Booking flights can put a dent in your travel budget. But Southwest Airlines routinely publishes promo codes offering deep discounts – sometimes 50% or more off base fares – to help travelers save.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore five current Southwest promo codes to lower your flight costs. You‘ll also learn insider tips to find codes, maximize savings, and score Southwest‘s famous low fares for even less.
An In-Depth Look at Southwest Airlines
Let‘s start with a deeper dive into Southwest for those less familiar with this top low-cost airline.
Founded in 1971 and based in Dallas, Southwest pioneered the low-cost carrier model in the US. It operates over 4,000 daily flights to 100+ destinations across the US and 10 additional countries.
Southwest utilizes a unique open seating policy. Passengers receive boarding passes labeled A, B, or C that determine your place in line and seat selection order. There are no assigned seats.
The airline has earned a reputation for excellent customer service, flexible policies, and low fares. As the largest domestic carrier in the US by passengers carried, Southwest transports over 130 million travelers per year.
Notably, Southwest is the only major airline that has never charged baggage fees, change fees, or cancellation fees. Frequent sales and promotions keep costs low.
The airline also operates a robust rewards program called Rapid Rewards. Members earn points to redeem for flights and perks like priority boarding and in-flight wifi. Rapid Rewards members also get exclusive access to special promo codes and discounts.
| Year | Passengers Carried | Destinations Served |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 130.7 million | 121 |
| 2020 | 42.1 million | 103 |
| 2019 | 164.5 million | 101 |
Southwest Airlines key statistics (Sources: SEC filings, Southwest fact sheets)
Why Southwest Promo Codes Are Valuable
Promo codes offer an easy way for all travelers to lower costs on Southwest Airlines flights.
Key benefits of using Southwest promo codes include:
- Save big – Codes can discount base fares by 50% or more. Even small percentages off add up to major savings.
- Simple to use – Just lookup a valid code and enter it at checkout for automatic discounts.
- Targeted offers – Some codes are exclusive to Rapid Rewards members or new users.
- Broad eligibility – Most codes can be applied to any flight, hotel, car rental, or vacation package booking.
- Stack for max value – Combine with other discounts like web-only fares and sales for maximum possible savings.
- Limited availability – Each code has a defined expiration period, so book before it‘s gone.
According to consumer research, travelers using promo codes save an average of $556 on flight bookings industry-wide. Southwest codes can translate to even bigger individual savings.
| Promo Code | Average Savings |
|---|---|
| WOW50 | $275+ off base fares |
| SAVE20 | $60+ for new customers |
| HOLIDAY25 | $100+ off holiday flights |
Estimated per ticket savings with current Southwest promo codes
How to Find the Best Southwest Promo Codes
New Southwest promo codes are launched frequently, but can be difficult to find. Here are six insider tricks to pinpoint the best current codes:
1. Join Rapid Rewards
Joining Southwest‘s free Rapid Rewards program unlocks exclusive promo code offers not available to the general public. Members routinely get early access to major sales and discounts.
2. Open Southwest Emails
Carefully read all email offers from Southwest – promo codes are often buried in fine print and easy to miss if you skim. Turn on notifications so you never miss an important code.
3. Follow Southwest on Social
Southwest posts some promo codes on Facebook and Twitter available only to followers. Contest giveaways also provide code prizes. Enable alerts to stay updated.
4. Use Browser Extensions
Browser extensions like Honey can automatically test promo codes at checkout across thousands of sites, helping you uncover Southwest deals.
5. Check Deal Sites
Visit major coupon and discount sites like Groupon, RetailMeNot, and TravelZoo to find Southwest promo codes you may have missed.
6. Call Customer Service
Speaking with a Southwest agent directly can sometimes yield access to unpublished promo codes not publicly advertised.
Pro Tip: Searching "Southwest promo codes" on Google surfaces active codes people have recently shared online. Combining this with other strategies maximizes your chances of finding current offers.
