flyergeek

Volaris Airlines – read before you fly in 2021

June 16, 2021 by flyergeek Leave a Comment

Now flying to 36 cities in Mexico and most major U.S. cities!

Volaris Airlines is a Mexican budget airline that makes it easy to fly on the cheap between the United States and Mexico, within Mexico, and to and from Central America. You can also use this airline to travel to Costa Rica, El Salvador, or Guatemala. As the Mexican airline with the most U.S. and domestic routes, it’s a popular choice among tourists and locals alike.

Should your next flight be with Volaris Airlines? To find out everything there is to know about this airline from baggage policies to how to book, keep reading.

Is Volaris Airlines Safe?

Volaris is considered to be one of the safest airlines in Latin America according to AirlineRatings.

And if you are considering flying to Mexico later this Fall, you’ll be pleased to know Volaris Airline’s CEO expects the country to recover its category 1 air safety rating before the end of the year after a downgrade by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in early 2021.

Customer Sentiment – What do consumers think of Volaris

An analysis of the 180 reviews left for Volaris Airlines on the BBB show an aggregate rating of 1.05 stars out of 5.0 as of June 2021.

The individual reviews articulate that customers are generally unhappy with their experience and in many cases irate. Many claim the airlines to be the worst in the business and several claim to have been taken advantage of, with one claiming items had even been stolen from his luggage. Of course none of these claims can be definitely verified but they’re certainly worth mentioning.

On Trip Advisor, a better picture is painted with a far greater number of reviewers – (6,291) and an average rating of 3 stars out of 5. Volaris gets their best marks 3.5/5 on cleanliness and 3/5 on value.

Where Can You Fly With Volaris?

Volaris is not a global airline, so you are fairly limited in where you can go when you choose to use this carrier. With that said, you can fly between most major U.S. cities and 36 cities in Mexico including Cancun, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, and Tijuana.

If you’ll be staying in a Mexican resort any time soon, you might want to look into booking with Volaris to spend less money getting there and back.

However, be aware that there are very few nonstop flights available between Mexico and the U.S., and you will more than likely need to touch down in a smaller city of Mexico before making it to your final destination if you’re headed to a more populous area like Cancun or Tijuana.

Volaris also travels to and from San Jose, Costa Rica; San Salvador, El Salvador; and Guatemala City, Guatemala. Visit this page for a complete list of cities.

Volaris Booking and Check-In

Book flights and Check-in using the Volaris Airlines Mobile App(s)

You can easily book a flight with Volaris online, through the mobile app, or over the phone.

Baggage must be checked at least two hours prior to your flight’s departure time for domestic flights and three hours prior to your flight’s departure time for international flights (between the United States and Central America).

Passengers on international flights can check in as early as 24 hours before their flight and passengers on domestic flights can check in between 72 hours and one hour before their flight.

You may check in online, through the Volaris mobile app, or at an airport counter. Please note that checking in at the airport counter rather than online or through the mobile app will mean paying a small fee.

Volaris Airlines Baggage Policy & Allowances

There are three fare classes with Volaris:

Basic
Classic
Plus

Basic offers the lowest costs but comes with the fewest baggage allowances, and Plus comes with a higher price tag but allows passengers to bring more baggage with them.

See the baggage allowance for each fare class below.

Class	Allowance
Basic	One personal item
Classic	One personal item + one carry-on
Plus	One personal item + two carry-ons, and one checked bag

Do not bring any bags containing batteries, gasoline, or other hazardous materials like bleach. And if you’re going to be traveling with firearms, which is only permitted on domestic flights within Mexico, be sure to check in a little earlier so that you can get the weapon fees paid and get through security before it’s time to board. Do not bring smart bags or hoverboards.

Carry-Ons

Personal items may not exceed external dimensions of 14 inches x 18 inches x 8 inches in order to ensure that your item fits under the seat in front of you.

Carry-on bags may not exceed external dimensions of 22 inches x 16 inches x 10 inches

Checked Baggage

Checked baggage, which is only included with Plus tickets but may be added onto any ticket, may not exceed 68 linear inches in size or 55 pounds in weight. This is both slightly larger and slightly heavier than the average airline permits (62 linear inches is a typical size restriction and 50 pounds is a typical weight restriction).

You can expect to pay between roughly $40 and $75 for your first checked bag, depending on where you are flying and whether you are flying during a high or low season. Flights between the U.S. and Central America cost more and fees are lower when you add checked bags while booking versus at the airport or boarding gate.

Additional checked bags after this will cost between $45 and $55 a piece on domestic routes and as high as $140 for international routes (with the highest prices charged when you pay at the gate).

Excess Baggage Fees

If your bags do exceed weight restrictions, the fees are as follows:

Bags weighing between 55 and 77 pounds: $25 – 90
Bags weighing between 77 and 99 pounds: $50 – 190

Excess baggage fees are also determined based on the route and what time of year you are flying.

Checked baggage can weigh up to 99 pounds. This includes musical instruments and sports equipment.

Please note that, per TSA guidelines, passengers traveling to and from the United States are permitted to carry only two pieces of baggage with them, meaning that you will not be allowed to fly with more than one personal item and one carry-on per person.

Strollers and mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers do not cost extra, but they often need to be checked. Just make sure that if you are flying with an infant or toddler, you purchase the Baby Combo package.

About Volaris Combos

To keep costs low, Volaris requires passengers to purchase combos when they need anything beyond the absolute basics. Here’s what you get with each type of combo.

Flexibility combo: unlimited changes to your flight at no additional charge
More baggage combo: one extra carry-on, one extra checked bag, and one piece of sports equipment or musical instrument (all must meet standard size restrictions)
More speed combo: priority boarding, express security check-ins, and standard seat selection

Some combos can only be added to your flight by calling Volaris.

Volaris Airlines Pet Policy

Volaris allows passengers to fly with their pets as long as their pets—carrier included—do not weigh more than 22 pounds. If your pet and their carrier weigh between 22 and 100 pounds, you will need to check them in when you are checking your luggage.

Pets cost between $58 and $70 when they are checked and between $64 and $85 when they travel with you in your seat.

Your pet’s carrier may not exceed 17.5 inches x 12 inches x 7.5 inches if they are flying with you and 62 linear inches if they are being checked in.

Both dogs and cats are allowed, with some breed restrictions. Brachycephalic breeds (i.e. Bulldogs, Chow Chows, and Shih Tzus) are not permitted and “dangerous” breeds (i.e. Dobermans and Rottweilers) are permitted only when checked. Pets younger than four months old and pregnant pets are not permitted to fly in the cabin or with luggage.

It’s a good idea to arrive a little earlier than you normally would if you are traveling with a pet. Pets can be added onto a reservation at any time during booking or check in, or over the phone when you call customer service. However, do your best to add your pet to your trip as early as possible. Each Volaris flight travels with up to four checked-in pets and two on-board pets.

Bring your pet’s up-to-date vaccination card and health certificate to the airport.

