Southwest's fare sale ends Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Until then, Southwest is taking up to 40% off base fares on select flights between October 26, 2026, and March 3, 2027. If you have a fall or winter trip in mind and haven't bought the ticket yet, price it before Thursday night.
What the Sale Covers
Here's what Southwest's sale terms say:
- Discount: up to 40% off the base fare on qualifying one-way or round-trip fares, applied automatically and shown as a strikethrough on the displayed base fare.
- Book by: October 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
- Fly between: October 26, 2026, and March 3, 2027.
- Where to book: Southwest.com, swabiz.com or Southwest Partner Services.
- Taxes: the discount comes off before government taxes and fees, so it applies to the base fare, not your total.
The sale also has day-of-week rules. Flights within the continental U.S. qualify Monday through Saturday. Flights from the continental U.S. to Hawaii, St. Thomas and international destinations qualify Sunday through Wednesday, and the return flights Tuesday through Friday. Flights to and from Puerto Rico qualify Monday through Thursday.
Blackout Dates and Exclusions
Interisland Hawaii flights aren't part of the sale. These dates are blacked out:
- Within the continental U.S.: November 20 to 23, November 28 to 30, December 18 to 22, December 24 to 29, December 31, 2026, to January 4, 2027, and January 18, February 12 and February 15, 2027.
- From the continental U.S. to international destinations, Hawaii, St. Thomas and Puerto Rico: November 19 to 25, and December 17, 2026, to January 5, 2027.
- Back to the continental U.S. from those places: November 27 to December 1, and December 17, 2026, to January 5, 2027.
Seats, days and markets are limited, and Southwest says the discount won't be available on some flights during very busy travel times and holiday periods. It's valid on new reservations only and can't be combined with other promotions. Group travel, Getaways by Southwest packages and special fares such as military and government fares are excluded.
How to Book It
- Pick dates that clear the blackouts and your route's day-of-week rule.
- Search on Southwest.com and look for the strikethrough on the base fare.
- Book before 11:59 p.m. PT on October 8, and only for dates you're sure of.
Who Should Book
Booking only dates you're sure of matters more than usual here. Southwest's terms say any change to the itinerary after purchase ends your qualification for the sale, and you forfeit the savings.
"Up to" matters, too. Say a $150 base fare gets the full 40%: it drops to $90 before taxes. Southwest says discount availability may vary by destination, flight and day of the week, so compare a few dates.
If you fly Southwest often enough to watch for these sales, our Southwest credit card guide covers which card earns the most on the tickets you buy.
Book by Thursday Night
Book if you have firm dates between October 26 and March 3 that miss the blackouts. Skip it if your plans could change, or if you need to fly over the peak holiday dates. Either way, the sale ends October 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
