Editor's note: Southwest initially planned to extend its flight schedule on May 4, but that extension has been pushed back by a month until June 8.
Winter may be lingering, but it's time to start planning your summer and fall trips for 2023! You can now book Southwest flights all the way into next November!
While most airlines allow you to book flights up to 11 months in advance of your travels, Southwest Airlines does it a bit differently. They release their fares in batches, going as far out as about seven months. As of earlier this week, it was only possible to book Southwest Airlines flights into early October – even as other carriers are already selling flights for early 2024.
But that changed on Thursday, as Southwest has now released another month of flights. The Southwest flight schedule now has flights bookable all the way through Nov. 4, 2023. So if you're trying to plan a trip for late summer or early fall, you can book those Southwest flights now.
Looking to book Southwest flights for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's? Southwest says it will extend its schedule again on June 8, releasing another few months' worth of flights – all the way through Jan. 7, 2024!
Nervous about making travel plans all the way through next summer and into? Southwest always allows free changes or cancellations. That means you can book a flight as far out as early November now, then change or cancel it (for a travel credit) down the line if need be. Southwest also sells new Wanna Get Away Plus fares that allow you a one-time transfer of those travel credits to another person!
Read up on how to get the cheapest flights by using the Southwest low fare calendar!
Booking the New Southwest Flight Schedule
Southwest is one of the few airlines that doesn't list flights on Google Flights – or any online travel agency or flight search platform, for that matter. That means you'll always need to start your flight search for Southwest fares directly on their website at southwest.com.
If your travel dates are flexible, we recommend using Southwest's low fare calendar as it will show you the dates with the cheapest fares over a month-long span.
Not sure how (or when) to book flights to get the best deal? Read our post on the best day to book flights – it may not be what you think!
And as far as cancelations and refunds go with Southwest, they have always offered some of the most generous policies in the industry. Long before other carriers ditched change fees, there has never been a fee to cancel or change your Southwest flight.
You can cancel any Southwest flight and be given a voucher for later use. It's one of the many reasons we are big fans of Southwest Airlines – despite its recent historic meltdown.
Bottom Line
The Southwest flight schedule is now open through Nov. 4, 2023. If you're trying to make travel plans this summer or fall and Southwest is an option, it's time to start booking!
Trying to plan even further out in 2023 or even early 2024? Southwest says it will release another batch of schedules in about two months on June 8 – a month later than Southwest initially planned – making flights bookable all the way into early January 2024!
I want to go to Puerto Vallarta in November when will the dates be open.
Southwest says it will extend its schedule on June 10.
looking flights to Fl in Nov and HI in Jan when do you think flights will be open??
They should open sometime this summer.
When will flights open for February 2022?
Check back on Sept. 16 – that’s when Southwest plans to extend its schedule.
Could you please tell me when I can book for April 13-27 2022?
Southwest says its schedule will extend on Sept. 16 for flights bookable through April 24, 2022.
I love southwest it’s so nice but they don’t use their wings to land for some reason
Thank you for your help!!
We want to book flights Midway to Ft Myers March 5 return March 12, 2021 When will that be available?
That is available already today.
When will southwest release may and June schedules? I am trying to book Maui.
Southwest says it will extend its schedule again on Dec. 8 — pushing out to flights bookable all the way through Sept. 5.
Hello! We booked April break for Cancun but only one flight was offered w long layovers. But only the weekend before our trip there a multiple flights to choose from w shorter layovers. Do you know if sw adds flights or it is what it is at this point? Any insight is appreciated! Tysm!
There’s no real rule or pattern around it, but it’s certainly possible that Southwest could add more flights as your trip draws nearer. It’s also possible that your trip comes just after the end of Southwest’s traditional “winter” season schedule, when it flies more to Mexico and the Caribbean and then starts to reduce flights. Could go either way!
Just keep checking!
Thanks! That makes sense!
When can I book a flight for October 2022?
Southwest is set to extend its schedule again, out through Nov. 5, on March 30
Southwest did publish Wanna Get Away Fares for several cities for the Holidays (Cancun or Los Cabos over the Thanksgiving). Will these lower fares be released later or will Soutwest NOT offer this fare during that time period?
Sorry….should have said, “Southwest did NOT publish Wanna Get Away Fares for several cities…….
What time do the flights usually open at? I thought maybe midnight but I was wrong.
They should be open now.
there are no lower fares (wanna get away) for my destination (Belize) during that time, will they not have lower fares to this destination or will they release them later?
Do you know what time of day the new flights are released?
Typically first thing in the morning on the day of the next release.
Looks like they are now saying June 8th for the next batch of flights through January 2024. I was waiting for today to book our early November flight that just missed the cut off last time around, now more waiting!
Darn, we just caught this as well.