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Southwest offering 3-day sale on airfare, redemptions, with up to 50% savings

June 10, 2024
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5 min read
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Southwest Airlines is celebrating its birthday this week by offering some deals on both paid flights and reservations booked using Rapid Rewards points.

The Dallas-based carrier is running a sale on certain late-summer and autumn flights over the next few days. It could help you save as much as 50% on certain bookings.

We found steep discounts that could help you save on August flights to Florida, weekend getaways to Nashville and flights to Dallas during football season.

It’s the latest in a series of recent deals and discounts TPG has tracked, fueling questions over whether 2024 might mark the “return of the airfare deal.”

Considering you won’t pay for a seat, a checked bag or a full-size carry-on when flying Southwest, this deal could be reason enough to book a trip for the second half of 2024.

Southwest takeoff from Cancun
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

Deal basics

Airline: Southwest Airlines

Routes: Many options throughout the Southwest network

How to book: Directly through Southwest’s mobile app (a web browser won’t work) using promo code "BDAY"

Travel dates: Aug. 6 through Dec. 18, with certain dates and flights excluded

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Book by: June 13

There are a few additional rules and caveats you’ll need to know about to take advantage of this sale:

  • Not all trips are eligible. Even when booking within that Aug. 6 to Dec. 18 window, I found many potential dates and itineraries that didn’t offer a discount.
  • I checked flights from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Cancun International Airport (CUN) and was out of luck, searching numerous dates. However, unlike many airline sales, there are plenty of Fridays and other weekend dates that are eligible, so you aren’t strictly limited to, say, Tuesday and Wednesday flights.
  • You have to be a Rapid Rewards member logged into your account to take advantage of these deals. Don’t bother searching with a web browser: This is a mobile app-exclusive sale.

Sample flights

Despite many ineligible dates, we also found plenty of great savings opportunities, whether you’re hoping to squeeze in another late-summer trip or get something on the books for this fall.

For instance, here’s a one-way flight on a Saturday in August from Chicago's Midway International Airport (MDW) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) for $94, discounted from $127 (a 25% savings).

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

The sale technically includes potential savings of "up to 50%," but many of the deals we found hovered closer to 25%

For instance, you can save about 27% on this Friday flight in September from BWI to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Notably, you can also save on redemptions using this deal.

For instance, here's a flight from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Nashville International Airport (BNA) for just over 6,900 Rapid Rewards points — down nearly 3,000 points from the usual cost. That's a great option for a fall getaway to Music City.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Your best bet is to plug in some dates and cities you might be interested in; then, check both cash and points prices to see if there are potential deals you can take advantage of.

Maximize your purchase

If you book this deal, use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases such as:

If you're a regular Southwest flyer, you may also want to consider adding one of the airline's cobranded credit cards to your wallet. All three personal Southwest credit cards are offering 85,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening. These points are worth $1,190, according to our valuations.

Bottom line

It's a great time to pull up Southwest Airlines' mobile app and check out prices — cash and points — for a potential late-summer and fall getaway. Over the next three days, you could save as much as 50% on a booking.

Related reading:

Featured image by SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.