The Offer
- Southwest is offering 50% off your next flight when you book one round trip flight first.
- Register then buy a round trip (or two one-way flights) by 8/3.2
- Travel by 9/30.
- Get a 50% off promo code valid 10/17-11/23 for travel 1/8-3/6/24. Blackout dates apply
The Fine Print
- 50% off promo code discount is on base fare and applied before taxes and fees. Must include Rapid Rewards® number during booking. Limited time. Restrictions apply.
- Not valid on flights purchased with Rapid Rewards points.
- Travel blacked out 2/15-2/19, 2/23-2/25, & 3/3/24.
Our Verdict
If you already have a flight you can always cancel and rebook, just remember to see how much current fares are first. Good promotion if you can make use of it. Remember it’s only on the base fare and not taxes/fees.
I earned 3 of these promo codes. Southwest’s terms said they would expire at midnight Pacific Time. Instead they expired at midnight Eastern (or possibly Central). Frustrating.
Both P1 and P2 received emails from southwest subject line “You’ve earned a 50% off promo code” and in the email it says we will get the promo code on 10/17. I think it’s a great offer because already booked our flights before the offer and rebooked them again during the offer period! Actually prices were lower when rebooked!
We completed our flights this week so probably this is why we received the emails today!
I needed a minute to figure out this hodgepodge of dates:
Book by 8/3/23
Travel by 9/30/23
Book another flight between 10/17/23 and 11/23/23
Travel 2nd flight between 1/8/24 and 3/6/24
But not between 2/15/25 and 2/19/24, 2/23/24 and 2/25/24 and 3/3/24
Pass…….
Q: What will happen after I meet the requirements to earn the 50% off promotion code through this offer?
A: Once you qualify for 50% off promotion code (meaning you registered, booked and traveled on a qualifying round trip or two one-way flight(s) during the applicable dates specified in promotion terms and conditions) we’ll send an email within 10 days. This email lets you know you qualified (woo-hoo!) and includes information on when you can use your promotion code.
Q: How will I receive my promotion code if I earn it?
A: On October 17, 2023, the promotion code will be available in My Account on Southwest.com under Payment and also emailed to the email account associated with the account used to purchase.
Lame.
Is there anything stopping me from buying the cheapest flight I can find, then getting 50% off a much pricier flight?
No, but flights on any airline flying within southwest footprint from January to March (Post Christmas, Pre spring break) booked months in advance are going to be super cheap regardless. Plus southwest only flies during the day so I doubt they’ll route a flight from east coast to Hawaii on a contiguous itinerary.
Amex is taking notes
Good thing I’m West coast
Notice the drastic conditions of the promo code: can only be booked during a certain booking window, flights booked with the code cannot be cancelled/changed without losing the code, only one code can be used (so if Southwest runs one of their common fare sales you can’t use it), and only three days to book the roundtrip (valid until Aug 3rd).
Was in luck, had two flights within the window and booked two, one was $0 in change the other was only +$5, the 50% off will more than make up the small increase.
protip: flying within california (sf/la), la to vegas, and hawaii interisland flights are among the cheapest routes on sw, but of course not everybody can afford to go there on a whim
I wonder if you get the promo code before or after 9/30? If before, sounds like you could book a trip, pocket the code, cancel the trip (no cancellation fees on SWA), then just use the code for a future trip. The travel credit from the cancelled trip would offset the cost of the future booking, but technically you would’ve “pre-paid” for it anyway.
No, the code isn’t given out until October 17, 2023.
Seems convoluted as hell