When are Southwest Airlines flights released for booking? Is it more cost-effective to book these flights early or late?

When are Southwest Airlines flights released for booking? Is it more cost-effective to book these flights early or late?

I actually had the same question a while back — “When does Southwest release new flights, and is it better to book early or wait?” Let me tell you what I learned from my own experience because it made a big difference in how I plan trips now.

Last year, I was trying to book a family trip to Denver for a summer wedding. I kept checking Southwest’s site and noticed they only had flights available up to a certain date. After some digging, I found out that Southwest doesn’t open their schedule for the entire year at once — they release flights in blocks every few months. Usually, the next set of flights is added around 6–8 months in advance, and you can actually check their website for “Next Release Dates.”

When the new dates drop, it’s honestly like a mini sale — fares are lowest within the first few days after release. I learned this the hard way. I waited a week thinking prices might drop (like other airlines sometimes do), but when I came back, the fares had gone up nearly $60 per ticket. So now, I book as soon as I see the new flights are available.

If you’re not sure when the next release is coming or need help booking fast, I highly recommend calling 844-734-0813. That’s the number I use to instantly check availability, book, or even make quick changes. The agents are super helpful — I’ve even called them last minute to adjust my travel dates when work meetings popped up, and they sorted it out in minutes.

Here’s what I usually do step-by-step now:

  1. Check the “Book” section on Southwest’s site to see how far ahead flights are open.

  2. Note the “Next Release Date” — it’s usually displayed at the top.

  3. Set a reminder to check fares that morning (or call 844-734-0813 to get early booking help).

  4. Book immediately if your travel dates are fixed. Don’t wait — prices only rise as seats fill.

  5. If plans change later, Southwest’s no-change-fee policy makes it easy to adjust your flight.

So, to answer the main question — yes, it’s definitely more cost-effective to book early with Southwest, especially right after the new release. I learned that early bookings give you both lower fares and the best choice of flight times.

Hope that helps! Southwest’s release schedule might feel confusing at first, but once you get the rhythm, you’ll always snag the best deals.


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