We 'luv' to see it: Southwest fares now displaying in Google Flights
Google Flights is one of the top tools for finding the best possible airfare. The Google Flights search engine aggregates nearly all available flights based on your specified date and location parameters. Once you find your perfect flight, you can click through to book directly with the airline. You can even compare cash and award pricing by using a browser extension.
As valuable as Google Flights is, there has always been one glaring drawback: the inability to see Southwest Airlines fares in the search results. Now, that has changed.
As of Wednesday, Southwest fare results are displaying in Google Flights searches alongside other major airlines. Historically, you could view Southwest flight times, numbers and other data in the search results, but you could only see the actual fare by clicking through to Southwest's website.
Now that you can view Southwest prices on Google Flights, you can compare pricing across multiple airlines to find the most affordable flight. This makes the search engine's date grid and price graph tools more accurate and helpful to travelers.
You can also utilize Google Flights' tracking capabilities to monitor Southwest flight prices. When you sign up, you'll receive an email alert anytime the price of a tracked Southwest flight changes. This can help you determine the best time to book. For previously booked flights, this will let you rebook your flight at a lower price and receive a flight credit or cash back, depending on your booking method and fare class.
This change also means you can view pricing and inclusions for all four of Southwest's fare classes within Google Flights. Overall, comparing and booking airfare on the Google Flights platform just got much easier.
Southwest regularly offers flight deals, which you could typically only access directly with the airline. Now, you can see the same discounted flight deals on Google Flights that Southwest offers on its own website.
Southwest shared the following statement with TPG regarding the changes:
"We're extending the reach of Southwest.com by giving users of Google Flights enhanced visibility into our available flights, fares, and the benefits of our products and services. In our initial piloting of this partnership, we've made it possible for Google Flights users to compare our different fare options and click directly into Southwest.com to book their selected itinerary.
"This offers the digital experience our existing customers and members of Rapid Rewards know well for account management and reservation servicing options available throughout a journey with Southwest Airlines.
"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 a breadth of flight service that's built around the more than 800 nonstop routes Southwest will offer this peak summer travel season among 121 airports across 11 countries."
Despite the change, the budget-friendly airline remains absent from online travel agencies like Expedia and Travelocity as well as credit card travel portals like Capital One Travel and the American Express Travel portal. Late last year, the airline did give eligible Chase cardholders the ability to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for Southwest flights using the Chase travel portal.
These enhancements make booking Southwest flights easier than ever and only account for some of the changes the Dallas-based airline has committed to in recent years. In 2022, the company pledged $2 billion to "transform the customer experience." We've seen it do so by improving inflight Wi-Fi, adding power ports to some planes and more.
More recently, following the airline's December 2022 meltdown that caused the cancellation of nearly 17,000 flights, Southwest said it was budgeting $1.3 billion for upgrades, maintenance and other expenditures to get back on track.
Technology limitations have also prevented the airline from offering red-eye flights. The airline has now migrated to a new system. During the Skift Aviation Conference in November 2023, CEO Bob Jordan said that with the technological barrier lifted, the airline "will be doing red-eyes" at some point in the future.
Could additional changes be on the way for the Southwest flight experience? It's too soon to tell. Still, this is certainly a major win for Southwest loyalists and budget-conscious travelers. Now, you can find and compare flight prices without ever leaving the Google Flights platform.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.