Volaris Airlines Customer Service and Contact Info

If you need to get in touch with customer support, here are the numbers you would call from any of the countries that Volaris flies to and from:

Country	Customer Support Number
United States	(55) 1102-8000
Mexico	1-855-865-2747
Costa Rica	+506-4-0000-229
El Salvador	+503-2504-5540
Guatemala	+502-2301-3939

The Volaris website does not list the airline’s call center hours. At this time, Volaris recommends contacting support in a different way due to high call volumes.

Their preferred method would be to get in touch with Volaris customer service by submitting a secure message through their website. You should get a response within 24 hours using this service.

Finally, Volaris representatives can answer your questions and help you with your booking through social media and WhatsApp. If you use Facebook messenger or WhatsApp to send a private message, you will get a response from the chatbot immediately and from a human representative within four hours.

Volaris Airlines Loyalty Program

If you like to shop around for the best deal when flying, you are probably a member of more than one airline loyalty program.

Volaris does not have a loyalty or frequent flyer program in the traditional sense, but there is a subscription that passengers can join to save money on regular flights. This program, called v.pass, guarantees that you will always get the best flight price available (e.g. no upcharges during popular times of year for flying) and lets you take one domestic flight a month at no added cost. For a fixed monthly fee, anyone can become a member.

When you are a member of v.pass, you can fly as much as you want, but one flight a month is included in your monthly subscription rate. This allows frequent flyers with the airline to save money during peak travel times when prices are higher.

Only flights within Mexico are eligible to use as a “free” v.pass flight. You will need to pay for all other flights, but you’ll get whatever the lowest price available is every time. V.pass members are automatically added to v.club, which offers preferential pricing and perks like an additional checked baggage weight allowance of 22 pounds.

Volaris Airlines Inflight Accommodations

Volaris offers a fairly stripped down flying experience when compared to other airlines. For example, Volaris planes do not feature inflight WiFi. Food is available for purchase, but inflight meals are not included in the price of any ticket. Beverages are also available for purchase. For a look at what’s on the menu for Volaris flights, go here.

All Volaris flights include only Economy class, so you can forget about roomier Business or First class seats and extra accommodations. There are also very few options for entertainment.

Hotel and Car Rental Bundles

Like many other airlines, Volaris also offers the option of bundling your travel to save. Go to the Ya Vas site to learn more about resort vacation packages, flight and hotel bundles, and promotional car rental rates.

Fees to Watch Out For

The major fee you’re going to want to know about before flying with this airline is the non-resident fee. This is charged to all passengers that are not residents of Mexico, and it’s about $28 on most flights. This charge is not eligible to be waived.

Avoidable fees to be mindful of include the airport check-in fee and higher prices on baggage not added to your trip until you arrive at the airport. Volaris also charges a small fee when you ask them to print out your boarding pass for you.

And of course, check to make sure that your baggage does not exceed size and weight restrictions to avoid excess baggage fees. Avoid paying for any of your baggage at the airport or at your gate to keep costs low.

Final Thoughts

Volaris is a good option for affordable travel between Mexico and the United States, with passengers that plan ahead standing to benefit the most from this airport’s pricing structure. If you’re okay with a no-frills flying experience that is more economical than luxurious, Volaris might be the way to go.

The sooner you complete your booking and check in, the more you can save when you choose this airline. Pre-paying for baggage is another great way to spend less money and traveling light is always a safe bet when you want to keep your flights cheap.

And if you are going to fly with Volaris Airlines, you will probably get the best prices by booking directly with Volaris rather than with third-party flight booking sites like Expedia and Travelocity.

Wyndham Rewards and Member Level Perks

June 11, 2021 by flyergeek Leave a Comment

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts boasts more than 9,000 hotel locations in over 80 different countries. Within this chain, there are 20 different brands for every type of lifestyle. The Wyndham Hotels & Resorts corporation includes upscale stays like Dolce, modest stays like La Quinta and Baymont, and popular budget stays like Super 8 and Days Inn.

For a look at what this hotel chain’s rewards program is all about and how to fully take advantage of its perks, take a look at this complete guide to qualifying for elite status with Wyndham Rewards.

What is Wyndham Rewards?

Wyndham Rewards is a points program that rewards members for loyalty. By staying at Wyndham properties and making purchases with a Wyndham credit card, loyalty members receive points that can be redeemed for free bookings, rate discounts, and other perks and freebies.

Within the Wyndham loyalty program, there are four member levels: Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.

Update: How to achieve various levels of membership status in 2021:

From Jan 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 all members are assigned Blue status upon enrollment.

Members are then bumped up to Gold after staying 3 nights at participating Wyndham locations, to Platinum after staying 9 nights, and to Diamond after 24 nights.

Here’s a breakdown of the perks and advantages associated with each membership tier:

Perks	Blue	Gold	Platinum	Diamond
Best available rate guarantee	✓	✓	✓	✓
Earn 10 points per dollar or 1,000 points (or more) per qualifed booking	✓	✓	✓	✓
Use points to book free or discounted nights	✓	✓	✓	✓
No expiration date on rollover nights/awards bookings	✓	✓	✓	✓
Local experience discount for awards bookings	✓_($5)	✓_($10)	✓_($10)	✓ _(*)
Access to a dedicated member services phone line		✓	✓	✓
Preferred room choice		✓	✓	✓
Accelerated earning		✓_(10%)	✓_(15%)	✓_(20%)
Late checkout upon request		✓	✓	✓
Early check-in upon request			✓	✓
Caesars Rewards status match			✓	✓
Avis and Budget car rental upgrades			✓	✓
Suite upgrades				✓ _{(every stay)}
Complimentary snack or beverage at check-in				✓
Give GOLD**				✓

_{*2 free tickets to a local Experience per year.
**With the Give GOLD perk you can instantly upgrade one friend or family member to Gold level membership per year.}

Preferred rooms are granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Members that qualify for Accelerated Earning Points get these at a percentage of their Base points, or the points collected at a rate of 10 points per dollar of 1,000 points for every stay. All members earn at least 1,000 points per stay.

Wyndman Rewards Member Rate

Just being a Wyndham Rewards member qualifies you for the Best Available Rate on qualifying Wyndham hotel bookings. This discounted rate will show up when you book a stay with a participating Wyndham hotel online through your Rewards account or over the phone.

Please note that La Quinta hotels and Caesars Entertainment properties do not participate in this rate discount program at this time.

Caesars Rewards

Caesars Entertainment and Wyndham Hotels are in partnership with each other, which means more perks for rewards members of both brands.

Wyndham Rewards members that stay at one of over 30 Caesars Entertainment casinos can earn points for their booking and cash these in for discounts and free stays through Wyndham.

How Wyndham Rewards Compares

According to this 2020 WalletHub Study, the Wyndham Rewards program offered the highest rewards value and ranked as the best hotel rewards program overall last year. Rewards for elite members/frequent travelers are valued at an estimated $13.36 for every $100 spent and for all other members at about $12.87/$100.

Additionally, this brand is one of the best in terms of global geographic coverage as there are over 9,000 participating locations across the world.

