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Flying doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Choosing a low-cost airline is a great option for travelers who don’t want to break the bank.
Southwest Airlines is considered the the world’s largest budget airline (despite not actually making the list of the 5 cheapest airlines in the US this summer).
I’m a big fan of budget travel (and I don’t even mind being uncomfortable for a few hours to see the world and save a few bucks), so I wanted to hear that Southwest has expanded and launched its network new non-stop flight routes.
It may seem far away, but these 3 new flight routes will start in the spring.
2 new flights from Nashville
Starting March 8, 2025, travelers living in Nashville will be able to fly nonstop to Nashville Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos in Mexico and to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
This is a service that only takes place on Saturdays, so it’s perfect for a week away.
Pack your swimsuit and your passport and escape to the sun!
Southwest is Nashville’s largest airline, so it should come as no surprise that they would choose this airport to launch their new routes.
So the big question is how much will these new flights cost? They are already on sale, so I used a weekend in March to get some sample prices.
Flying from Nashville to Los Cabos on March 22 and returning on March 29 for a round-trip Anytime fare costs $1,180.
This rate includes 2 free bags, early check-in, and access to the priority and express lanes. At the time of checking, cheaper fares were not available for this route.
Flying from Nashville to Punta Cana on the same dates (March 22 – March 29) cost a whopping $1,434.
Again, this was an ‘Anytime fare’ with the same benefits as there were no lower class tickets on sale at this time.
I hope that cheaper tickets will become available online once the fuss surrounding the introduction of the new routes has subsided.
Because these prices seem very high compared to other airlines flying to the same destinations!
A new flight path for Sacramento
American travelers can’t get enough of Mexico, and Southwest is capitalizing on the trend by adding another new route between Sacramento and Mexico. Puerto Vallarta.
This route will also launch on March 8, 2025 and will also include a Saturday service only.
Flying this route from March 22 to March 29 for a week in the sun costs $1,140. This is for an ‘Anytime’ fare in economy class.
If you want to upgrade your flight and fly business class, it will only cost an additional $80 ($40 each way).
You will also benefit from Priority Boarding, free premium drinks and free internet access on board.
As a seasoned budget flyer, even I would upgrade to business class if it only cost me $80!
New Southwest promotion to reduce costs
The good news is that there is a way to lower the price of your Southwest airline tickets (provided you’re not a solo traveler at least!), but unfortunately this won’t work for everyone.
If you are a regular Southwest flyer and are part of their Rapid Rewards membership program, Southwest has a temporary promotion for a companion pass.
To take advantage of this offer, you must purchase one flight (one round trip or two one-way flights) and then designate a companion to fly with you for free.
Obviously there’s a lot of fine print, but if you’re a Southwest member (or want to sign up to join Southwest Rapid Rewards), this is definitely worth a look.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
