I used to wait until the last minute, thinking I’d snag a "fire sale" deal, but I learned the hard way that Southwest flights rarely get cheaper as the date approaches. Last year, I held off on booking a trip to see family, hoping for a price drop two weeks out. Instead, the "Wanna Get Away" fares sold out, and I ended up paying double for a "Business Select" seat just to get there.
Now, my step-by-step strategy is to book as soon as I know my dates. Since they don't charge change fees, the best way to manage your budget is to secure the low price early and simply check back occasionally to modify your reservation if the fare actually happens to drop.
