Search & book flights with Southwest Airlines
Buy Southwest Airlines Flights with Alternative Airlines
Southwest (also referred to as SW airlines or SWA) is a major US airline that provides low-cost passenger flights. In 2024, 140 million people flew with Southwest, making it America's fourth most popular airline. The airline is based at Dallas Love Field airport and operates an extensive network across the US, as well as to international destinations in North and Central America. Overall, the airline flies to more than 100 destinations. At its most popular time of year, Southwest flies more than 4,000 daily flights (pre-Covid-19 pandemic).
Southwest Airlines was established in 1967, and originally only flew between Texas' three of its biggest cities: Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. The airline has grown massively since then and is now one of the biggest carriers in the US. It's regularly within the top 3 airlines in the US for the number of passengers carried, behind Delta and American Airlines. It's the most popular low-cost carrier in all of North America.
The airline is known for its cheap basic fares, which are sold as seat-only tickets for very affordable prices. Passengers that want extra for their flight can add on to their fare to give them what they need. Southwest is unique in that it's one of the only airlines to use open seating. Open seating is when passengers aren't assigned a seat at check-in and choose their seat as they board the flight, on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Southwest's affordable pricing, impressive punctuality and customer satisfaction, combined with the fact that it's not quite as well-booked as some of the other American airlines, has led us to rank Southwest as our Most Underrated American Airline.
Looking to book Southwest Airlines flight tickets?
Alternative Airlines is an online flight search and booking site, which offers competitive Southwest Airlines airfare prices. We make it easy to pay the way you want, whether that is using Apple Pay, PayPal, or splitting the cost with Sezzle, Affirm, or one of our other payment plan options.
Baggage Policy
Southwest Airlines rules for baggage are that passengers are permitted to carry two-piece of checked baggage and one piece of carry-on baggage onboard their flight.
Carry-on Baggage
Southwest Airlinebaggage requirements are that passengers are entitled to one item of carry-on baggage per person. This carry-on bag must not exceed 10 x 16 x 24 inches (25 x 40 x 60cm). In addition to this, passengers are allowed to bring one personal item with them on the flight, for example, a small rucksack, a handbag, a briefcase, or a laptop. This small personal item must not exceed the overall dimensions of 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inches (46 x 22 x 34 cm). You musn't pack any prohibited items in your carry-on as they will be removed and thrown away at airporrt security. Prohibited items include liquids over 100ml, sharp objects, illegal substances and explosives.
Checked Baggage
Passengers are allowed two items of checked baggage free of charge. Southwest Airlines checked baggage weight limit is 50lb (22kg) per piece and its overall dimension is62 inches (157 cm) (L x W x H).
Cabin Classes
All seats on Southwest flights are economy as standard; this is the only class on all flights.
Economy Class
Economy Class Facilities
Economy class passengers receive free in-flight entertainment, including films and tv shows. All seating is open-seating, meaning that passengers simply choose their seats once they are on the plane. This avoids having to rush to get to check-in or pre-select your seat.
Economy Class Seats
The seats on the Southwest fleet range from 31-33 inch pitch and 17 - 17.8 inches wide with 2 inches recline and adjustable headrests. This is reported to be one of the most comfortable economy seats on low-cost carriers, as the company has larger-than-average seats with enhanced cushion support in the seat.
Premium Economy Class
There is no premium economy currently available with this airline.
Business Class
Southwest has a booking fare called Business Select, which allows passengers certain privileges when flying with this airline. Although the onboard seating arrangements will be the same as every other passenger, such as being in the same cabin, Business Select passengers get priority features that enhance their experience.
Business Class Facilities
Passengers will get guaranteed priority boarding, which is perfect for the open-seating plan, as passengers can enter the plane first, choose their seat and settle before the rest of the passengers are permitted on the plane. Check-in is also quicker, with lines all being fast-tracked for security and check-in. Passengers in Business will also receive a complimentary premium drink voucher to use on the day of travel, which includes options for alcoholic beverages.
What is the Business Class Seats Like?
The seats for business class are just the same as economy class, which are described above.
First Class
There is currently no first-class offered on this airline. This means you won't be able to book Southwest first-class flights.
In-Flight Entertainment
Southwest Airlines offers free in-flight entertainment for its passengers to sit back and enjoy the journey! You can watch live and on-demand TV, watch movies or listen to music on Southwest flights.
