After many years of advertising that bags fly free, Southwest has killed off its free bag policy. Now you need elite status or a Southwest credit card to get free checked bags… Or, do you? As I learned from this maxmilespoints video, you can still get two free checked bags if you book your flights through Getaways by Southwest.
Getaways by Southwest bookings include two free checked bags per person, free changes, and flexible cancellations (you get credit for future Getaways bookings).
For Thanksgiving break, I was looking to book a trip for three family members, and amazingly, I found that booking through Getaways by Southwest, with a mid-size SUV car rental included (but no hotel), was slightly cheaper than booking a non-refundable Basic fare directly through Southwest (without a car rental)! This is awesome because we definitely want the extra checked bags, change flexibility, and the rental car!
If you’ve booked trips through Getaways by Southwest, please share your experience with us. Did you save money? Were there any problems with the booking? Comment below.
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Man oh man I would love to see Nick do a deep dive on these possibilities when he gets back!
does companion pass work with Getaway bookings?
@Greg
Hmmm… wonder if you could use expiring 6/12 month travel credits into Getaway travel or Getaway credits.
“..you get credit for future Getaways bookings.”
Hmm wonder how repricing with sales an/or the CP changes the calculus.
We re-priced a NOLA trip we took this past week this past summer with the CP. RT it was 7.5K PDX-MSY (which is mind blowing -but far too often not the case by a long shot).
I have been gardening our reservations and been changing some other domestic trips booked with miles/credits to SW most recent was JAN PDX-SMF (left AS booking in place – but the AS time had changed) $98 & 2.5K RR vs 25K AS miles.
I just got the 105K Atmos Summit last month -so it made even more sense to cancel day of if not needed (SW cancel flight or reduced number of flights).
That said SW is often very uncompetitive even moreso without CP.
Can i use my thousands of dollars in credits, doubtful
Are these cash bookings only?
right!? I am guessing it is cash only – but wish he would have clarified that.