Southwest Airlines Save Up to 40 Percent Book by September 17

Southwest Airlines launched its Week of Wow sale on September 14, 2026, with discounts of up to 40 percent off base fares for select flights, plus companion deals on hotels, rental cars and vacation packages, according to a company press release issued in Dallas that afternoon.

The booking window is short and the travel window is long, so the decision is whether to lock in fall to spring plans before September 17. Travelers eyeing Texas can compare neighborhoods first in our where to stay in Austin guide because Austin to San Diego and Austin to San Jose are both among the nonstop examples on sale.

What the Week of Wow Sale Covers

Southwest calls the Week of Wow one of its biggest sales of the year. The fare portion covers select flights booked by September 17 for travel from October 5, 2026 to March 3, 2027. The company advertises savings of up to 40 percent off base fares, with the discount applied before government taxes and fees.

Availability controls who actually gets the lowest price. Seats, days and markets are limited, and a 21 day advance purchase is required. Restrictions, exclusions and blackouts apply, so shoppers should read the official sale terms page before assuming a specific date or route will price at the full discount.

Southwest named five nonstop examples that are on sale now on Southwest.com with savings of up to 40 percent off base fares. Those pairs are Austin and San Diego, Nashville and Chicago Midway, Denver and San Diego, Seattle and Nashville, and Austin and San Jose. The list is illustrative rather than exhaustive, which means other select markets may also discount within the same booking and travel windows.

Sabrina Callahan, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, said customers want flexibility, meaningful rewards and an experience that feels easy from booking to arrival. She framed the event as bringing together value, new benefits and hospitality for fall getaways, holiday visits and business trips in the months ahead.

Example Routes and How to Use Them

The five published examples help travelers judge whether this sale matches an actual trip. Austin to San Diego links a Texas origin to Southern California. Nashville to Chicago Midway links Tennessee to a Midwest business and leisure hub. Denver to San Diego links the Mountain West to the Pacific coast. Seattle to Nashville links the Pacific Northwest to Tennessee. Austin to San Jose links Texas to Silicon Valley.

Denver travelers can pair the fare search with lodging research in our where to stay in Denver guide because Denver to San Diego is one of the named discounted pairs. Checking hotel location before buying airfare helps keep total trip cost down even when the base fare discount looks strong.

Austin appears twice among the examples, which makes it the most featured origin in the announcement. Travelers starting in Austin can use the fare window to compare San Diego against San Jose for the same October to March period. Food focused visitors can also browse our Fareground Austin food hall guide when planning time around a discounted flight.

The October 5 start date matters for planning. Trips in early October need a 21 day advance purchase, so booking during the September 14 to September 17 window is what makes those early dates possible. Trips later in the window, including holiday and winter travel into March 3, still must be ticketed by September 17 to use this specific fare offer.

Rental Cars Hotels and Getaways Add Value

Fares are only the first part of the event. Customers shopping on Southwest.com can also find discounts on rental cars, hotels and Getaways by Southwest vacation packages during overlapping but not identical promo windows.

Rental car shoppers can save up to 15 percent off base rates on three day or longer rentals with Enterprise at participating airport locations. The car window is distinct from the fare window. Bookings run September 14 to September 21, 2026, with vehicle pickup through December 15, 2026. Taxes and fees are excluded and terms and exclusions apply.

Hotel shoppers can earn 3,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points or receive a 3,000 Rapid Rewards points discount for hotel stays through September 30, 2027. The hotel booking window runs September 14 to September 21, 2026, and all Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply. Travelers should compare whether bonus points or a points discount produces the lower out of pocket cost for the specific property and dates.

Getaways by Southwest packages add a bundled option. Customers can save up to 500 dollars on a five night vacation package for two, based on a two person five night minimum with a one day advance purchase required. Packages include first and second checked bags free, subject to weight and size limits, with additional allowances, benefits or exceptions possible under the package terms.

Rapid Rewards and Booking Rules to Check

Southwest encourages shoppers to join Rapid Rewards to access member benefits. The announcement highlights free WiFi through T-Mobile where available on WiFi enabled aircraft, tier benefits and the ability to earn points by flying or spending with eligible partners. Members can also purchase points to reach a reward, subject to program rules at the Rapid Rewards terms page.

The fare fine print deserves a careful read because base fare discounts exclude taxes and fees and additional fees may apply. The 21 day advance purchase requirement means last minute trips inside three weeks cannot use this fare offer. Blackouts and exclusions can remove peak days, so flexible travelers who can shift by a day or two have the best chance of finding the advertised savings.

Car and hotel windows extend one week beyond the fare deadline, closing September 21 rather than September 17. That stagger helps travelers who ticket flights first and then finalize ground plans. Pickup and stay limits still apply, with car pickup required by December 15, 2026 and hotel stays covered through September 30, 2027 under the stated terms.

For context, Southwest describes itself as operating at 120 airports across 12 countries, carrying more nonstop travelers within the United States than any other airline based on federal survey data cited in the release, with more than 73,000 people and more than 134 million customers carried in 2025. That background is company description rather than part of the sale terms and does not change the booking deadlines above.