I have flown on Southwest Airlines now for almost a decade and most of the flights I take are on the west coast (Portland to San Jose, San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas). Southwest (SWA) Airlines is convenient for short haul flights but I probably wouldn't recommend them for longer flights that go from the west to east coasts. I consistently get the cheapest rates on this airline since I use the Southwest Airlines promotion code when I login and make a reservation. The best way to get promotional rates or "hot fares" as they call them is by downloading their DING service. It's really easy to get and the piece of software sits in your system tray and "dings" a bell sound when new promotional airfares are available. You can set up the cities that you fly into or out of on a regular basis and have the software only deliver relevant Southwest.com hotfares I find it convenient to use and usually save 10% and up to 25% on select flights. The Internet has helped keep airfares as low as possible by forcing all the major airlines to stay competitive on pricing and Southwest Airlines is one of the few you will not find listed on travel booking websites like Expedia or Orbitz. I was talking with some friends recently who went to Expedia to find the lowest airline rates from San Jose to San Diego and they said Alaska was the cheapest. I instantly shot them back an email with the rates I found on Southwest and they couldn't believe it. They thought Expedia listed all airlines and were a little angry that they overpaid for their flights. You can always find the lowest rates available online at http://www.southwest.com/hotfares/ where they have the "Click 'n Save Special Offers". You can also get promo codes and coupons for Southwest Airlines on sites like Momsview.com, Retailmenot.com, and Couponcabin.com. They all specialize in finding the latest coupon or discounted rates to specific destinations that Southwest flys into.
We all know that boarding a flight can be a real hassle if you happen to be at the back of the crowd and one of the last ones on board. There is limited overhead space for baggage and seat selection can be terrible. I like Southwest Airlines because it's open seating on board which means you can sit anywhere you want. Get there early and secure a seat near the overwing exit row that has sufficient legroom for those of us that are tall. You can also check-in online at Southwest.com and almost guarantee being in the first 30 people or so that board the plane. Southwest Airlines separates the boarding passes into A, B and C boarding groups. When you print out your boarding pass online you instantly see which # you are (i.e. A36 or B10). You are allowed to go on their wesite and printout your seating pass 24 hours before your flight is due to take off. This gives you plenty of time, but don't wait to the last second since many people choose to print theirs out early. Checking-in online is convenient and gets you the best option at an aisle or window seat when you actually board the plane. If you are traveling with multiple people in your group just print out their passes as well. You need their confirmation # and last name in order to get access online. On a recent trip to Orlando I printed out my entire families boarding passes well in advance and we got excellent seats once on board.
Rapid Rewards Credit Card:
Joining the frequent flyer program with Southwest Airlines is not a bad idea. I have been a member for years now and probably accrued 10 to 15 free flights just by using their airline and also applying for the Rapid Rewards VISA card which allows me to spend my regular money every month but get flight credits once I reach a specified amount on the credit card. The Southwest Airlines credit card was simply to apply for and get and now I can often receive a free flight once or twice a year with very little effort. I think you also get bonus credits when you first signup for the card which makes it even more enticing. Get credit for things other than flights including bonus credits for rental cars, hotels, and other items. At one point my wife had accrued a Companion Pass from Southwest which let her fly a companion of her choice anywhere she flew for an entire year. I was the lucky recipient and we used it often.
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