on social media, signing up for email alerts, and keeping an eye on travel deal sites. Act fast when you see a new promo code, as they often expire within 24-48 hours!
Maximize Savings by Stacking Promo Codes
Savvy Southwest travelers don‘t just use promo codes – they stack them together for maximum value.
You can often combine a Southwest promo code with other discounts like:
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Rapids Rewards point redemptions – apply points discounts on top of promo % off
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Southwest credit card offers – get additional points for purchases
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Companion pass – add a companion to your promo discounted flight
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Hotels.com codes – for savings on hotel bookings
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Rental car discounts – stack with promo codes for Southwest vacation packages
Let‘s walk through a real example:
You find a 30% off promo code for Southwest for travel in May. You also have 50,000 Rapid Rewards points from flights and a Southwest credit card.
You could book a $500 roundtrip flight and:
- Use 30% promo code to save $150 off base fare
- Redeem 50,000 points to save another $150 off fare
- Pay just $200 instead of $500!
Stacking promos leads to incredible savings. Make it part of your Southwest booking strategy.
When Does Southwest Release New Promo Codes?
Timing is everything when it comes to scoring Southwest promos. Here‘s an inside look at when they typically drop new codes:
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January – March – Off-peak leisure travel codes for Spring Break, Presidents Day, Easter
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April – May – Spring fare sales, particularly after Easter travel dies down
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June – August – Summer fare wars, lots of codes to compete with other airlines
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September – November – Fall fare sales before holiday peak season
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Early December – Last minute holiday travel deals before Christmas rush
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Rest of year – Sparse promo codes during peak holiday periods
If you can be flexible with your travel dates, planning trips during Southwest‘s active promo code seasons can lead to big savings.
I recommend keeping an eye out for new promo code alerts around early December, January, and April/May in particular. Those tend to be hot seasons for major fare sales. Sign up for deal alerts so you‘ll be the first to know when new promos drop!
Beware of These Promo Code Exclusions
While Southwest promo codes can unlock huge savings, they often come with restrictions. Be sure to read the fine print! Here are the most common exclusions:
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Blackout dates – Peak holiday travel around Christmas, New Years, Spring Break, etc
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Weekend travel – To/from many destinations
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Early morning and late evening flights – Codes may only apply to off-peak flight times
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Some routes – Not all eligible, check origins/destinations carefully
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Pricier Business Select or Anytime fares – Typically just apply to Wanna Get Away fares
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International destinations – Mostly limited to continental US and domestic flights
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Companion Pass bookings – Can‘t be used if you booked with Companion Pass
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Other discounts – Often can‘t be combined with other promo codes
As you can see, exclusions typically revolve around peak travel dates, busier flight times, and certain fares/destinations. The key is reading all terms before booking – and being flexible with travel plans.
Aim to book off-peak days, budget Wanna Get Away fares, and less busy routes and times to avoid exclusions. You‘ll still save big!
Now, let‘s reveal…
The Best Southwest Airlines Promo Codes Available Now
Below I‘ve compiled the top Southwest promo code offers available at the time I‘m writing this. I try my best to keep this list updated with all the latest codes and deals.
Let‘s check out what current offers we can unlock:
Active Promo Codes
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50% off base fares with code
WOW50– Book by 3/15 for continental US travel 3/20-6/10. Exclusions apply. -
$125 off return flights over $400 with code
SCF125– Book by 3/15 for travel through 6/17. Limit 1 use per customer. -
15% off base fares with code
RUNWAY15– Valid on these 10 new Southwest routes only. Travel by 5/31.
Recently Expired (May Return)
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Free Companion Pass with code– Required purchase of certain Business Select fares over $400. Expired 2/28.BUYONEGETONE -
$50 off return flights over $200 with code– Expired 2/14 but ran for a few weeks. Expect a similar Spring deal.SCF50 -
10% off base fares with code– Expired 2/28 after a month long run. No route exclusions.SAVE10NOW
Rumored Upcoming Promo Codes
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Spring Break Sale – $75 off return flights over $250 expected in March
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June Fare Sale – I‘m hearing 30%+ off codes are likely in May for June travel
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Fall Flash Sale – Last year they did $100 off return flights over $400 in October
As you can see there are some solid promo code savings opportunities even now, and I expect some blockbuster summer fare sales ahead.
