Southwest Schedule Extension: Book now to save on flights through August 14, 2023

Editor’s Note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information.

If you haven’t booked your flight for next spring yet, now is a great time to grab it Southwest flights.

Although some carriers allow you book flight about 11 months in advanceSouthwest extends batch bookings to just once every few months.

Previously, you could only book Southwest flights until early March. But this morning, Southwest extended its schedule through August 14, 2023. It’s a great time to snag a bargain on Southwest flights next summer.

Here’s what you need to know about maximizing Southwest’s most recent schedule extension.

Why make a reservation when Southwest extends schedule

Book flight tickets quickly when Southwest expands its schedule can save you serious money. While stock may remain for a while, you probably won’t find prices below what’s available for peak travel days.

Southwest’s exchange and cancellation policy also makes it easy to book now, even if you’re not sure you’ll be making the trip. Here are Southwest’s cancellation rules if you cancel at least 10 minutes before your scheduled flight departure:

• If you paid for Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus fare: You will receive tourism fund.
• If you have paid for Anytime or Business Select fare: You can request a refund on your original form of payment or accept travel money.
• if you Southwest point exchange: Points will automatically be returned to the account where the points were reserved and you can request a refund of taxes and fees on your original form of payment.

So you can cancel your flight for free if your family’s travel plans change. In addition, if price drops after you book, you can rebook and receive the difference in the form of travel money or points. So booking Southwest flights for the trips you hope to take is a very low risk situation.

Related: How to get seats together as a family on Southwest Airlines

How to Score the Best Southwest Deals

Here are five tips for getting the best deal on Southwest flights.

Book now

I recommend booking Southwest flights as soon as the booking window opens, especially if you want to fly during peak times. Even though flights are open, you can still win some good deals.

As mentioned above, there is minimal risk when booking Southwest flights due to the airline’s flexible policies. So you might want to book now even if you’re not 100% sure about your plan. If you want a full refund to your original payment method, Southwest point exchange for your flights or book a more expensive Anytime or Business Select fare.

Related: Is Signing Up for Southwest EarlyBird Worth It?

Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest

Due to the airline’s flexible bonus policies, redeeming Southwest points is my preferred method for booking Southwest flights. If you need to cancel a flight booked with points, your points will be transferred directly to your Rapid Rewards account and you can get the taxes and fees you paid back to your card.

Earn signup bonus on a new one Southwest credit card is a great way to increase your account balance, but that will take some time. You can also transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio if you have an Ultimate Rewards earning card such as Chase Sapphire Priority Card, Ink . Business Preferred Credit Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Related: 9 Cool Places You Didn’t Know You Could Fly Over the Southwest

Use Companion Card, but you can add it later

The Southwest Companion Card is my favorite interest in the travel industry. After all, a friend or family member can fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees) as a Companion Card perk. The card usually expires on December 31 of the year following the year you earned it. But the Southwest occasionally offers Promotional companion card valid for a shorter period of time.

If you don’t already have a Companion Pass but plan to earn one before your flight, you can still book now and add a companion ticket later. The only requirement to add your travel companion to the reservation is that there must be at least one vacant seat for sale. Just be aware that if you’re flying at peak times on popular routes, there’s a chance your flight will sell out if you wait too long.

Related: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Card

Have alternate dates in mind

If you have a bit of flexibility, use that to your advantage when booking flights. You can use Southwest’s cheap calendar to check the cheapest dates for the flights you want.

The most expensive days to fly are usually Friday and Sunday. So if you can change your date by a few days, you could see significantly lower prices. Of course, taking a break from work or school might not work for everyone, but there are fallback days that can.

Related: Everything you need to know about the best seats on Southwest Airlines

Search for discounts

If your flight drops in price between the time you book it and the time it’s flown, you can easily get the difference in Express Rewards points back to your account. Of course, these flexible policies still exist when you pay your fare in cash, but you’ll end up with a Southwest travel fund.

Related: How to re-price Southwest flight tickets when the price drops

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Here are some sample fares I came across for travel in March. You’ll find that you can save a lot of money if your dates (and willingness to fly connecting itineraries) are flexible.

Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to Cancun International Airport (CUN)

There are many ways to save on your next trip to Cancun with points and miles. And, starting at under 5,000 Rapid Rewards points (plus about $38 in taxes and fees) next July, you can fly to Cancun from Houston. When in Mexico, check out ours The ultimate checklist of things to do on your Cancun trip.

Related: 10 countries you didn’t know you could fly to Southwest

Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Kahului Airport (OGG)

You can fly to Kahului (on the island of Maui) from 11,118 Southwest Rapid Rewards points plus about $6 in taxes and fees on select days in July. You can even fly 2 get 1 to Hawaii with Southwest Companion Card.

Long Beach Airport (LGB) to Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

For those looking to visit Las Vegas next year, you can fly from Long Beach (located between Los Angeles and Orange County) to Las Vegas for as little as 3,000 points (plus about $6 in taxes and fees). fees) in July. Check out our stories about 9 new things to do in Las Vegas and book this place, not Las Vegas while planning your trip.

New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW)

Southwest doesn’t have the largest route network in New York, but some hidden gems still exist. If you want to book a summer trip to the Windy City, you can fly for as little as 5,280 points (plus about $6 in taxes and fees) per person in July.

Remember that Southwest allows all passengers to bring two checked bags (up to 50 pounds each) on its flights, a notable difference from most other US airlines.

Related: Southwest baggage fees and how to avoid them