Southwest Airlines Celebrates 53rd Birthday by Offering $53 One-Way Flights

Southwest Airlines celebrates its birthday with cheap tickets!

The airline announced on its website on Tuesday, June 18 that it will offer airfare for just $53 one-way during select travel periods for continental and international travel to celebrate the airline’s 53rd birthday.

Those looking to book flights within the continental US will be able to book these low fares for flights between August 6 and December 18, 2024. The low fares to the continental US are only valid for flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Some flights and destinations for sale include one-way nonstop flights from Atlanta to Tampa, Austin to Dallas, Las Vegas to San Diego and Los Angeles to Phoenix, according to the website. “Orange County (SNA) travel is not valid,” the airline also noted.

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A Southwest Airlines plane taxis from a gate at Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport on October 11, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Those looking to travel abroad or to Hawaii, San Juan and Puerto Rico will have a shorter travel time frame to get the lower prices. Airline customers will be able to book low fares for flights between August 20 and November 20, 2024. These fares apply to flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

However, the airline noted that “restrictions, exclusions and blackout dates will apply” when booking and that “21-day advance purchase is required.” It also said the $53 airfare also does not include “government taxes and fees,” and that fares are “nonrefundable” but “may be applied to future travel on Southwest Airlines.”

Southwest Airlines said “seats, markets and days” are also limited and any change in a person’s flight itinerary could result in a higher fare.

The sale is set to end on Thursday, June 20th at 11:59pm PST.

The announcement comes months after the airline unveiled its new seat design for 2025 in a TikTok video. The video shows the new, more modern seats equipped with a small heart detail in the lower corner of each headrest and an additional tray to hold iPads and phones.

Southwest Airlines.

Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty

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“New Eligibility Check! 💯Introducing our updated cabin design and new seats! You can see this interior on new aircraft deliveries early next year. Not to mention our ongoing rollout of adding larger tanks and in-seat power ports to our current aircraft!,” the airline captioned the video.

However, the new design drew mixed reviews on social media, with some criticizing the slimmer seats. One person joked that they were “Ozempic seats ✨😭”, while another said: “So we’re getting thinner, more uncomfortable seats with hearts on them. Why don’t we just put wooden benches? They’d be just as comfortable!”

The airline said the updated interior will be introduced on “new aircraft deliveries” in early 2025 and that the airline spent “18 months” researching and testing seat comfort.

“It will include new functionality including in-seat power, a personal electronic device holder and dual cup holders on the seatback tray with left-handed customers in mind,” they added.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education