I‘d bookmark this page so you can check back on the latest promo code updates. And of course follow Southwest Airlines on social, sign up for email alerts, and monitor travel deal sites to never miss a new code drop!
Now that you‘ve got the inside scoop on scoring Southwest promos, let‘s do a quick…
Promo Codes vs. Other Ways to Save with Southwest
Besides promo codes, what other ways can you save on Southwest Airlines flights? Here‘s a quick comparison of promo codes vs other common Southwest discounts:
Southwest Promo Codes
- Pros: Easy instant discounts, no extra steps to earn
- Cons: Short windows, lots of exclusions
- Savings: Up to 50% off base fares
Southwest Sales
- Pros: Broader discount of 20-50% off all fares
- Cons: Less frequent sales than promos
- Savings: Up to 50% off eligible fares
Rewards Points
- Pros: Outsized value from points redemptions
- Cons: Need to earn points from flights first
- Savings: Around 1.4 cents per point on Wanna Get Away fares
Companion Pass
- Pros: Add a companion to ANY flight for just fees!
- Cons: Very hard to earn (125,000 qualifying points/year)
- Savings: Just companion taxes/fees added to your flight cost
Southwest Credit Card
- Pros: Earn 30,000 – 60,000 point sign-up bonuses
- Cons: Annual fee, spend requirements
- Savings: Points worth around 1.4 cents each toward Wanna Get Away fares
As you can see, each savings strategy has tradeoffs. For fast discounts with minimal effort, Southwest promo codes shine. They deliver easy instant savings beyond Southwest‘s everyday low fares.
Why Southwest Offers Promo Codes Despite Low Fares
You might wonder – if Southwest is famous for everyday low fares, why offer additional promo code discounts?
As an aviation geek, I love analyzing airline pricing strategy! Here are the key reasons Southwest likely offers promo codes:
1. Fill Empty Seats
Promo codes help Southwest fill planes during slow sales periods when lower demand means more empty seats. Some revenue via promos is better than no revenue on unsold seats.
2. Test New Routes
Offering promo codes provides incentive for customers to try out new routes Southwest is launching. This helps get those routes off the ground.
3. Undercut Competitors
Dropping fares even lower through promo codes makes it tougher for American, Delta, etc to match Southwest‘s prices.
4. Appeal to Deal-Seeking Travelers
Promos attract bargain airline shoppers who hunt down the lowest fares. This helps win share from competitors.
5. Generate Buzz
Promo codes spark buzz and word-of-mouth for Southwest on social media, travel blogs, deal forums, etc. Free advertising!
While Southwest keeps base fares consistent, targeted time-limited promo code offers help with route expansion, filling seats, and staying top of mind with deal-savvy fliers. Pretty smart strategy!
Let‘s Recap – The Key Tips for Southwest Promo Code Success
We‘ve covered a ton of ground here! Let‘s do a quick recap of the key tips for Southwest promo code success:
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Follow all Southwest social accounts – for instant notifications when new codes drop
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Monitor deal blogs – The Points Guy etc for the latest promos
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Use aggregators like Promocodes.com – to see all current codes in one spot
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Sign up for email alerts – Southwest sends email promo announcements
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Try search engines – for new blog posts and articles with codes
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Book at off-peak times – to avoid common blackout periods
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Aim for budget fares – codes typically only apply to Wanna Get Away
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Stack promos when possible – with points, Companion Pass, etc for max savings
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Read all terms carefully – to avoid hidden exclusions
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Act fast! – codes often expire within 24 hours
Following these tips will ensure you never miss a Southwest promo code and can stack savings for incredible flight deals.
Thanks for sticking with me through this very thorough guide my friend! I hope you feel like a promo code pro now. Happy flying and happy saving!