Wyndham also stands out for offering high-value rewards for all membership tiers, so you don’t need to be an elite member that does a lot of traveling to benefit from membership. You can be a Blue member and still do well.

All in all, you don’t have much to lose by being a reward member with Wyndham, and there’s no reason you can’t be a member of multiple hotel loyalty programs at once.

How do I Join Wyndham Rewards?

To work your way up the ladder to elite status, you need to start earning points or open a credit card. All points you earn are referred to as “Go Get ‘Em” rewards.

Go Get ‘Em

It probably goes without saying, but staying at Wyndham hotels, resorts, and rental properties is a great way to earn points. Members receive points per stay at a percentage determined by their rewards status (see the chart in “What Is Wyndham Rewards?”).

All members earn whichever results in more points: 10 points per dollar or 1,000 points on every stay. In some cases, only payments toward the room rate itself (not service fees and additional amenities) are counted. Bookings made through third-party sites do not qualify. A reservation is not required to earn points on a stay.

You can also choose to earn Travel Partner Currency—airline or train points—instead of Wyndham Rewards points by selecting this preference in your member profile. Travel points can be redeemed at American Airlines, United Airlines, and others. Just know that Travel points may not be redeemed for Wyndham Rewards.

Making purchases with qualifying credit cards is another easy way to rack up points. Here’s more on what each Wyndham-branded credit card offers.

Wyndham Rewards Credit Cards

Wyndham offers 3 rewards credit cards. The Earner, Earner Plus and Earner Business.

The Wyndham Reward Earner card is the most basic card this brand offers and can help you earn Wyndham points on everyday purchases.

Currently, this card comes with a promotional offer that qualifies new members for 30,000 bonus points when they spend at least $1,000 within 90 days of issuance. This card has no annual fee.

After that, cardholders earn two points per dollar spent on grocery and dining purchases (not including purchases made at Target or Walmart stores), five points per dollar on Wyndham hotel and gas purchases, and one point per dollar on all other purchases made with this card.

The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus card is the next card up. This card qualifies new members for 45,000 bonus points when they spend at least $1,000 within 90 days of issuance. This card has a $75 annual fee.

Then, cardholders earn four points per dollar on grocery and dining, six points per dollar on Wyndham hotel and gas purchases, and one point per dollar on all other purchases made with this card.

Finally, there is the Wyndham Earner Business card. This card also qualifies new members for 45,000 bonus points when they spend at least $1,000 within 90 days of issuance. This card has a $95 annual fee.

After that, cardholders earn four points per dollar on marketing, advertising, and utilities; eight points per dollar on Wyndham and gas; and one point per dollar on all other purchases.

The Wyndham Earner card qualifies you for Gold status, the Earner Plus card qualifies you for Platinum status, and the Earner Business card qualifies you for Diamond status.

How to Use Wyndham Rewards Points

Within the Wyndham Rewards program, there are basically three ways to redeem your points. You can “Go Free,” or cash in on free hotel stays; “Go Fast,” and receive discounts at select hotels; or “Go For It,” and shop with your points for gift cards and other goodies.

Go Free

Wyndham points can be used to book free stays at thousands of Wyndham hotels and resorts.

Awards nights cost 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points. The cost of awards bookings varies by location. To successfully use rewards points to book a stay, you are required to make a reservation in advance. For most Wyndham Hotels, this can be done online through your Wyndham Rewards account or over the phone at 866-996-7937. All Go Free reservations are subject to availability and restricted by blackout dates/rates.

Do not try to contact a hotel property to redeem awards for bookings—this will not work.

The phone numbers for other Wyndham properties are listed below:

Wyndham Vacation Clubs: 1-866-370-8548

Wyndham Vacation Rentals: 1-866-996-7937

Cottages.com: 1-866-232-8628 (Go Fast awards are not available at cottages)

Landal GreenParks: 1-888-862-8053

7,500 points are enough for a free standard rate room at many locations, but rooms at resort locations cost a minimum of 15,000 points and up to 30,000.

Go Fast

If you don’t want to wait until you have enough points to book a stay for free, you can “Go Fast” and just use your points for a discounted rate. You will need between 1,500 and 6,000 points for a room discount at a participating Wyndham hotel and between 3,000 and 6,000 points for a discounted rate at a resort or rental property.

Each hotel, resort, and rental property location decides for themselves how many points a rate discount is worth. More expensive stays typically require more points for a discount.

Go Fast rewards are also subject to blackout dates/rates and some properties do not participate in the Go Fast program.

Go For It

Finally, you can use your points to shop freebies, including:

Online merchandise
Marathon gas discounts
Over 100,000 local tours and activities (you can what’s currently available here.)
Gift cards to participating stores (Amazon, Starbucks, Macy’s, American Eagle, etc.)
Donations to select charities (Operation Homefront, National Parks Conservation Association, YMCA, etc.)

You may also exchange Wyndham Rewards points for Travel points or Caesars Rewards credits (just remember that Travel points may not be exchanged for Wyndham Rewards points).

How to Redeem Points

To cash in your points, log in to your Wyndham Rewards account. You should be able to see how many points you have earned on the dashboard.

If you are redeeming your points for a free or discounted booking, call Wyndham customer support and they will redeem your points for you. If you are using your points to “Go For It,” just visit the Wyndham Rewards site and pay with points.

Final Thoughts

The Wyndham Rewards program is an excellent way for fans of the hotel chain—and you are likely a fan already, as this franchise operates many big brands—to get more for their money when they book stays.

There are certainly better credit cards than the Wyndham Earner cards, but the rewards program is great overall. Members of every tier can cash in on savings on nearly any booking, and Platinum and Diamond members enjoy VIP treatment and even more discounts. Qualifying for Diamond status requires a lot of travel, but you’d do well to seek out Wyndham locations whether you stay at hotels frequently and qualify for elite status or not.

United Airlines Baggage Policy, Exceptions and Fees [2021]

June 10, 2021 by flyergeek Leave a Comment

If you’re planning on flying with United Airlines this year then you’ll want to know what to expect in terms of potential fees and luggage restrictions for both your carry-on items and checked bags.

So for your convenience, whether you’re traveling with carry-ons, checked bags, or both, here’s a comprehensive list of every important United baggage policy all passengers should be aware of in 2021.

United Airlines Carry-On Allowance

Don’t risk arriving at the airport for your flight and having your carry-on luggage turned away or unexpectedly checked. United Airlines lets most passengers travel with one carry-on bag and one personal item each, free of charge, as long as the items do not go over the airline’s size and weight restrictions.

Basic Economy tickets allow for one personal item only and do not include free carry-on luggage. If you do bring a full-sized carry-on bag when flying economy, you will be required to check the bag and pay the checked bag fee (whatever it is for your flight) and a $25 gate handling charge on top of that. All other flight classes include one free carry-on and one personal item.

Your carry-on bag technically has no weight restrictions, but it is expected to fit in the overhead bin. This means it must not exceed 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches or 22 centimeters x 35 centimeters x 56 centimeters. This includes all exterior hardware such as handles and straps. Your personal item, which is expected to fit under the seat in front of you, must not exceed 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches or 22 centimeters x 25 centimeters x 43 centimeters.

