Discounted Air Travel: Southwest Airlines Provides Flights Starting at $49, Reservations Must Be Made by September 5th

Southwest Airlines has announced a new promotion offering one-way flights starting at just $49, valid for travel between September 23, 2025, and March 4, 2026. The sale applies to flights booked directly with Southwest Airlines and no promo code is required.

However, it is important to note that seats, days, and markets are limited, so it is advised to check the full terms and conditions when booking. The eligible travel dates vary by destination, with blackout dates for travel from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international destinations, as well as for travel to these locations from the continental U.S. Interisland Hawaii flights have eligible travel dates from September 23 to November 1, 2025, with no blackout dates.

Southwest recently introduced basic fares and ended the free checked bags policy on May 28, 2025. The cheapest fares now book into Southwest's Basic fare type, and the number of free checked bags depends on credit cards held and elite status with Southwest Airlines.

For travel from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international destinations to the continental U.S., the eligible dates are from September 23, 2025, to March 4, 2026, with blackout dates. For travel to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international destinations from the continental U.S., the eligible dates are also from September 23, 2025, to March 4, 2026, with blackout dates. For continental U.S. travel, the eligible dates are the same, with blackout dates.

Southwest's co-branded credit cards can earn 2 to 4 Rapid Rewards points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases. Sales apply to flights booked using Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but the value per point is around 1.1 to 1.5 cents. Southwest has a Low Fare Calendar to help find the cheapest travel dates.

The promotion ends on September 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT. It is important to note that the sale does not apply to existing bookings; if a lower price is found, the existing reservation can be canceled. The discounted ticket example is from Chicago Midway (MDW) to St. Louis (STL), with prices at $49 for Basic and $79 for Choice.

Recent updates indicate Southwest is focusing on international long-haul flights and fleet changes, but do not detail flight numbers or this particular booking period. There is no specific information available about how many flights Southwest Airlines offers in the deal that can be booked in September 2025 for travel in March 2026.

Discounted Air Travel: Southwest Airlines Provides Flights Starting at $49, Reservations Must Be Made by September 5th