For the first time ever, Southwest Airlines flight prices now appear on Google Flights. This is a historic move, as the discount airline is famous for only displaying trip costs on its own website and app. The improved pricing transparency makes it substantially easier to compare flight options on a single platform.
CHICAGO – APRIL 3: A Southwest Airlines jet takes off at Midway Airport April 3, 2008 in Chicago, … [+]
View Southwest Flights on Google Flights
Until now, it’s only been possible to view flight times for Southwest flights, but you have to either go to southwest.com or the Southwest mobile app to see the fare price. The search experience remains the same except for one critical update: You only need to use Google Flights when comparing Southwest and non-Southwest flights.
Southwest Airlines CEO also hints that other changes in the upcoming quarters that make the discount carrier more appealing and boost the loyalty perks of Rapid Rewards members.
Now, Southwest flight prices are displayed just like those of other airlines. You can easily see the prices for the various fare classes (Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select).
However, it’s important to note that while you can view and compare these prices on Google Flights, you will still need to book the flight through the Southwest platform. This is because Google Flights doesn’t offer a direct booking option for Southwest flights, unlike certain other airlines that are eligible for price protection.
You can also enable the price tracking feature if you’re not ready to book today. The flight research tool will send price alerts when fare prices dip. Additionally, the platform can look at historic flight costs to suggest an opportune purchase price to avoid overpaying.
The platform also has customizable filters making it easier to find the best flight for your travel needs.
It’s worth noting that other online travel agencies and flight booking sites still don’t have access to real-time Southwest pricing. You’re still only able to view flight times when searching for flights on Skyscanner or other metasearch sites that use deep data to personalize flight options. A lone exception is Chase Ultimate Rewards for select travel credit card customers.
Final Thoughts
Frequent flyers have been waiting a long time for this day to arrive and it is finally here. Being able to see Southwest flight prices directly on Google Flights is a significant timesaver and continues to make Google Flights the go-to search platform for many travelers seeking convenience and useful price comparison insights.