Southwest Airlines adds 3 new routes, cuts 1 as it extends schedule into April
Southwest Airlines' presence in Mexico and the Caribbean is getting a boost in the carrier’s latest schedule update.
The airline announced three new routes — and the elimination of one domestic route — as it extended its booking schedule through April 8.
The additions are:
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)-Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)-Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) in Mexico
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)-Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize
The cut is:
- Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport (IAD)-Chicago's Midway International Airport (MDW)
Breaking down Southwest's latest schedule update
Southwest’s schedule update will give St. Louis a new international destination with Saturday-only flights to Los Cabos on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.
The airline also will resume a number of other seasonal routes from St. Louis, including ones to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and three Florida destinations. Additionally, Southwest is bringing back daily nonstop service between St. Louis and San Francisco on March 7, restoring a route that the carrier dropped in early 2022.
Related: The best Southwest Airlines credit cards
From Baltimore, Southwest is adding new Saturday-only seasonal service to Belize. The airline also is bringing back three other seasonal routes between BWI and the Caribbean. On March 9, Southwest will resume Saturday-only flights to Grand Cayman, Los Cabos and the Turks and Caicos Islands as well.
The addition of Belize expands Southwest’s international footprint at BWI, where it now flies to 11 destinations across Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
The last of Southwest’s new routes announced Thursday comes in Austin. The fast-growing capital of Texas will get new Saturday-only service to San Juan.
Several of Southwest’s wintertime seasonal routes also will resume in Austin. Among those are Saturday-only routes to Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Panama City, Florida; and Montrose, Colorado. Daily seasonal service to Charleston, South Carolina, returns March 7.
The one cut for Southwest comes at IAD, where the airline will drop its nonstop service to MDW after March 6. The loss of the Chicago flights continues a pullback by Southwest at Dulles, where the airline will now fly to only two destinations (Atlanta and Denver) once the Chicago flights end.
While Southwest has trimmed back its Dulles operation in recent years, it does maintain a robust presence in the greater D.C. and Baltimore metro areas. BWI is one of Southwest’s busiest airports across its entire network, and the carrier now flies to more than 20 destinations from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Beyond the three additions and one cut, Southwest will resume dozens of seasonal routes for its spring schedule. Among the highlights are five routes returning for Cancun, Mexico (Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee; New Orleans; Pittsburgh and San Antonio), as well as the return of several routes between Hawaii and California. The latter includes Sacramento-Maui (daily, resumes March 7); Long Beach, California-Maui (Saturdays, resumes March 9); Los Angeles-Kona, Hawaii (Saturdays, resumes March 9); and Los Angeles-Lihue, Hawaii (Saturdays, resumes March 9).
Related: Everything you need to know about the best seats on Southwest Airlines
Elsewhere, the seasonal resumptions span Southwest’s destinations around the country, running the gamut from routes like Denver-Savannah, Georgia (Saturdays and Sundays) to Atlanta-Los Angeles (Saturdays).
Scroll down for full details on Southwest’s three new routes. A full list of the airline’s seasonal resumptions is available on Southwest's website.
Austin-San Juan
- Begins March 9; seasonal Saturday-only service
Related: 9 new Caribbean resorts, from Barbados to Belize, you need to visit
Baltimore-Belize
- Begins March 9; seasonal Saturday-only service
St. Louis-Los Cabos
- Begins March 9; seasonal Saturday-only service
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- 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.
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- $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.