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Last Updated : October 14, 2025

What is the Best Time To Book Southwest Flights?

Wondering which is the best time to book Southwest flights to secure the lowest fares for your next flight? Then stop scrolling, as you are at the right place. The secret of getting the low fares lies in the timing and understanding of Southwest's pricing patterns. Unlike many other airlines, Southwest Airlines releases weekly airfare sales mostly on Tuesday, around 3 PM EST. This is a golden window for you to book the discount airfares to your desired destinations. Their no change fee policy also makes it easier for you to rebook at lower prices when they drop. 

So, what are you waiting for? Read the blog to know more about which day you get the cheapest deals to book flights on Southwest and identify its features.  

When is the best time to book Southwest flights?

The best time to book Southwest flights completely depends on your travel time, route flexibility, and budget. However, here are some of the best times when you can book Southwest flights at discounted airfare -

#1. The Golden Window For Booking: 

For domestic flights, the best time to book Southwest flights is typically 3 to 6 weeks in advance of your departure date. The timeframe allows you to avoid the substantial price increases that typically happen 21 days before departure. However, if you are planning your holiday during the peak season of Christmas or New Year, then we recommend you book 3-4 months in advance for discounted airfare. 

#2. Tuesday Sale Strategy:

If you are planning to book your flight tickets with Southwest Airlines, then you would know about this Tuesday Sale Strategy that takes place at around 3pm EST. The airline launches significant discounts on airfare for budget-friendly travelers. These weekly promotions feature substantial discounts on the selected routes, making Tuesday one of the optimal days to consider when looking for cheap flights. 

#3. Flexible Booking Advantage: 

The best part about Southwest Airlines is that it allows you to change or cancel your flights without fees up until 10 minutes before departure. Sounds interesting, right? So, now if the prices drop on your selected route, you can rebook easily with much more discounted prices without incurring extra fees. 

#4. Travel Days For Cheap Fares  

If you are looking for the best day to book flights on Southwest, then they are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, with generally midweek. These discounted fares might be restricted to just early morning flights before 8:00 AM or night flights after 07:00 PM. 

#5. Specific Occasions Sales 

Southwest Airlines also holds several occasional sales when you can book your flight tickets at discounted rates. Southwest holds 2 major semi-annual sales every year, like the Summer sale, which happens in June/July, or the Winter sale, which usually happens in October. Apart from this, Southwest also offers discounts on special days like Labor Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July. 


So, with the help of these tricks and special discounts, you can easily grab your flights at the best time to book Southwest flights. Moreover, you can call ExperianAirfare as well for further assistance in booking your flight ticket. 

What is the Southwest Low Fare Calendar?

Southwest Low Fare Calendar is a very prominent search that displays the lowest available fares for a given month. Through this calendar, you can easily plan your trip as you can see which days will have lower fares. By presenting the color-coded grid of one-way fares, the calendar highlights the cheapest days to fly at a glance. Now the question comes, how can you use it? Then -

  • Simply enter your arrival and departure cities, date or travel, number of passengers, and choose between round-trip, one-way, or Southwest multi-city flights. 
  • After putting in all the information, click on the option “Search Flights,” and the calendar will display on your screen. 
  • The lowest fares start from as low as $49 on sale days. And you can select any of the preferred days to book your flight tickets. 

Moreover, if you don't want to get into the hassle of looking at the flight discount and booking, then you can just call ExperianAirfare directly, and we will find the best flight deals for you. 

Conclusion

So, if you are also someone who is looking for the best time to book Southwest flights, then we hope that this blog has answered your query. With features like no change or cancel fee policy, low fare calendar, Tuesday sale, etc, you can easily get your flight ticket at discounted rates with Southwest. 

So, what are you waiting for? Book your Southwest flight with ExperianAirfare now and travel budget-friendly. 

If Southwest’s flight timings don’t fit your plan, you can still find great deals by exploring Southwest multi-city flight booking options, which let you connect multiple destinations at a lower total fare

Frequently Asked Questions

Southwest opens its flight schedules approximately 6–8 months ahead, allowing you to plan and book well in advance.

For most domestic routes, booking 3–6 weeks before departure strikes the optimal balance between availability and low fares

Tuesdays around 3 PM EST are prime for Southwest fare sales, with discounts running through Thursday, making midweek bookings most rewarding.

Yes, you can use it to select the lowest rates across your chosen month with more flexibility. 



Absolutely. Southwest’s no-change-fee policy lets you change to the same flight at a lower fare if prices drop, ensuring you always secure the best deal.



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