Food and Beverage
Southwest Airlines offers free soft drinks and coffee onboard but alcoholic drinks are available to buy. Peanuts and pretzels are free onboard! The menu onboard is available on their website.
Wi-Fi
Enjoy fast WIFI when you fly with Southwest Airlines. Allowing you to stay connected while being thousands of feet in the air, ultra-fast WIFI gives you access to all of your favourite streaming services, emails, and messages, so you don't miss out on your favourite shows or important updates at work while you're flying. The airline's WIFI is available on Southwest flights, all-day WiFi only costs USD $8 (price as of 2020).
Check-In Information
Online and airport check-in is available for flights with Southwest Airlines.
Online Check-In
For passengers flying on Southwest Airlines, web check-in reservation is available on all flights. You can check in online by visiting the online check-in page and entering your confirmation number, first and last name. Online check-in opens 24 hours before to one hour prior to scheduled flight departure time.
Airport Check-In
Airport check-in can be completed by visiting the dedicated check-in counters at the airport of departure. Airport check-in opens three hours before the scheduled Southwest Airline departure time and generally closes 30 minutes to one hour before.
Frequent Flyer Program
Southwest Airlines has a frequent flyer program called Rapid Rewards.
Rapid Rewards
This airline operates a frequent flyer program called Rapid Rewards to reward its regular passengers.
In 2011, Rapid Rewards changed to a points system based on ticket cost. Members earn and redeem points based on a three-tier fare scale multiplier and the cost of the ticket. Changes also included no blackout dates, seat restrictions or expiring credits. It also adds more options to use points.
It's now easier than ever to collect frequent flyer points easily with Alternative Airlines and enjoy the benefits of your chosen alliance. If you have not yet chosen an Airline Alliance, check out our article to find out which frequent flyer program is best for you.
Collecting Points
When making your booking through Alternative Airlines, it is easy to collect your frequent flyer points. Simply select Rapid Rewards from the drop-down option during the flight-booking process and add your unique membership number.
Airline Alliance
Southwest Airlines is not a member of any airline alliance.
Destinations that Southwest flies to
As of September 2022, Southwest Airlines travel destinations include over 100 domestic destinations in 40 states such as Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, Midway, Las Vegas, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, Orlando, Atlanta and Los Angeles, as well as more than 15 international destinations across Central America and the Caribbean. Why not book a one-way flight with Southwest to the following destinations?
Alternatives to Southwest Airlines
The following airlines operate similar routes to the ones served by Southwest Airlines:
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Buy now, pay later
Buy your flights now and pay later
No way, really?! Yes! We’ve partnered with some amazing BNPL payment providers to allow you to pay for your flights over time, with ease.
Hub Airport
Dallas Love Field
Dallas Love Field (DAL) is a city-owned airport located 6 miles outside of the city of Dallas. The airport was Dallas's main airport until Dallas Fort Worth International Airport opened in 1974. Dallas Love Field (DAL) is the hub for Southwest -the airline has a 95% market share at the airport. The airport only has a single terminal with 20 gates, numbered from 1-20. Alaska Airlines leases two gates (11 and 13), and Southwest leases the other eighteen gates.
Take the time to treat yourself or a family member in duty-free stores- you could spend endless hours browsing the shops Dallas-Love field has to offer. There are also a range of Cafes and restaurants for you to enjoy, including Chick-Fil-A, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks and Chili's.
Other airlines that operate out of the airport include Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Taos Air.
Fleet
The extensive fleet consists of Boeing 737-700s, Boeing 737MAXs, and Boeing 737-800s, delivering more than 4,000 SW Airlines flights per day in peak season. Southwest is the largest operator of the Boeing 737 worldwide. In total, the airline has a fleet of over 800 aircraft and carried more than 134 million passengers in 2019. Below is a more accurate list of all the aircraft in Southwest's fleet:
Boeing 737-700 - Southwest has almost 450 in service, with each aircraft seating up to 143 passengers.
Boeing 737-800 - Just over 200 in service, seating up to 175 passengers per aircraft.
Boeing 737 MAX 8 - Over 150 in service, with 200 more orders of this aircraft to be added to the fleet.
