Traveling can be expensive!  However, out of the major carriers, Southwest Airlines is the largest low-cost carrier and has relatively cheap flights.

They’re always having sales and promotions going on throughout the year. 

Southwest offers free in-flight entertainment so you can watch movies or television shows on your smart device, while travelling between cities.

You’ll love their affordable fares that won’t break the bank!

There are many benefits to flying Southwest, on top of the deals on flights.

They have no change fees on all of their tickets.  This is great if something comes up and you need to re-book your flight!  Also, considering the current pandemic, having the option to change plans is ideal.

While some of the other major carriers are still doing this due to Covid, it won’t be this way for long.  After that, ticket holders will have to pay to change flights.

With Southwest, you can change as many times as you want.  You just have to pay the difference in fare if it’s greater.

Another nice thing about Southwest is that if you book a flight and the rate for that flight goes down, you can call them and re-book to get a credit in your account for the difference.  There is no limit on how many times you can do this!

I keep a close eye on the rates to ensure I’m getting the cheapest flights possible. 

This is what I did when I booked a trip in March 2020 right before the pandemic was at its height.  In April, the price of my tickets went down $75 dollars so I was able to re-book the same flight and you guessed it…credit into my account!

It’s nice knowing that you can just book and not worry about whether you should wait for the price to go down.

Southwest is a great option for travel with these perks.

Checking extra bags and having add-ons can definitely make traveling more expensive.  Don’t overpay for your luggage while traveling!

While most other airlines will charge you for bags and extras, Southwest is the only major airline that allows a person to check 2 bags for free. 

You can also bring a carry-on for no cost, which saves you time, money, and hassle when traveling!

Along with their awesome flight deals, I love the Southwest Rapid Rewards program and take advantage of the rewards as much as I can.

I use my credit card for as many purchases as possible and collect all the points to use on flights.

Once you’re enrolled in the Rapid Rewards program, there are always promotions going on.  Companion Pass, A-list offers, deals on points, and upgrades, are just some of the deals. 

The yearly fee for the basic Rapid Rewards card is $69 and $149 for the Priority card, which has even more perks.

They also have a Premier card, which is the middle tier, if you don’t want to go all-in with Priority.  All are well worth it.

For more info on Southwest Credit Cards, go here.

Instead of assigned seats, you’re assigned a boarding group.  When it’s your turn to get on the plane, you can pick any empty seat to sit in.

If you don’t mind possibly sitting in the back of the plane or taking a middle seat, then this is a good option and you can save some money.

You just check in 24 hours before the flight for the best seat option.

If you want to pay a little more to be in the A boarding group to get on the plane sooner, then Early-Bird check-in is the way to go.

This option eliminates the hassle of checking in because the airline will do it automatically.

You just pay $25 per flight and since you’re one of the first ones on the plane, you’ll be able to have your pick of the better seats.

I always book Early-Bird when I travel and am usually able to pick a nice window seat between the front section of the plane and the wing.  I’ve even got a front row seat a few times!

Southwest has outstanding customer service and they’re always helpful when I’m making changes to my reservation or booking flights.

Their staff on the plane has always been professional and helpful in my experience, also.

Southwest Airlines offers the safest flights in the industry because of their strict flight protocols and procedures.  They are a favorite among travelers looking for cheap flights without having to compromise on comfort or security.

According to the most recent list of the world’s safest airlines, Southwest was ranked in the top 15 airlines in the world in 2021, even beating out Delta, American, and United.

Are you a nervous flyer?  Check out these 12 tips to overcome your fear of flying!

For those who like flying first class and getting a meal on your flight, Southwest does not do this.

You can get a great seat if you get Business Class, but you’re not guaranteed to sit in the front row.

Although Southwest doesn’t serve meals on their flights, they do provide snacks and water on flights over 250 miles.  They currently aren’t serving other beverages or alcohol on their flights.

One downfall I’ve experienced with flying Southwest is that since I live in Minnesota, there oftentimes aren’t direct flights to the destinations I’m traveling.

For example, if I’m traveling to Tampa, I usually have to take a connecting flight.

I was looking at flights to Miami in March and April 2021 and there are no direct flights during this time so I have to take a connecting flight.

This isn’t convenient and it makes it a long day of traveling, but their low rates on flights often make up the difference.

I’m also able to use this as a way to break up the day of traveling a little bit.

For some travelers, it’s a problem if they don’t have pre-assigned seating.  It creates extra stress for some that worry if they’ll be able to sit by their group or family.

I’ve also run across people that save seats or rows for friends or family that come onto the plane much later, which can be frustrating.

Southwest Airlines doesn’t operate much for international flights besides Mexico and the Caribbean. 

You can use your points on flights to these locations, however.

As with all the major airlines, Southwest is no longer keeping middle seats open due to Covid.

They do still require masks to be worn on the planes, though.