Flying with Southwest? Try These 5 Things Before Booking Tickets

1. Check Southwest’s prices directly before booking anywhere else: Southwest flights don’t appear on many third-party booking sites. Travelers who only compare prices on Google Flights or Expedia could often miss cheaper Southwest fares simply because they never checked directly on Southwest Airlines’ website.
2. Compare Wanna Get Away vs. Wanna Get Away Plus fares: Southwest’s lowest fares look similar at first glance, but fare types come with very different flexibility. Spending a little more upfront can mean free same-day changes, transferable flight credits, or fewer restrictions later — which could save money if plans change.
3. Price your flight using points before paying cash: Southwest’s Rapid Rewards points are often closely tied to the cash price of the ticket. Checking the points cost first could reveal better value — especially if you already have points or can top off your balance cheaply.
4. Factor in free checked bags when comparing airlines: Southwest no longer offers two free checked bags for most passengers. Most travelers now pay for checked luggage unless they qualify through certain fare types, elite status, or a Southwest credit card. If you assume bags are still free, your total trip cost can be higher than expected — so it’s important to factor in bag fees upfront when comparing fares.
5. Know your flight credit rules before you book: Southwest flight credits are no longer “forever” across the board. Credits created on or before May 27, 2025 don’t expire, but credits created after that can have an expiration date, and you generally need to cancel at least 10 minutes before departure to preserve the value. If you assume you can cancel whenever and reuse the funds later, you could lose flexibility (or the credit entirely), so it’s worth checking the rules before you book

Flying Southwest can already be a budget-friendly choice, but doing these steps first can help you avoid common mistakes and get more value out of every trip. And since you’re already thinking about how to maximize your money, check out these offers from our partners below:

Earn a bonus worth $200 to use toward your next flight or hotel 

If you're planning a trip, apply for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) here and you can earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $500 in the first 3 months — that's worth $200 toward travel!

There is no extra work beyond the spending requirement to earn the bonus, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card also lets you earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 

Redeem miles for flights, hotels, and car rentals, OR statement credits, gift cards, and transfers to over 15 airline or hotel partners! If you travel even once a year this card could is worth it and could net you with $100s in rewards to use toward travel. Don't delay — apply today!

Good or excellent credit (typically 670 or higher) is recommended.

Click here to apply for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card now

Earn up to 75,000 miles and get instant access to 1,300+ airport lounges

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) lets you earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's 75,000 miles you can use toward travel to almost any destination. 

And it gets better. This card gives you instant access to 1,300+ airport lounges (including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment) without having to pay for access. Enjoy quiet seating, free food and drinks, clean bathrooms (and possibly showers), and fast Wi-Fi. 

You'll also receive an annual travel credit of $300 for bookings made through Capital One Travel, up to a $120 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry, Hertz elite status¹ <p class="">Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply<br></p> and more! This card's year one value is worth an estimated $1,671² <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p> , which could cover the annual fee of $395 nearly 4X in the first year. Purchase and Transfer APR: 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable).

Click here to apply for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card now

Save up to $2,000 on flights with Southwest (yes, it's crazy)

Sounds kind of insane. And maybe you’re skeptical if this actually works or not. But either way … you’re probably curious. If you want to save a ton on travel (even international), Dollar Flight Club helps you find travel discounts so you could potentially pay way less for your flights with Southwest!

They’ve been helping travelers save since 2016 (so you know they’re the real deal), shipping crazy flight deals straight to your email — up to 90% off normal price for many flights. Just pick your destination and let them do the rest. They hunt deals 24/7 so you don’t have to.

Now, some insider info: They *do* offer a free version … but it puts you on a 2-3 month waitlist. Skip the wait and get instant access to the best deals with a Premium+ membership instead. For a limited time, FinanceBuzz readers can try Premium+ for $1 for 14 days!

How to try Premium+:

1. Enter your email at the link below.
2. Pick your departure airport and dream destinations.
3. Enter your payment info and start your $1 dollar trial of Premium+.

This is the fastest way to unlock the best flight deals that could save you up to 90% off flights with Southwest. At the end of the trial, you’ll be upgraded to the $99 per year membership.

Enter your payment info here to start your $1 dollar Premium+ trial

Apply for one of the best flexible travel cards for Southwest flyers

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card(Rates and fees) is not a Southwest card, and that's exactly why it's so powerful. You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards Points earned with this card at a 1:1 ratio with Southwest Rapid Rewards, with flexible options to transfer your points 13 other airline and hotel partners!