Other items that all passengers may bring in addition to their carry-ons include standard “special” items such as umbrellas, FAA-approved child restraint systems and safety seats, assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers, and pet carriers.

Carry-On Allowances for Toddlers and Children

Bring the essentials free of charge! Details below.

If you are going to be traveling with an infant or young child, there are a number of necessary items you can bring that United Airlines will not charge you for. These include:

A diaper bag 🎒
A breast pump and milk 🍼
An FAA-approved child or infant restraint seat 👶
A compact folding stroller that meets carry-on size restrictions (9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches or 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches) 👩‍👧‍👧

All children under the age of two may travel with one car seat and one stroller. This allowance is included in all flight classes and on all flights. Strollers usually need to be checked at the gate but if they do not collapse, you’ll need to check them at the ticket counter.

Bringing Pets Onboard

Small dogs and cats are allowed on most domestic and international flights, but you will, of course, need to pay for your pet to travel with you in the cabin. A service charge of $125 is charged each way for a pet, and an additional charge of the same amount is assessed for every stopover of greater than four hours.

Service animals are not under the same restrictions as pets. See this page for information on traveling with service animals.

Pit Bull breeds are not permitted on the airplane at all.

The requirements for traveling with pets are as follows:

Puppies and kittens must not be younger than 16 weeks old
Unaccompanied minors are not permitted to fly with pets
Additional pets require an extra ticket and an additional $125 each way
Pets that don’t fit in kennels may not accompany you in the cabin and will need to travel in a separate compartment of the plane through United Airlines’ PetSafe transport program
You and your pet must be on the same flight
Oxygen services are not available for pets in the event of an emergency

Your pet will need to be up-to-date on its rabies vaccinations and you must bring a health certificate showing that they are to the airport. Some states, like Hawaii, have their own restrictions in place that you need to research.

Musical Instruments

Small instruments such as violins and guitars are permitted as long as they are in a hard case. If they are placed in the overhead bin, they’ll count as your carry-on. If they are placed beneath the seat in front of you, they’ll count as your personal item.

Prohibited Items

Certain items are strictly prohibited on United Airlines flights. These restrictions are put in place by the federal government and there are no exceptions.

Items never allowed on a flight include:

Self-balancing or self-riding bags
Camping equipment that contains fuel of any kind
Defense sprays such as pepper spray, tear gas, or mace
Explosives including but not limited to fireworks, flares, and gunpowder
MREs containing flameless heaters
Shock absorbers
Smart bags with batteries that cannot be removed
Tasers
Select electronic devices
Perishable items

Items allowed on flights with restrictions include:

Batteries
Power tools
Mobility devices
Firearms

United Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance

How many bags you can check for a United flight and how much each of those bags will cost to check depends on your loyalty status with the airline and the flight class you’ve chosen. Size and weight restrictions are also dependent on flight class and loyalty status.

Here’s a Visual Breakdown:

For United Economy flyers, checked baggage may weigh up to 50 pounds or 23 kilograms. United Business, United First, and United Polaris checked baggage may weigh up to 70 pounds. The latter is also the restriction for passengers with Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, and Star Alliance Gold (First, Business, or Polaris) MileagePlus status.

No bag may exceed a combined total of 62 inches (length + width + height) unless checked by an active-duty U.S. military member traveling for official business.

You can pay for your checked baggage, provided that it meets size and weight requirements, online before your flight or at check-in.

How Much Do Checked Bags Cost on United?

To get the most accurate cost breakdown on how much it will cost to check your bags on your next United flight, use their baggage cost calculator.

The cost varies not only by route but also by which cabin you’re sitting in (economy, premium economy, business or first) as well as your membership and status. Your membership and status are determined by the credit cards you hold and whether or not you are active in the U.S. military.

In general, for North American economy flights you can expect to pay $30-$35 per bag depending on whether you prepay or not. If you need to carry a second bag this will cost an additional $40-$45.

For flights to Europe the first checked bag is free even for those in the economy cabin, however second bags will cost up to $100 to check.

If you’re flying any level above economy both your first and second bag will be checked free of charge. Same goes for acting U.S. military members. You can read more about this in our “Exceptions and Waivers” section further below.

Checked Baggage for Children

The same checked baggage policies apply to children with purchased tickets and infants flying internationally on 10% of adult fare as for adult passengers. Should a child’s baggage exceed their personal allowance, the fare-paying adult accompanying them will need to assume the excess baggage as part of their own allowance.

Excessive Baggage Fees

If you must bring a bag that exceeds the above size and weight restrictions or you want to bring an additional bag, you may do so for a fee. Some flights do not allow oversized or overweight bags at all, so be sure to look into this every time you fly.

Checked baggage may never exceed 115 linear inches. Most baggage may never exceed 100 pounds. Musical instruments and mobility devices, however, may weigh up to 165 pounds. Overweight bags (weighing over 70 pounds but less than 100) can cost up to $200 each. Oversized bags measuring more than 62 linear inches also incur a fee, which is dependent on the flight destination and subject to change.

Please note that if a bag is more than one of these things—extra, overweight, or oversized—you’ll be charged more than one service fee. Extra bags are permitted only when there is space available on the plane.

Fragile and/or Bulky Items

If you happen to be flying with an oversized, bulky or fragile item that is too delicate to transport as checked baggage, you may choose to purchase a ticket for it and have it sit next to you or in another open seat. This item and ticket purchase must be approved by a United Airlines agent.

Some examples of cabin-seat baggage that would be approved by United may include the following:

large musical instruments
electronic devices (cameras, computer hardware, medical devices)
artifacts
garment bags

Please note the following cabin-seat baggage restrictions:

Item(s) must not exceed 165 pounds (75 kg).
Item(s) must be safely covered in a way that avoids injury to other customers.
Item(s) must be secured in a seat adjacent to the owner.
Item(s) must be properly secured by a seat belt to avoid shifting during flight.
Item(s) must not restrict access to, or use of, any regular or emergency exit or aisle of the cabin.
Item(s) must not obscure any customer’s view of “seatbelt,” “no smoking” or “exit” signage.
Item(s) must not contain dangerous goods.
Item(s) must be reserved in advance and applicable charges paid.

You can read more on United’s cabin-seat baggage restrictions here.

Exceptions and Waivers

Both active-duty U.S. military personnel and their dependents and MileagePlus Premier members and their travel companions can have checked baggage fees waived. For these flyers, a maximum weight of 70 pounds is enforced rather than the standard 50 pounds.

Active-duty military personnel and their dependents receive 3 complimentary checked bags for personal travel, 2 for travel orders, and 5 for official business travel. MileagePlus Premier Silver members receive 1 complimentary checked bag on most domestic and select international economy flights, Gold receive 2 complimentary checked bags on economy flights, and Platinum and 1K members receive 3 complimentary checked bags on economy flights. All premium cabin travel permits 3 complimentary checked bags for those with Silver, Gold, Platinum, or 1K status.

