How to Book Southwest Round-Trip Flights: Complete Booking Guide

Planning a return journey within the United States or an international trip with a U.S. connection? Booking a Southwest round-trip flight can be a convenient way to manage both your outbound and return travel in one reservation. This guide explains how to search, compare, select, and book a Southwest round-trip itinerary while helping you understand fares, seats, changes, cancellations, and ways to look for better prices.

For travelers researching Southwest Flight Booking & Reservations, this step-by-step guide from thejerseyflights provides practical information to make the booking process easier.

What Is a Southwest Round-Trip Flight?

A round-trip flight includes two flight segments:

• Outbound flight: Your journey from the departure airport to your destination.
• Return flight: Your journey back from the destination to the original departure area.

For example, if you are traveling from Denver to Orlando and returning to Denver, you can search for both flights together as a round-trip itinerary.

Booking both segments together can make it easier to manage your travel dates, passenger information, seats, and reservation details.

How to Book Southwest Round-Trip Flights Online

Follow these steps to make a Southwest round-trip reservation.

1. Choose the Round-Trip Option

Start your Southwest flight search and select the Round trip option. A round-trip search allows you to enter both your departure and return information before reviewing available flights.

2. Enter Your Departure and Destination Airports

Enter the airport or city you are flying from in the From field and your destination in the To field.

For example:

From: Denver (DEN)
To: Orlando (MCO)

Check the airport codes carefully before continuing, especially when a city has multiple airports.

3. Select Your Outbound Date

Choose the date you want to travel to your destination. If your schedule is flexible, compare nearby dates because fares can vary by travel day.

Southwest recommends using its Low Fare Calendar to compare available fares across a month and identify lower-priced travel dates.

4. Select Your Return Date

Next, choose the date you want to fly home.

Before continuing, verify that the return date gives you enough time at your destination. If you are booking a business trip, vacation, or family journey, double-check both dates before selecting flights.

5. Enter the Number of Passengers

Select the number of travelers who will be flying.

Make sure the passenger information entered later matches the traveler's identification and reservation details.

6. Search for Available Southwest Flights

Click the search option to view available flights.

Review:

• Departure and arrival times
• Flight duration
• Nonstop or connecting options
• Available fares
• Seat options
• Baggage-related costs
• Flight times on both outbound and return segments

Do not automatically choose the cheapest fare. The lowest fare may have more restrictions and fewer included benefits.

How to Choose the Right Southwest Fare

Southwest currently offers four major fare products: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. The benefits and restrictions differ between them.

Basic

Basic is generally the lowest-priced fare, but it has the most restrictions.

With Basic:

• A standard seat is assigned at check-in.
• Flight changes require an upgrade to a higher fare.
• A cancellation can result in a flight credit subject to the applicable rules.
• Checked bag fees may apply.
• Basic flight credits have a six-month expiration period under Southwest's current fare rules.

Basic can make sense when your travel dates are unlikely to change and your main priority is the initial fare price.

Choice

Choice is designed to provide a balance between price and flexibility.

It includes the ability to choose an available Standard seat during booking, and flight changes are allowed with any applicable fare difference.

Choice Preferred

Choice Preferred adds additional benefits, including the ability to select an available Preferred or Standard seat during booking. It also includes additional travel benefits compared with lower fare options.

Choice Extra

Choice Extra is Southwest's most premium fare bundle. It includes an Extra Legroom seat or another available seat, Group 1 boarding, and two free checked bags, subject to Southwest's rules and limitations.

How to Compare Outbound and Return Flights

When booking a round trip, evaluate both flight segments, not just the outbound flight.

For the outbound trip, check:

• Departure time
• Arrival time
• Total travel duration
• Connection requirements
• Seat availability

For the return trip, check the same details.

A very inexpensive outbound flight may not be the best overall option if the return flight is significantly more expensive or inconvenient.

How to Select Seats on a Southwest Round Trip

Southwest now uses an assigned-seating model across its flights. Seat options depend on the fare purchased and availability.

Depending on your fare, you may be able to select:

• Standard seats
• Preferred seats
• Extra Legroom seats

Basic fares have more limited seat-selection rules, while Choice Preferred and Choice Extra provide additional seat-selection benefits.

If you are traveling with family or a group, check the seat map before completing your reservation.

