Southwest Airlines schedule extended into January 2026 — book now to save on flights

If you have got but to book flights for the upcoming months, now is a superb time to snag Southwest Airlines flights.

Although some carriers permit you to book flights about 11 months upfront, Southwest extends its reserving window only some months at a time.

Southwest has extended its schedule by means of Jan. 5, 2026. This is an efficient time to rating a good deal on Southwest flights for winter, together with throughout the common vacation break interval.

Just keep in mind that Southwest is making main adjustments to its insurance policies, so be certain to test that the airline nonetheless works in your journey priorities.

Stunning reversal: What we all know in regards to the surprising adjustments from Southwest — and what it is best to do now

Here’s what you want to find out about maximizing Southwest’s most up-to-date schedule extension.

Why book when Southwest extends its schedule?

Booking flights rapidly when Southwest extends its schedule can save you critical cash, as you seemingly will not discover decrease costs out there now for peak journey dates.

Southwest’s change and cancellation coverage additionally makes it straightforward to book now, even when you’re undecided you will take the journey. Here are Southwest’s cancellation guidelines when you cancel at the least 10 minutes earlier than a flight’s scheduled departure:

• If you paid for a Wanna Get Away (new primary financial system fares — see under): You will obtain Travel Funds (which now expire after six months).
• If you paid for a Wanna Get Away Plus fare: You will obtain Travel Funds (which now expire after 12 months).
• If you paid for an Anytime or Business Select fare: You can request a refund to your unique type of fee or settle for Travel Funds (which now expire after 12 months).
• If you redeemed Southwest Rapid Rewards factors: Points will routinely return into the account from which they had been booked, and you may request that Southwest refunds taxes and costs to your unique type of fee.

So, in case your journey plans change, you’ll be able to cancel your flight without spending a dime. If the value decreases after reserving, you’ll be able to rebook and obtain the distinction as Travel Funds or factors. In this sense, reserving Southwest flights for journeys you hope to take is a really low danger.

Remember that Southwest has introduced a slew of adjustments prior to now few months — for instance, the provider did away with its two-free-checked-bags coverage. Among the opposite adjustments, Southwest is introducing a primary fare class that can substitute the Wanna Get Away fares. The airline is asking it “Basic,” and the fare has extra restrictions; hold that in thoughts if contemplating these sorts of fares. (Changes go into impact May 28.)

Quick take: Southwest Airlines will finish open seating: What you want to know

How to rating the perfect Southwest offers

Here are 5 ideas for getting the perfect deal on Southwest flights.

Book instantly

We suggest reserving Southwest flights instantly when the reserving window opens, particularly in order for you to fly throughout peak instances. Although flights have already opened up, you should still have the option to snag some good offers.

As talked about above, there’s minimal danger with reserving Southwest flights due to the airline’s pretty versatile insurance policies. So, it’s your decision to book now even if you’re not 100% sure of your plans. If you need a full refund to your unique fee technique, redeem Southwest factors in your flights or book dearer Anytime or Business Select fares.

Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards factors to Southwest

With the airline’s versatile award insurance policies, redeeming Southwest factors is often the popular technique for reserving a Southwest flight. If you want to cancel a flight booked with factors, your factors go straight again into your Rapid Rewards account, and you may get the taxes and costs you paid returned to your card.

Earning a sign-up bonus on a brand new Southwest bank card is a superb manner to increase your account stability, however it would take a while. If you have got a Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card, such because the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you may as well switch Chase Ultimate Rewards factors to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio.

Note that Chase has additionally made it simpler to book Southwest flights by means of Chase Travel℠, which can provide a greater worth in your Ultimate Rewards factors.

Use a Companion Pass

The Southwest Companion Pass is among the most respected rewards within the journey business. After all, a pal or member of the family can fly with you without spending a dime (plus taxes and costs) as a perk of the Companion Pass. The move usually expires Dec. 31 of the 12 months following the 12 months you earned it.

If you don’t but have a Companion Pass however plan to earn one earlier than your flight, you’ll be able to nonetheless book now and add your companion’s ticket later. The solely requirement for including your companion to your reservation is that there should be at the least one seat left on the market. Just needless to say if you’re flying throughout peak instances on common routes, there’s a probability that your flight will promote out when you wait too lengthy.

If you need a quicker path towards the Companion Pass, take into account opening one of many following bank cards:

(To be taught extra, learn our full evaluations of the playing cards, so as of lowest to highest annual price: Southwest Plus, Premier, Premier Business, Priority and Performance Business.)

Related: Companion Pass and bonus factors: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier and Plus bank cards

Any mixture of those playing cards may be a good way to earn the Companion Pass.

The data for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Related: How to rapidly earn the Southwest Companion Pass

Consider different dates

If you have got some flexibility, use that to your benefit when reserving your flights. You can use Southwest’s low-fare calendar to test the least costly dates in your desired flights.

The costliest days to fly are usually Fridays and Sundays, so when you can shift your dates just a few days, it’s possible you’ll discover the value considerably cheaper.

Look for worth drops

If your flight decreases in worth between if you book and if you fly, you’ll be able to simply get the distinction in Rapid Rewards factors again into your account. Of course, these versatile insurance policies nonetheless exist if you pay in your fare with money, however you will find yourself with Southwest Travel Funds (that now expire).

Example pricing

Here are some pattern fares. You’ll see which you can save some huge cash in case your dates are versatile (and likewise when you’re prepared to fly connecting itineraries).

Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to Cancun International Airport (CUN) in Mexico

There are loads of methods to save on your subsequent journey to Mexico with factors and miles. Starting at simply 11,500 Rapid Rewards factors (plus about $47 in taxes and costs), you’ll be able to fly from Houston to Cancun for a warm-weather break in December. Keep in thoughts that Southwest is transferring to extra dynamic pricing and award costs can fluctuate.

We noticed the identical itinerary as little as 7,055 factors throughout spring break.

Related: 10 nations you did not know you would fly to on Southwest

San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) in Hawaii

For a fall break, you’ll be able to fly to Hawaii’s Big Island for as few as 12,500 Southwest Rapid Rewards factors plus about $6 in taxes and costs on some dates in December. You may even fly two-for-one to Hawaii together with your Southwest Companion Pass.

New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Miami International Airport (MIA)

If you need to book a late spring journey to South Florida, you’ll be able to fly for as few as 16,000 factors per particular person (plus about $6 in taxes and costs) in December.

Keep in thoughts that you would have booked that very same flight for as few as 4,261 factors (plus about $6 in taxes and costs) final May.

Bottom line

Despite the current adjustments at Southwest, the airline can nonetheless provide worth. Knowing the ins and outs of reserving a Southwest flight might help you safe the perfect flights for your loved ones on the lowest price. Those trying to journey this winter ought to book now to rating the perfect offers on Southwest.

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