Some destinations such as flights to San Salvador and Havana have additional restrictions in place when it comes to complimentary checked baggage. See these here.

Credit Cards That Give You a Free Checked Bag With United Airlines

As you can see, United Airlines does not offer free checked baggage to just any customer, as some budget airlines do, but there are a couple of ways to check a bag for free when you’re a United passenger.

Not a member of the military or a United Airlines favorite customer? A United Airlines credit card might be the way to go for you. United offers five different credit cards through Chase bank and all cardholders receive at least one checked bag for free.

Here’s how many free bags you can check when you’re a United cardholder:

United Explorer Card: 1
Club Card: 2
Presidential Plus Card: 2
United Business Card: 1
United Club Business Card: 2

According to United, having the United Explorer card (first card on the list above) can save you up to $140 per round trip! The primary card holder plus one companion on the same United reservation both get their first standard checked bag for free on all United-operated flights. You’ll have to make the purchase with the United Explorer card for the deal.

Visa Infinite Program – What is it & What Does it Offer?

June 10, 2021 by flyergeek Leave a Comment

Visa Infinite is an awards program at the top of Visa’s benefit levels. It was first launched in Europe and only came to the US in 2016. It remains relatively obscure in the states with little search volume for it on Google.

The program consists of three Visa tiers are Traditional, Signature, and Infinite, with Infinite being the top tier and Traditional the most basic. Every benefit encompassed within the Traditional and Signature tiers is included within the Infinite tier, with many additional perks on top of those at the Infinite level.

Visa Infinite members enjoy the best prizes and travel benefits Visa has to offer, and cards that qualify for this program are available through many banks. If your card is a Visa Infinite card, you’ll know—it’ll say “Visa Infinite” right on the front.

Here’s what the Visa Infinite program is all about and everything its awards package is likely to include.

What is the Visa Infinite Program and Which Cards Apply?

The Visa Infinite Program is a perks-packed Visa offering, structured in three tiers, that only individuals with certain Visa credit cards have access to.

Generally speaking, these cards cater to higher net worth individuals that travel frequently. This is because many Visa Infinite cards require high credit scores and incomes to qualify, and many of the benefits associated with Visa Infinite are related to travel, and more specifically high-end travel.

The Visa Infinite card is available through many carriers—Chase, Citibank, and U.S. Bank, to name a few. Specific, popular Visa-branded credit cards within the Visa Infinite Program include:

Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase United Club Infinite Card
Citi Life Visa Infinite Credit Card
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card

Privileges and Benefits of the Visa Infinite Program

The features of a Visa Infinite credit card vary by carrier, as most of the privileges within Visa Infinite are set by the banks that carry these cards rather than Visa itself. Just understand that your own card might have more or less perks than what we’re outlining below as a general standard.

Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully for a thorough understanding of what your benefits package includes.

For an in-depth look at what the Visa Infinite program generally includes, at its base level, continue reading…

Visa Infinite Luxury Hotels

Get the best experience your hotel has to offer with the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection.

Hotels within the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection give members the “ultimate hotel experience” when they travel. All participating hotels provide seven benefits:

VIP guest status,
room upgrades at check-in,
a best available rate guarantee,
complimentary in-room breakfast,
complimentary WiFi,
late checkout, and
a $25 food and beverage credit per stay.

Cardholders need to book through the Visa Infinite Hotels site to secure these benefits.

200 hotels from the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection also include an eighth benefit, which might be either an additional $75 food and beverage credit (on top of the included $25) or a $100 spa, golf, or room rate credit. The hotels decide what the eighth benefit will be.

Keep in mind that some of these features look a little different from one hotel to another, and all of these bonuses are subject to availability.

Visa Infinite Concierge Status

Visa Infinite members will get all of the travel help and advice they need 24/7 with Visa Infinite Concierge Services. This digital concierge service, available 365 days a year, can help with everything from booking reservations to helping you find the best prices for your stay. You can even ask for dining and entertainment recommendations, and you’ll get exclusive access to deals and dates.

Global Entry Statement Credit

This perk is best for those that do a lot of international travel. Global Entry, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that grants expedited clearance into the United States to pre-approved returning travelers, will cost you $100 less when you’re a Visa Infinite member.

Visa Infinite gives its users a $100 statement credit for Global Entry, the current price of the program’s application fee. This equates to free Global Entry, which you can apply for through the Trusted Travelers Program section of the Homeland Security site.

Visa Infinite Car Rentals

Visa Infinite car rental privileges are many, and they can be redeemed through Avis, Hertz, National, and Silvercar. The benefits are different for each rental agency.

With Avis, cardholders can enroll in Avis Preferred Plus—a car rental rewards program much like a frequent flyer program—, take advantage of rate discounts of up to 30%, and get weekend rentals for free. With Hertz, cardholders enrolled in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards have access to special savings and speedier service. Visa Infinite cardholders receive complimentary Emerald Club Executive level membership with National and 25% off. Finally, cardholders save up to 30% with Silvercar.

Lounge Access and Priority Pass

Unlock access to over 1,300 airport lounges across 148 countries.

Priority Pass lounge access is granted to Visa Infinite cardholders. This provides entrance to more than 1,300 airport lounges in 148 countries and over 600 cities.

The credit card you have determines your access level, with Standard being the lowest, Standard Plus being the middle, and Prestige being the highest tier. Standard will get you the fewest free lounge visits annually and you’ll have to pay per guest, and Prestige will get you unlimited visits for yourself and a few free guest passes.

Airline Incidental Statement Credit

Airline incidental fees for checked baggage, flight changes, inflight amenities, etc. accumulate all too easily. But when you’re with Visa Infinite, you’ll get a statement credit in the form of rebates for some of these. How much and for what is determined by your card issuer.

Fine Wine and Food

The Fine Wine and Food benefit offered to Visa Infinite cardholders is great for foodies and wine aficionados. However, it is also available to Signature members and isn’t as all-inclusive as Visa makes it sound (“Enjoy world-class celebrity chefs and winemaker experiences”).

With this feature, you’ll get two wine tastings for the price of one when you purchase one with your Visa Infinite card. You’ll also have access to preferred pricing on wine tastings and dining at select Sonoma wineries. Call the winery you’re visiting to find out what offers you’re eligible for.

Golf

Want to play private courses without the fees or membership commitments? Now you can.

Love hitting the links? Have a Visa Infinite card? Then you should probably join the Visa Infinite Troon Golf Rewards program. With this, you’ll receive premium benefits when golfing at over 115 courses across the United States. These include the ability to reserve tee times, bring guests at discounted rates, play private courses, and more.

Infinite Chauffeured Car Service

Visa Infinite, in partnership with GroundLink, offers the option of chauffeured car services to cardholders. The GroundLink chauffeured black car service, which includes professional drivers and high-tech rides, is 15% off when you have a Visa Infinite card. You’ll also get a $30 credit toward the service, which is accessible worldwide.

