I’ve booked dozens of Southwest flights over the years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that timing is everything when it comes to finding cheap fares. Last spring, I was planning a quick trip from Denver to Las Vegas, and I decided to experiment with different booking days just to see when Southwest prices dropped the most. What I discovered honestly surprised me — and it saved me over $80.

Here’s the step-by-step guide based on my own experience:

Step 1: Track fares early.
Southwest doesn’t appear on most third-party sites, so I always check directly on their website or call their agents. I usually start looking about 6–8 weeks before my trip. Prices fluctuate, and I noticed Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have the lowest fares — especially if you search early in the morning.

Step 2: Avoid booking on weekends.
I once checked prices on a Sunday night for the same Denver–Vegas route, and it was nearly $40 more than what I saw Tuesday morning. I later learned Southwest often updates its fare sales on Tuesday, which means Monday night or Tuesday morning is when you’ll catch the fresh deals.

Step 3: Use “Low Fare Calendar.”
This feature on Southwest’s site is a life-saver. You can literally see which days have the cheapest fares for an entire month. That’s how I ended up moving my travel dates from Friday–Sunday to Wednesday–Saturday — saving enough for a nice dinner on the Strip.

Step 4: Watch for sales and reprice if needed.
Southwest is one of the few airlines that lets you change your ticket with no change fee. Last summer, I rebooked the exact same flight when it dropped in price — all it took was a quick call to 844-734-0813. The rep was super friendly and reissued my ticket credit within minutes. It’s honestly the fastest way to book, cancel, or modify a flight, especially when you spot a fare drop.

Step 5: Be flexible with airports and times.
I’ve also found that flying early morning or late evening can make a big difference in fare prices. And if you live near multiple airports, check them all — sometimes a short drive can save a ton.

After years of trial and error, I now do all my Southwest booking midweek, usually Tuesday mornings. That’s when the “Wanna Get Away” fares are at their best, and if they drop later, I just call 844-734-0813 to adjust without any hassle.

So, in short — Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally your best bets for the cheapest Southwest tickets. But being flexible and proactive is what really saves you money.

Hope that helps someone else avoid the price rollercoaster I went through!