Southwest flights now appear on Kayak. Here's why that's a big deal
From assigned seats to red-eye flights, it's a time of big changes at Southwest Airlines — and this week has brought another.
Travel search site Kayak now displays Southwest fares, the company announced Monday. This allows users to compare prices and itinerary options directly with those of other airlines.
It's a major shift. Historically, Southwest has not allowed third-party companies to display its schedule and fare data.
That has started to change in recent months, though.
In May, TPG reported Southwest fares began displaying on Google Flights, boosting flight comparison options for users.
And on Monday, Kayak joined the short list of companies that can display Southwest's data.
A quick flight search confirms the change: You can see Southwest options pop up in search results for an October flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Southwest hub Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). It includes both the carrier's Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares.
You can't book directly on Kayak's website. Once you find the Southwest itinerary you want, you can click and be transferred to the carrier's website for a direct booking. This is part of what Southwest is calling a pilot partnership.
"This is a great development for travelers," Kayak CEO Steve Hafner said in a statement Monday. "We first started showing Southwest in 2022 to Kayak for Business customers. We're thrilled to expand that relationship to the millions of leisure travelers who use Kayak."
Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
Major changes at Southwest
Allowing Kayak to display its fare data is the latest in a series of recent moves that amount to something of a transformation at Southwest, amid lagging financial performance in recent quarters.
On the company's July 25 earnings call, chief commercial officer Andrew Watterson cited its recent entry onto Google Flights, among "some of our other customer acquisition activities," as key in trying to fill more of its aircraft with passengers.
That same day, Southwest announced additional efforts to boost revenue, including ditching its longtime open-seating setup and adding extra-legroom options. It also revealed it would boost utilization of its jets through red-eye flights.
Of the expansion to Kayak, the airline said that it's hoping to offer customers "enhanced visibility" into its available fares and flight options.
"We're excited to continue finding ways to expose more consumers to the appeal of our unique combination of value, friendly and flexible policies, and breadth of flight service," Southwest said in a statement to TPG Monday.
The airline did not give any indication as to whether it plans to let additional third-party sites display its flight information in the near future.
Read more: The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare in 2024
Easier ways to search for flights
Southwest joining Google Flights and Kayak is among the handful of recent changes in the U.S. airline industry that are making it simpler for customers to compare flight prices across a wide range of airlines.
In recent months, budget airlines Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines have both announced shifts in how they display fares and add-on charges. Each now plans to offer four distinct ticket types, or bundles, upfront — with product offerings ranging from basic and unbundled to premium.
It's a four-tiered setup that's ostensibly far more similar to the pricing buckets offered by the larger network airlines.
That, plus Southwest's fares showing up in more places, should give travelers a better apples-to-apples glimpse at their flight options when deciding on the best airline and itinerary.
Related reading:
- Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards
- The best Southwest Airlines credit cards
- How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
- What is Southwest Airlines elite status worth?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app