Protection

In addition to cost-cutting and luxurious privileges and benefits, Visa Infinite extends additional protection to its members. This purchase protection insures many different aspects of travel. Please note that many of the following benefits are not exclusive to Visa Infinite as they are actually included in the Signature package as well.

Auto Collision Damage Waiver

Use your Visa Infinite card to pay when booking a rental car and receive insurance coverage automatically. Visa Infinite Auto Rental Coverage covers not only collision damage but also theft, towing expenses, loss-of-use charges, and more.

Extended Warranty Protection

Extended Warranty Protection under the Visa Infinite program is applied to qualifying items with warranties of three years or less. This benefit extends a manufacturer’s warranty by one year. You do not need to register or pay for this addition as long as a purchase is made with your Visa Infinite card.

Roadside Dispatch

Roadside Dispatch, while not a complimentary Visa Infinite feature, could prove to be handy. Use this service when you’re in trouble and help, a locksmith or tow, will be dispatched right to your location. You will pay a predetermined price, set by your card issuer, per service call.

Purchase Security

The Purchase Security Visa Infinite perk can be thought of as an extended return period. If you purchase something with your Visa Infinite card and that something ends up needing to be replaced or returned within 90 days of purchase, this is no problem. Even if an item is stolen, this policy is in effect. This, like Extended Warranty Protection, need not be applied or paid for. It can cover $10,000 per occurrence.

Travel and Emergency Assistance Service

The Travel and Emergency Assistance Services rolled into the standard Visa Infinite package is a 24/7 helpline that can help with any of the following needs that one might have while traveling:

Medical Referral Assistance
Emergency Transportation Assistance
Emergency Message Service
Emergency Translation Service
Emergency Ticket Replacement
Legal Referral Assistance
Lost Luggage Locator Service
Prescription Assistance and Valuable Document Delivery

These helplines are devoted specifically to providing emergency assistance and are available to you and any of your dependents at no cost.

Return Protection

Similar to Purchase Security, Visa Infinite Return Protection lets you make returns within 90 days of purchase if you are not satisfied with an item and a return is refused. So long as you use your Visa Infinite card to make the purchase and the item you are buying costs less than or equal to $300, you are covered under this benefit.

Air Travel Reimbursement

If you ever get annoyed with being nickel and dimed by airlines’ never ending in-flight fees such as entertainment (headphones and television access), in-flight food purchases, checked baggage fees and the like, then Visa Infinite will alleviate some headaches. With Visa Infinite you’ll receive reimbursements for air travel fees including the things mentioned above and more. Just remember though that the card issuer sets the statement credit amount.

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

Visa Infinite cardholders are eligible for reimbursement of lost or stolen carry-ons and checked bags—when a flight ticket is purchased with a Visa Infinite card, of course. This benefit is applied automatically.

Lost or Stolen Card Reporting

This benefit, which is really more of a necessity than a benefit, gives you access to global call centers that will initiate replacements and notify authorities for you in the event of a lost or stolen Visa Infinite card.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

Visa Infinite cardholders don’t have to pay out of pocket for fees caused by trip delays that are out of their control with Trip Delay Reimbursement. When members are stuck for more than six hours due to a covered hazard—equipment failure, inclement weather, strike, or hijacking/skyjacking—and they purchased their fare with their Visa Infinite cards, they are eligible to be reimbursed up to $500.

Zero Liability

Visa’s Zero Liability policy states that you will not be liable to pay for transactions that you do not authorize. This protects cardholders from identity theft and even purchases made with lost or stolen cards.

Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Reimbursement

When you book a trip with your Visa Infinite card and you need to cancel at the last minute or cut it short, Visa will reimburse you for all or part of your non-refundable fare (your benefits package should cover this in detail). In addition to air travel, this covers trains, buses, ferries, and cruise ships.

Emergency Cash Disbursement

If a Visa Infinite cardholder is ever in a pinch and needs a wire transfer fast, Visa will arrange for this. If you are in need of emergency assistance because you lost a card and are waiting on a replacement, Visa can make a wire cash transfer to you to a local Western Union location within 2 hours of your request being approved.

Emergency Card Replacement

If your Visa Infinite card is lost, stolen, or damaged, Visa will work with your bank to have it replaced in as little as 24 hours and no more than 72 hours. Emergency Card Replacement can be applied no matter where you are in the world.

Visa Infinite VS Visa Signature

Because Visa Infinite was originally launched in Europe, the Visa Infinite suite has significantly larger market share there than here in the United States. The Visa Signature line of cards is much more prevalent in the U.S. That said, there are very little differences between the two.

The main difference lies with the luxury hotel chains included and the perks offered at each. In terms of perks for example, Visa Signature offers room upgrades if available, $25 food and beverage credit, free continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi and late check out. Whereas the Visa Infinite offers all of that PLUS a $75 food and beverage credit (vs just $25 with Signature) and a $100 resort fee credit (not applicable at all hotels and destinations). In terms of luxury hotel chains, Visa Infinite has a larger roster of superior hotels to choose from with over 900 luxury hotels around the word.

Final Thoughts

The Visa Infinite program is like many other premium credit card rewards programs in that it offers a nice range of luxurious benefits to card holders. The top tier has elite benefits and securities that are going to be most attractive to a wealthier demographic, especially those that travel often and wish to do so in luxury. But there are many Visa Infinite perks provided to Visa Signature cardholders as well, which has much broader acceptance.

Just remember, the specific benefits you are entitled to can vary and change sporadically.

Buying Airline Miles – When To Consider This Option?

June 9, 2021 by flyergeek Leave a Comment

Miles can be earned through frequent flyer rewards programs with nearly any airline. If you fly often enough with one or two airlines, you will more than likely be rewarded for your loyalty with miles. These can be put toward any number of things, including ticket upgrades, hotel reservations, car rentals, and even airline-branded merchandise, if you’re into that sort of thing.

But what if you want more miles than you’ve currently earned making airline purchases or flying?

Many airlines give customers the option of purchasing additional miles or points for their accounts, but there aren’t many advantages in doing this as the price at which they are sold often exceeds the value in which they can be exchanged for.

The tactic of acquiring more miles than you’ve “earned” isn’t going to be a huge money-saving hack by any means, but there are some instances where it can cut costs and make your life easier.

We will cover those potential scenarios in this article.

When Should You Consider Buying Airlines Miles

In a nut shell, there are generally three scenarios in which one should consider purchasing airlines miles.

You might consider buying miles if:

Buying miles makes the price of the ticket more affordable than its retail price, or
Buying miles keeps you from having your frequent flyer account deactivated, or
Buying additional miles allows you to cash in a bonus offer or reward that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to.

If the price of the ticket is greater than the cost of purchasing necessary miles.

There are going to be times (albeit, not often) when ticket prices surpass miles prices. When this is the case, take advantage of the opportunity to save money and buy miles rather than the ticket itself.

To find out when this opportunity is present, you’ll need to do some basic math.

First, figure out the price per mile if you were to buy miles directly from your loyalty program’s website. Look for the “buy,” “gift,” or “transfer” tabs once you’ve logged in. The price per mile varies by airline, but a general rule of thumb is 2.5 to 3.5 cents per mile.