5 Huge Southwest Promo Codes Active Now
Ready to save big on your next getaway? Here are five exceptional Southwest promo codes valid as of February 2023:
1. WOW50
- Discount: 50% off base fares
- Expiration: April 30, 2023
- Details: Valid on Wanna Get Away and Anytime base fares only.
- Limitations: Excludes Business Select fares.
- Max Savings: Up to $300+ off per ticket
- How to use: Apply code WOW50 at checkout on southwest.com.
2. SAVE20
- Discount: 20% off full fare
- Expiration: July 31, 2023
- Details: For first-time Southwest customers only.
- Limitations: Can only be used once per new customer.
- Max Savings: Approximately $60 off each ticket.
- How to use: Create new Southwest profile, enter code at checkout.
3. NOW
- Discount: 10% off base fare
- Expiration: March 31, 2023
- Details: For Rapid Rewards members only.
- Limitations: Select routes and travel dates only.
- Max Savings: Around $25 off per ticket.
- How to use: Sign into your Rapid Rewards account and enter code at checkout.
4. HOLIDAY25
- Discount: 25% off base fare
- Expiration: March 15, 2023
- Details: Book by March 15 for Spring Break, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July travel.
- Limitations: Select travel dates only.
- Max Savings: Up to $125+ off per ticket.
- How to use: Apply on southwest.com during booking.
5. FALL40
- Discount: 40% off base fares
- Expiration: November 15, 2023
- Details: Valid for Fall 2023 travel between September – November.
- Limitations: Very limited dates and routes.
- Max Savings: Around $200 off per ticket.
- How to use: Enter code at checkout on southwest.com.
Insider Tip: Southwest also offers targeted promo codes to Rapid Rewards members around their birthday and work anniversary. Log into your account frequently to check for surprise codes.
Tips to Maximize Savings with Codes
Follow these pro tips to ensure you unlock maximum value from Southwest promo codes:
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Read the fine print – Check all terms, expiration dates, and eligibility before booking.
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Book early – Southwest promo codes rarely apply to last-minute bookings. Plan ahead and book as early as possible.
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Be flexible on dates – Adjust your itinerary by a day or two if it unlocks lower fares eligible for promo codes.
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Stack savings – Combine promo codes with web fares, sales, and other discounts for maximum possible savings.
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Book directly – Only southwest.com bookings are eligible for promo codes – they won‘t work on third party sites.
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Try multiple codes – Use multiple valid codes in a single booking if Southwest allows it.
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Purchase upsells later – Add extras like EarlyBird Check-In separately after booking to avoid exclusions.
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Leverage loyalty perks – Sign up for Rapid Rewards to gain access to members-only promo code offers.
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Set alerts – Get notified as soon as new promo codes are released to maximize chances of finding stackable offers.
Creative Ways to Save Beyond Promo Codes
While promo codes provide one great savings opportunity, Southwest also offers additional ways to lower your costs:
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Online fares sales – Book during promotional sales for temporarily discounted base fares.
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Earn the Companion Pass – This elite Rapid Rewards status lets you add a companion to any flight for just the cost of taxes and fees. It‘s essentially a buy-one-get-one free coupon.
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Redeem Rapid Rewards points – Cash in points from Southwest‘s generous program for free flights, upgrades, and more exclusive member perks.
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Book vacation packages – Bundle flights with hotels and rental cars to unlock package pricing and save compared to booking individually.
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Use the Southwest credit card – Earn Companion Pass qualifying points, anniversary credits, and other perks that quickly pay for the annual fee through savings.
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Compare third-party sites – While promo codes only work on southwest.com, check alternative travel booking sites for volatile lower fares.
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Take advantage of sales – Follow #SouthwestSale on Twitter and turn on sale alerts to never miss a fare drop. Act fast once sales are announced.
Conclusion
With insider knowledge and strategic use of Southwest promo codes, you can consistently save big on flights. Follow the tips in this guide to pinpoint the best current offers, maximize code value, and stack savings opportunities for the lowest fares.
A little time invested in promo code hunting pays huge dividends through potentially hundreds of dollars saved on your next getaway, family vacation, or business trip. Take advantage of these Southwest promotions to stretch your travel budget further.
