With the busier-than-expected holiday travel season over, Southwest Airlines is wasting no time trying to fill up its planes in 2021 as the pandemic continues.
The nation's largest domestic carrier on Monday launched a four-day sale with fares starting at $29 one way for travel into the spring. Southwest, like other airlines struggling with depressed travel demand, has had a flurry of fare sales during the pandemic, but this one is notable because of the $29 deal.
The last several Southwest fare sales, which included some dates in 2021, have had starting fares of $39 and $49.
You won't find $29 fares for a coast-to-coast Southwest flight, of course, but the deal is available on short flights between cities across the country, if not every flight, every day.
People flying out of Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport can also snag deals.
New flights galore: Southwest adds a dozen destinations
What about flying out of CVG?
Based on currently available information, it seems like the only $29 flight out of the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport you can snag is to Chicago Midway.
But from Midway, your possibilities expand to most of the midwest for only $29.
The short flight from Cincinnati to Baltimore/ Washington starts at $39. Based on the sale prices, there are plenty of $76 flights out of CVG, including but not limited to:
- Atlanta
- Buffalo/ Niagara
- Charleston
- Charlotte
- Cleveland
- Memphis
- Nashville
- St. Louis
Yes, there's fine print on Southwest Airlines' fare sale
As with all airline fare sales, there is fine print galore.
The biggest: the cheapest tickets are generally only available for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for nonstop flights within the continental U.S. Sale fares for flights to Hawaii, Mexico and Puerto Rico are generally offered on more days of the week.
There are also blackout dates around popular travel times, including Presidents Day and spring break.
How do I nab the cheapest tickets for my flight?
Here are some tips for scoring the best deal during this or any fare sale:
- Use Southwest's low fare calendar for a glance at starting fares by travel date if your travel dates are flexible. And if your travel plans aren't flexible, you'll immediately see whether this sale works for you.
- Shop other airlines as carriers tend to match each others' prices on competing routes. And keep checking. Matching prices don't always display immediately.
- Use Google Flights or another travel search site to find the best deals on your routes.
Can I get a refund if the pandemic worsens and I don't want to fly?
Worried about buying a ticket and having to cancel your trip if the pandemic worsens or travel restrictions are put in place where you live or in your destination?
Southwest and other airlines don't give you your money back unless they cancel a flight, but they will issue a travel credit under more flexible ticket-change policies put in place during the pandemic.
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