Boeing 737 MAX 7 - None in the fleet just yet, but Southwest has 192 orders of this particular aircraft and deliveries are expected to begin in 2023.
Book Southwest Flights to & from Las Vegas
With Alternative Airlines we make it incredibly easy for you to search for and book your flights with any airline that flies to Las Vegas, including Southwest Airlines! Southwest is one of the most popular US-based airlines that operates frequent flights to Las Vegas from all over the United States.
Using our search form at the top of the page, you can search for Southwest flights to/from Las Vegas. If you're booking through Alternative Airlines, you can even choose to spread the cost of your Southwest tickets over time and pay later with popular Buy Now Pay Later options, including Afterpay, Affirm and Klarna, among others.
Flying to and from the US to Las Vegas with Southwest
Las Vegas, situated in the US state of Nevada, is known worldwide for its abundance of casinos and world-class entertainment, accompanied by fine dining, nightlife and luxury shopping opportunities. This city attracts all kinds of tourists from around the world, all seeking an unforgettable, magical experience of a lifetime!
To visit Las Vegas, we suggest flying to Harry Reid International Airport, the city's main airport.
Harry Reid International Airport
Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport, is the primary airport serving the Las Vegas Valley, Southern Utah, Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona. The airport is a base for Southwest Airlines and Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines, among others. From Harry Reid International Airport, Southwest flies to almost 70 domestic cities in the United States.
Popular routes
Southwest operates direct routes to/from Harry Reid International Airport to/from many cities within the US, including:
- Las Vegas (LAS) ✈ to San Francisco (SFO)
- Las Vegas (LAS) ✈ to Orlando (MCO)
- Las Vegas (LAS) ✈ to Seattle (SEA)
- Las Vegas (LAS) ✈ to Atlanta (ATL)
- Las Vegas (LAS) ✈ to Dallas (DAL)
If you're planning to fly to smaller cities or somewhere that Southwest doesn't currently fly to, you'll be able to catch connecting flights with a layover at one of the airports listed above/below. You can even book multi-city flights with Southwest and hop from city to city, e.g., New York to Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
Flying to and from Las Vegas on Southwest from outside the US
Unfortunately, with Southwest Airlines, you'll only be able to reach Las Vegas from within the US as it doesn't currently offer any flights to Las Vegas from its international destinations like Central America. For flights outside of the US, we suggest searching for flights to Las Vegas with an alternative airline, such as Frontier Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The other option is to take a connecting flight to Las Vegas with Southwest - some popular connecting flight route examples are below:
Book Southwest Flights to & from Nashville
Alternative Airlines are here to help you search and book flights with any airline that flies to Nashville, including Southwest! Southwest Airlines is one of the most popular airlines in the US, running regular flights to Nashville from other destinations in the US.
By using the search form at the top of our page, you can search for flights to and from Nashville with Southwest. When booking with Alternative Airlines you can even spread the cost of your flight across multiple payments with our many buy now, pay later options that we have available. These include Afterpay, Klarna, Affirm and more.
Flying to and from the US to Nashville with Southwest Airlines
Nashville, the capital city of Tennesse, is the most populous in the state with around 690,000 residents. Also known as the music city, Nashville is a hub for all things music, particularly country. Famous country singers from the city include Dolly Parton and Billy Ray Cyrus.
If you want to visit Nashville then we suggest flying into Nashville International Airport.
Nashville International Airport
Nashville International, formerly known as Berry Airport, is a public and military airport that's located in south-eastern Nashville. The airport is currently served by 30 airlines in total, including Southwest, Allegiant Air and American Airlines.
Deals and Discounts
Looking for discounts and deals when booking Southwest Airlines flights?
Here at Alternative Airlines, we love making it as affordable as possible for everyone to book flights. If you’re looking to book Southwest Airlines flights and save, we can help. In this guide, discover how you can find our latest discounts and deals. Top Tip: We also offer lots of payment plan options, so that you can spread the cost of your Southwest flights (or flights with any other airline) over time!
The best place to look is our deals and discounts page. This page has our most up-to-date offers, discounts and coupons.
Our discount deals aren’t exclusive to Southwest flights, and can be redeemed against any flight booking with any airline that you can book through Alternative Airlines. We ticket hundreds of airlines! As well as Southwest, you can book flights with American Airlines, Delta, United, Spirit, and many others.