New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months — that's worth up to $1,125 toward travel! Plus, earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.

This card also includes powerful travel protections like trip delay coverage, baggage protection and primary rental car insurance — benefits that Southwest's own cards often lack at the same level. If you want to split flights between airlines or you just want a versatile card that works seamlessly with Southwest (and many other airlines), this card is a no-brainer. 

Click here to apply now for the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Access your home equity to cover debt (even with a lower credit score)

You could get a good amount of money in your pocket from your home equity. You just need to know where and how to get it.

If your credit score is between 580 to 679, a company called New American Funding could help.

More and more homeowners are getting HELOCs due to how effective they can be. But even with a lower credit score, New American Funding helps you find home equity options to get you out of crippling debt or fund home improvements. All without affecting your mortgage.

If you need money now, it couldn’t be easier to see what you qualify for. Just go to New American Funding, answer a few questions, and check out their personalized options for you.

Visit New American Funding

Stop getting ripped off by credit card companies

If you have credit card debt, you know that paying your bill each month is anxiety-inducing … and sometimes close to impossible with what you have in the bank.

If that’s you, a company called LendingTree³ <p>LendingTree, LLC is a Marketing Lead Generator and is a Duly Licensed Mortgage Broker, as required by law, with its main office located at 1415 Vantage Park Drive, Suite 700, Charlotte, NC 28203, NMLS Unique Identifier #1136. LendingTree, LLC is known as LT Technologies in lieu of true name LendingTree, LLC in NY. LendingTree technology and processes are patented under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816 and licensed under U.S. Patent Nos. 5,995,947 and 5,758,328. © 2024 LendingTree, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This site is directed at, and made available to, persons in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii only. Terms and Conditions may apply. </p> wants to help.They can match you with loan providers that could help you pay off your debt quickly.

Think about it this way: For example, $30,000 in credit card debt at 25% APR will cost you $622.60 every single month in interest alone. But, with a rate as low as 6.50% APR (possible through LendingTree’s lenders), you’d only pay $160.69 interest.

That’s over $460 a month you’d get to keep for yourself in this scenario! Even better, you don’t need a perfect credit score, and checking for loans won’t affect your credit.

Truthfully, this company exists to help you get ahead in life. They have a 4.5/5 rating on TrustPilot with more than 15,000 verified reviews, and you can see your options in a matter of minutes. It’s certainly worth a shot if you’re feeling suffocated by debt.

See if your credit card debt is eligible for this debt relief program

If you have a lot of debt, getting out of it can feel stressful (and nearly impossible). Here’s the problem: the longer you put off tackling it, the harder it may get to fix. If you don’t take control of it early on, it can add undue stress to your life for years. But what if there was a way to get out of debt once and for all?

National Debt Relief could help. If you have more than $30,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their certified debt specialists may be able to help you resolve your debt for less than you owe — with one low monthly program payment.

Best of all? There are zero upfront fees, and you could be debt-free in 24-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions and get connected with a caring debt specialist. The consultation is completely free and only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify!⁴ <p>Clients who complete the program and settle all debts typically save around 45% before fees or 20% including fees over 24–48 months, based on enrolled debts. “Debt-free” applies only to enrolled credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills. Not mortgages, car loans, or other debts. Average program completion time is 24–48 months; not all debts are eligible, and results vary as not all clients complete the program due to factors like insufficient savings. We do not guarantee specific debt reductions or timelines, nor do we assume debt, make payments to creditors, or offer legal, tax, bankruptcy, or credit repair services. Consult a tax professional or attorney as needed. Services are not available in all states. Participation may adversely affect your credit rating or score. Nonpayment of debt may result in increased finance and other charges, collection efforts, or litigation. Read all program materials before enrolling. National Debt Relief’s fees are based on a percentage of enrolled debt. All communications may be recorded or monitored for quality assurance. In certain states, additional disclosures and licensing apply. ©️ 2009–2025 National Debt Relief LLC. National Debt Relief (NMLS #1250950, CA CFL Lic. No. 60DBO-70443) is located at 180 Maiden Lane, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10038. All rights reserved. <b><a href="https://www.nationaldebtrelief.com/licenses/">Click here</a></b> for additional state-specific disclosures and licensing information.</p>

See if your $30k+ in credit card debt is eligible for National Debt Relief