Second, after you’ve added up how much it will take to buy the required miles for the ticket, weigh this against the actual retail price of the ticket itself. Be sure to factor in taxes and fees.

To prevent accrued miles from expiring.

The last thing you want to do after racking up major miles is to let them go to waste.

Most frequent flyer programs set expiration dates on their miles if your account remains inactive for too long—18 months is fairly typical—and one way to keep an account active is to put more miles into it. It doesn’t matter whether these are purchased or earned or how many it is.

Especially if your favorite airline will let you purchase just one or two thousand miles or if your flying habits are more sporadic, buying miles to prevent account deactivation could be a great way to make sure that you never lose miles before you get a chance to use them.

The United Airlines MileagePlus program, for example, allows customers to purchase as few as 2,000 miles and it goes up in increments of 1,000. These miles cost $35 per 1,000 miles (or 3.5 cents each) so with the 2,000 mile minimum purchase requirement, it would cost you $70 ($35 per 1,000 miles) to purchase 2,000 miles and thus keep your entire allotment active.

Buying miles to cash in on a bonus or to top off a reward.

Many airlines run promotions to incentivize buying miles, and you’re going to want to be on the lookout for these. Don’t waste your time with deals that only save you a couple of cents a mile, but instead keep your eyes peeled for slashed rates. Rate reductions of anywhere from 10% to 50% are common when you buy more miles at a time.

For example, American Airlines is currently running a promotion until June 20, 2021 where customers can buy miles up to 40% off. The maximum amount of miles one can buy (and also where the greatest value lies) is 150,000 miles. With this promotion the cost of 150,000 miles is $2,902.50 or 1.935 cents per mile! Login to your AAdvantage account here to see this particular bonus offer.

Topping Off a Reward

Buying miles is a quick and easy way to supplement what you already have in your account, but only if the math makes sense.

If you’re really close to being able to use your miles on a great reward or ticket but just don’t quite have what you need in your account, consider buying enough to close the distance. The vacation package of your dreams could be just a few thousand miles away.

Consider the following:

Let’s say you and your significant other want to go to Hawaii for vacation and you’ve saved 145,000 miles between the two of you.

In general, it costs ~40,000 miles for one roundtrip ticket to Hawaii (or 75,000 miles for business class).

You two easily have enough miles to cash in on a free trip (40,000 miles each x 2 = 80,000 miles required), but with just 5,000 extra miles you could go in business class (75,000 miles each x 2 = 150,000 miles required).

In this scenario, it could make sense to purchase the additional 5,000 miles to bring your allotment from 145,000 up to 150,000 to cash in on the business class trip to Hawaii rather than flying coach.

Where To Go To Buy Airline Miles

Where you need to go to purchase airline miles will depend on which loyalty program(s) you are a part of and which airlines you fly most often. For the most part, airlines want you to buy miles so they make this easy and obvious to find.

If you visit your loyalty program’s website or online portal, look for links saying “buy,” “gift,” or “transfer” miles.

Other Variables To Consider

As stated, purchasing miles isn’t going to make sense in most cases, so make sure that you know how to make this decision wisely when the option presents itself.

The following two considerations are also important to keep in mind if you are thinking about buying miles.

Can you purchase miles with a rewards credit card?

If you’ve got a great reward credit card in your wallet and it makes sense for you to purchase airline miles (using our guide above), then you may want to compound the miles you earn by purchasing them with your reward credit card.

Buying miles using a rewards credit card will earn you even more miles or credit card points at no additional cost to you—just make sure that both the airline and the card will let you do this.

The best cards count miles purchases as travel purchases, which is a good way to earn more points or miles than you pay for.

Co-branded airline cards are a great way to maximize the earning potential on anything travel-related with a certain carrier, especially miles, while general rewards cards may or may not be compatible with your airline of choice.

How many award seats are available on the flight?

Airline miles can’t just be used to purchase flight seats whenever you please. Unfortunately, award seats—or seats set aside specifically for award redemption—are often limited. And even more unfortunate, a carrier won’t always make it easy to find out how many award seats are still available when you go to book a flight.

Searching for tickets through your airline’s search engine and filtering the results is going to be your best bet, but make sure that you’re searching only direct flights, as flights through partner airlines are not typically eligible to be paid for with miles and points. Also note that if you are traveling with a large party, you are unlikely to be able to use miles for all of your seats. Usually, a flight or cabin only has between one and five award seats available, but this will depend on many factors including the airline, flight route, seat class, etc.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, the scenarios in which purchasing airlines miles makes sense are few and far between.

If you are close to being able to redeem a loyalty reward, your miles are about to expire due to account inactivity, your favorite airline is running a promotion you can’t pass up, or the cost of a flight ticket is greater than the cost of enough miles to pay for said ticket, then buying miles makes some sense. Outside of this, however, you’ll be hard pressed to find a scenario in which it would be advantageous to purchase miles.

Before you go through with any purchases, just make sure that you’re using the right credit card and award seats are still available on the flight you’re looking to take.

The ability to purchase airline miles is a useful option to keep in mind, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking that frequent flyer miles or points are more valuable than they really are. The true dollar value of any given mile ebbs and flows.

Using the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar to Book Cheap Flights

June 6, 2021 by flyergeek Leave a Comment

The Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar is an easy-to-use widget on the Southwest site that filters your search to find the lowest fares per month for your desired trip. This helpful tool is a favorite among deal hounds, especially those that are already Rapid Rewards members (more on how to use your loyalty status to save even more later).

It’s no secret that Southwest, as one of the nation’s most popular budget airlines, offers great value on its tickets. However, this makes it that much harder to know when you’re getting the absolute lowest price available, and filtering through all search results can be a hassle.

Fortunately, the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar does the work of finding the best deals for you.

Here’s how to use it to book cheap flights year-round with Southwest Airlines.

How to Use the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar

Using the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar is very straightforward. Simply select the bubble at the upper righthand corner of the screen for “Dollars” or “Points” to determine which unit ticket values will be shown in. You can then toggle your search to see round trips, one-way, and multi-city prices.

Choose the number of people in your party from the Passengers box and then fill in the departure and arrival destinations as you normally would. It might be worth it to try a few different locations if you are able to.

Please note, that the Low Fare Calendar can only be used for groups of one to nine people. If you are traveling in a group of 10 or more, you will need to book a flight through Southwest’s Group Travel Program. This program gives group discounts and more booking flexibility on flights. For example, no upfront payment is required (except for possibly a per person deposit) and names can be changed as little as 72 hours before departure. This is a good option for business groups, but it does unfortunately mean that you can’t use the Low Fare Calendar. Contact Southwest Airlines directly if you’re interested in making a group booking.

