Southwest Airlines Coupons & Promo Codes for October 2026

Southwest Airlines shopping guide: how to save more

Southwest Airlines at a glance

Southwest Airlines sells its flights directly on Southwest.com, which is also where its Rapid Rewards promotions and fare rules are published. Southwest does not usually print promo codes on its site, so most savings come from fare sales, points promotions and the perks that come with a Rapid Rewards card or elite status. This guide covers the options listed on the official site as of October 2026.

Best ways to save on Southwest

• Join Rapid Rewards. Membership is free and lets you earn points on flights and with partners, then redeem them for future travel.
• Compare fare types. Southwest sells several fare types with different benefits. The cheapest fare is not always the best value once bags and seat selection are added, so check the fare types and benefits page before you book.
• Watch the special offers page. Southwest posts limited-time promotions, such as discounted points purchases, on its special offers page.
• Use a Rapid Rewards credit card. Cardmembers get a free first checked bag for themselves and up to eight others on the same reservation, plus welcome points.
• Rebook if the price drops. With no change fee, you can change to a lower fare and keep the difference according to your fare’s rules.

Rapid Rewards credit card offers

The consumer credit card page listed these welcome offers as of October 2026:

• Rapid Rewards Plus: 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months, $99 annual fee, 3,000 anniversary points.
• Rapid Rewards Premier: 55,000 points after you spend $1,500 in the first 3 months, $149 annual fee, 6,000 anniversary points.
• Rapid Rewards Priority: 60,000 points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months, $229 annual fee, 7,500 anniversary points.

All cards include a first checked bag free, Group 5 boarding, 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi bought with the card, no foreign transaction fees and an annual 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost. The cardmember benefits page also lists a 10% (Plus) or 15% (Premier) flight promo code that excludes Basic fares. Card offers are subject to credit approval and can change, so review the issuer terms before applying.

Checked bags and fees

Southwest’s optional travel charges page lists checked bag fees of $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second on Basic and Choice fares for travel on or after April 9, 2026. Several groups pay less:

• Choice Extra fares include the first and second checked bags.
• Active-duty military members get both checked bags free.
• A-List Preferred members get two free bags; A-List members get the first bag free.
• Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers get the first checked bag free.

Other optional charges include priority boarding, paid seat upgrades, in-cabin pet fees and inflight Wi-Fi. Check the current amounts on the official page before you travel.

Changes, cancellations and refunds

Southwest lists a $0 change fee and a $0 cancellation fee across its fare types. When you change a flight, you pay any difference in fare. What you get back after a cancellation, such as a refund or travel credit, depends on the fare you bought, so read the fare rules on the fare information page before booking.

Rapid Rewards program and Companion Pass

Rapid Rewards members earn points on flights and through partners, and those points can be redeemed for Southwest flights. Members who fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year earn the Companion Pass. The pass lets you choose one person to fly with you free of airline charges, with taxes and fees still due, for the rest of the year you earn it plus the following full calendar year.

The promotions page lists many ways to earn extra points, including car rental partners, hotel stays booked through Southwest’s hotel site, Rapid Rewards Dining, the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal with more than 1,100 online stores and the Rapid Rewards Debit Card. As of October 2026, the hotel offer advertised up to 10,000 points per night and the dining program offered up to 500 bonus points for joining.

Buying points

Southwest lets members buy points to top up an account for a reward flight. As of October 2026, the special offers page advertised savings of up to 40% when buying 3,000 points, up to 45% on 5,000 points and up to 50% on 7,000 points, with the promotion ending October 2, 2026. Buying points is usually worth it only when you are close to a specific reward flight, so compare the cost with the cash fare first.

Special discounts

Active-duty military travelers get two free checked bags according to Southwest’s fee page. We could not confirm a general student, senior or teacher fare discount on Southwest.com as of October 2026.

Payment options

Southwest.com accepts major credit cards for flights, and Rapid Rewards members can redeem points for reward flights. We could not confirm a full list of accepted payment methods, such as gift cards or other wallets, on a dedicated official page, so check the options shown at checkout, which can vary by booking type.

Sale calendar

Southwest runs fare sales and points promotions throughout the year, but it does not publish a fixed sale calendar. The special offers page, the loyalty offers page and Southwest emails are the best places to see current promotions. Point promotions such as discounted points purchases tend to run for short windows, so check the end date on each offer.

How to use a promo code at Southwest

1. Search for your flights on Southwest.com and select a fare.
2. On the booking page, look for the promo code field.
3. Enter the code exactly as provided, for example the cardmember promo code from your card benefits, and apply it.
4. Confirm the discount appears in the trip total before you purchase.

Promo codes can exclude certain fare types, including Basic fares, and may have travel date restrictions, so read the terms that come with your code.