How to use promo codes for Southwest flights
- Using the search form at the top of the page, fill in the departure and arrival airports along with the dates you wish to fly, the number of passengers and cabin class. Then, hit the 'Search Flights' button to find the flight you've always dreamed of. Alternative Airlines has created an easy and customisable booking site. You can apply filters to narrow down your search and set out your preferences. if you wish to fly with Southwest, use the airline filter and select Southwest.
- Once you've found the perfect flight for you, confirm your selection. Then, enter your contact and personal details and select either PayPal or PayPal Credit in order for the discount code to work.
- Enter the discount code into the Promo Code box and select 'Apply'. You'll then be shown how much you've saved by using the discount and the price of you're discounted Southwest flight ticket. If you're struggling with the coupon code, please ensure that you have followed the rules for the discount code to work, by checking if you have selected the right currency and payment method. However, if your still having problems with the coupon, please don't hesitate to contact Alternative Airlines where we'll be able to assist you.
Other ways to save money on Southwest flights
Buy flights on finance
Looking to finance your Southwest flight? Well, you've come to the right spot. Here, at Alternative Airlines you can book flights with 600+ airlines including Southwest and spread the cost over some time. We have partnered with a number of payment plan providers that let you split the cost of your flight in weekly, bi-weekly or monthly instalments. Many of which are interest-free! Some of the most popular payment plans we offer include Afterpay, Klarna, Affirm, and PayPal Credit. To find out more check out our fly now pay later with Southwest.
Use our Best Fare Finder
Alternative Airlines is simply the best way to book your flight. Our best fare finder feature makes it really easy for you to find out what days are the cheapest to fly for the destinations you plan to visit. If you're looking to find the cheapest deals, use our Best Fare Finder when searching for Southwest flights. You can also use the calendar to find out what days are the cheapest to travel. The dates highlighted in green are the cheapest days to fly and the dates highlighted in red are the more expensive. To find out more on how to use this feature follow our Best Fare Finder guide.
Pay for Southwest Airline Tickets with PayPal
Buy Southwest tickets with Alternative Airlines and pay with PayPal. Alternative Airlines is a travel website that accepts PayPal for Southwest flight reservations. PayPal is one of the most popular payment methods used by Alternative Airlines customers. Pay for Southwest with PayPal easily and securely. All you need is an existing PayPal account to pay for flights using PayPal.
Emergency and Bereavement Flights
Buy your emergency Southwest flight with Alternative Airlines. If you are needing to buy a last-minute flight for a funeral or a family emergency, then Alternative Airlines will help you through this stressful process. See all information on flying in an emergency or information on bereavement flights with Alternative Airlines.
Payment Plans
Did you know you can buy your flights and pay for your Southwest tickets in instalments with Alternative Airlines? You can buy your flights now and pay at a later date using a payment plan with Affirm (US residents only) or PayPal Credit. At Alternative Airlines, all flights on Southwest are available to pay off in instalments, no matter what the route. To find out more about these payment methods, as well as all the other instalment options we offer, visit our buy flights on finance page.
News
3rd February 2021
Southwest Airlines eyes new routes for 2021
Southwest Airlines announced last month that it will be adding an additional route between Kahului (Maui), Hawaii, and Long Beach, Calif. From March, Southwest Airlines will also commence an additional six new routes from Long Beach including Chicago (Midway), Dallas (Love Field), Honolulu (Oahu), Houston (Hobby), Kahului (Maui), Reno/Tahoe, and St. Louis. This news follows a difficult year for the travel industry, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and suggests that, despite this, Southwest still sees continued growth in the future.
3 September 2020
Southwest Airlines new destinations
Southwest is looking to start its flights to Miami International Airport and Palm Springs International Airport within 2020.
24 February 2020
New destination for Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines plans to start seasonal daily flights between Denver and Steamboat Springs. The route is planned to commence in winter 2020. Currently, United Express is the only operator between the two destinations.
27 January 2020
Southwest to grow Hawaii service in 2020
Southwest is focused on growing its Hawaii service in 2020. The airline operates 14 daily flights from California to Hawaii via Oakland, Sacramento, and San Jose. This is in addition to 38 daily departures across its inter-island network.
In March 2020, Southwest will kick off new routes from Sacramento to Kahului, and from San Diego to Maui and Honolulu in April.