Examples of Low Fare Deals we found (Round Trip for 1 passenger July, 2021):

Departing City	Destination	Fare
San Diego	New York City LaGuardia	as low as $264
San Jose	New York City LaGuardia	as low as $265
San Antonio	Boston	as low as $204
San Antonio	Los Cabos, Mexico	as low as $229
Chicago	Miami	as low as $78
Seattle	Chicago	as low as $166
Seattle	New Orleans	as low as $164
Denver	West Palm Beach	as low as $187
Los Angeles	Atlanta	as low as $264

Prices shown on the calendar itself reflect discounted Anytime prices per person. Some flights are available for as little as $49 a piece. Actual prices may not be exactly what is shown on the calendar, as fares are subject to change until you purchase a ticket. If all of the available flights at the calendar’s price have been snagged by other customers, you will be shown the next best prices.

If Southwest is running a sale on flights, and they are just about every week, you’ll find these prices through the Low Fare Calendar. Just keep in mind that promotions like this are often popular and many other people are likely to have the same idea.

Some frequent fliers also like to use the Low Fare Calendar to get an idea of what tickets are going for in general during a given time. Not many airlines have a tool like this, so using the calendar offered by Southwest is a good way to find out roughly what budget airlines may charge for a flight you’re looking to take even if you aren’t necessarily planning to travel with this airline.

Benefits of Using the Low Fare Calendar vs. Booking Online

While there is nothing wrong with booking travel online through the Southwest website or mobile app, the Low Fare Calendar makes it easier to book a flight if your number one priority is finding the best price. The calendar simplifies the process of saving money.

But if you do need to filter your search further and are unwilling or unable to have a little wiggle room with dates or flight types, booking online may be your only option for getting exactly what you’re looking for.

Another advantage to using the Low Fare Calendar is that Southwest flights don’t actually show up on a lot of third-party flight booking websites. So if it’s good deals you’re after, this is very likely is the only way to find them at Southwest.

Can You Earn Rapid Rewards Through Low Fare Calendar Bookings?

Just as you would normally earn points for booking travel online through Southwest, flights booked through the Low Fare Calendar also qualify to earn points when you pay with cash. However, travel booked with points does not qualify to earn points.

And Southwest does have a decent loyalty program. In 2020, a WalletHub study estimated that the Rapid Rewards program awards an average member about $10 per $100 spent, putting it in the top five airline loyalty programs. Plus, points do not expire as long as you complete at least one points-earning activity (through Southwest or a partner) every 24 months.

Rapid Rewards Credit Card

Another surefire way to save more on flights is with a travel card. Here is what each Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card offers.

Priority (annual fee of $69)

5 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases made between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (valid up to $2,000 per month or $8,000 total)
2 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases, including Rapid Rewards hotels and car rentals
1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Bonus 3,000 points for every year you are a cardmember

Premier (annual fee of $99)

5 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases made between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (valid up to $2,000 per month or $8,000 total)
2 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases, including Rapid Rewards hotels and car rentals
1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Waived foreign transaction fees
1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred for every $10,000 you spend (up to and including $100,000)
Bonus 6,000 points for every year you are a cardmember

Plus (annual fee of $149)

5 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases made between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (valid up to $2,000 per month or $8,000 total)
2 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases, including Rapid Rewards hotels and car rentals
1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Bonus 7,500 points for every year you are a cardmember (or $75 Southwest annual travel credit)
Four upgraded boardings per year (subject to availability)
20% cashback on inflight purchases
Waived foreign transaction fees
1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred for every $10,000 you spend (up to and including $100,000)

For more information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business credit card, go here.

Currently, all three of the above credit cards are giving cardholders 50,000 points when they spend $2,000 in the first three months of an account being opened, and 30,000 points on top of that (for a total of 80,000 points possible) when they spend $10,000 in the first nine months.

And of course, all Southwest credit card points can be redeemed for flights—domestic and international—as well as car rentals, hotel stays, cruises, and more with partner companies. You can also use your points to get gift cards.

What Are the Change or Cancellation Fees?

The change or cancellation fees are the same when you book through the Low Fare Calendar as when you book through the Southwest Airlines website.

Southwest Airlines does charge change or cancellation fees. You are only responsible for the difference in fare if you book a new flight that costs more than your previous one.

You can change or cancel as little as 10 minutes before your flight is scheduled to leave, even if you’ve already checked in for it. As long as you make a change to or cancel a flight 10 minutes or more before its scheduled departure, you will be eligible for a full refund to the original payment method or travel credit worth the same amount. There is no limit to how many times you can alter your itinerary.

What Flights Are Available?

The Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar features all discounted flights.

In addition, all three fare types—Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select—are available when you book through the calendar. Flights shown on the calendar are Anytime prices, but the next screen shows prices for each class.

The more flexible you are, the better when using the Low Fare Calendar. Cheap flights go fast, and the prices on the Low Fare Calendar are not guaranteed until you purchase a ticket. If you are alright with making more stops or you are not particular about where exactly you depart from and when, you might be more likely to fly at the price you’re looking for.

On Low Fare Calendar flights (and all other Southwest Airlines flights), you can check up to two bags for free. These must weigh no more than 50 pounds or measure more than 62 linear inches. After these two, bags cost $75 each. See our comprehensive rundown of their baggage policies for more information on excess baggage fees.

Right now, customers can book all the way through April 11, 2021, using the Southwest Low Fare Calendar.

COVID-19 Policies

Like most other airlines, Southwest has implemented many new health and safety standards in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are interested in flying with Southwest at any time soon, you will want to know what they are doing to keep you safe and what their updated cancellation policies are.

As much as possible, the airline requires passengers to distance themselves from each other and has increased their cleaning procedures. Masks are required on all flights and in all airports.

As for the thousands of tickets customers have purchased in 2020 and not been able to use, policies have been updated to account for these too.

For all flights canceled by Southwest, customers are refunded the full cost of their ticket to the original form of payment or in the form of travel funds. For all non-refundable Wanna Get Away tickets—a popular choice for passengers of the biggest budget airline in the world—that have been voluntarily canceled by the passenger, customers are eligible to receive a travel credit worth the full value of their flight that is valid for travel until September 7, 2022.

How to Get in Touch With Customer Support

If you hit a snag in the booking process, want to know whether you’re eligible for a ticket refund, or just have a question that’s not addressed in Southwest’s FAQs section, here’s how to get a hold of someone at the airline.

You can call 1-800-435-9792 to reach the general customer service line, open 24/7. Alternatively, you can tweet @Southwestair or message the airline on Facebook messenger. You can also send a secure message right through the Southwest site, which has a guaranteed response time of 48 hours or less, or send a letter to the following address with non-urgent requests:

Southwest Airlines

P.O. Box 36447-1CR

Dallas, Texas 75235

Final Thoughts

If you are able to compromise on certain aspects of your flight such as flight class and departure date in order to score the best deal on your trip, then the Southwest Low Fare Calendar is for people like you. When paired with a Rapid Rewards account or credit card, customers are sure to save big when they use this calendar to book travel.

This tool ensures that you will always be getting the lowest prices Southwest has to offer on flights, but there is not a bottomless stash of dirt cheap tickets. To make the most of this option, try to get to the Low Fare Calendar as soon as you possibly can when booking and remember to be flexible. This tool most benefits those with wiggle room in their schedule and the foresight to book well in advance.