How to Find Cheaper Southwest Round-Trip Flights

If your goal is to find a lower Southwest airfare, consider these strategies.

Compare Multiple Travel Dates

Airfares can change frequently. If you can travel one or two days earlier or later, compare those dates before booking.

Use the Low Fare Calendar

Southwest's Low Fare Calendar can help travelers compare available fares for different dates.

Compare the Total Cost

A lower base fare is not always the lowest overall travel cost. Consider:

• Fare price
• Checked baggage
• Seat selection
• Flexibility
• Change requirements
• Other optional services

Book When You Find a Suitable Fare

Southwest states that fares can change at any time, even while you are shopping. Comparing fares early and regularly can help you recognize a competitive price.

Can You Change a Southwest Round-Trip Flight?

Yes, the ability to change a Southwest reservation depends on the fare purchased.

Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares can be changed, with a fare difference potentially applying. Basic fares cannot be changed unless the reservation is upgraded to an eligible higher fare.

For example, if your original flight costs $200 and the replacement flight costs $250, you may need to pay the applicable $50 fare difference.

If the replacement fare is lower, the resulting credit or refund treatment depends on the fare type and applicable Southwest rules.

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Can You Cancel a Southwest Round-Trip Reservation?

Southwest allows cancellations without a cancellation fee, but the result depends on the fare and reservation structure.

One important consideration is the Basic fare. If one or both segments of a round-trip reservation are booked with Basic, Southwest says the entire round trip must be canceled or the Basic segment(s) must first be upgraded before canceling an individual segment.

It is therefore important to understand the fare rules before booking separate travel plans around your round-trip reservation.

What Happens If You Find a Lower Fare After Booking?

If you book an eligible Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra fare and later find a lower fare, Southwest allows eligible reservations to be changed. Depending on the fare and circumstances, the difference may be provided as a flight credit, Transferable Flight Credit, or refund to the original payment method.

Basic fares have different rules and cannot simply be changed to obtain a lower fare without upgrading the fare first.

Southwest Round-Trip Booking With Rapid Rewards Points

Travelers who participate in Southwest Rapid Rewards can also consider using points for eligible award travel.

Before booking with points, compare:

• Points required
• Taxes and fees
• Cash fare
• Travel dates
• Available flight times
• Seat options

If you have enough points for only one segment, compare the cost of paying cash for the other segment rather than automatically purchasing both segments with money or points.

What Information Do You Need to Book?

Keep the following information ready:

• Passenger's full name
• Date of birth, where required
• Contact information
• Departure airport
• Destination airport
• Outbound travel date
• Return travel date
• Preferred fare
• Seat preference
• Payment method
• Rapid Rewards information, if applicable

Review the spelling of passenger names carefully before completing the reservation.

Southwest Round-Trip Booking Checklist

Before clicking the final booking button, verify the following details to help prevent avoidable booking mistakes.

• ✓ Correct departure airport
• ✓ Correct destination
• ✓ Correct outbound date
• ✓ Correct return date
• ✓ Correct number of passengers
• ✓ Suitable flight times
• ✓ Correct fare type
• ✓ Seat selection
• ✓ Baggage requirements
• ✓ Passenger information
• ✓ Total price
• ✓ Payment details

A few minutes of checking can help prevent avoidable booking mistakes.

Southwest Round-Trip Flights: Common Questions

Is it cheaper to book Southwest round-trip or two one-way flights?

Not necessarily. The best option depends on the fares available for each segment and your travel requirements. Compare the complete round-trip price with the cost of separate one-way reservations before making a decision.

Can I book different fare types for my outbound and return flights?

Fare availability and booking options can vary by flight. Review the fare displayed for each segment and check the rules before completing your reservation.

Can I change only my return Southwest flight?

The ability to modify an individual segment depends on the fare and reservation. Basic fare restrictions are particularly important for round-trip reservations. Southwest states that a round trip containing Basic segments has special cancellation restrictions.

Can I cancel my Southwest round trip?

Yes, eligible Southwest reservations can be canceled, but the resulting refund or flight credit depends on the fare and applicable rules. Basic fares have additional restrictions when only one segment of a round trip is being canceled.

How can I find the lowest Southwest round-trip fare?

Compare different dates, use Southwest's Low Fare Calendar, check multiple flight times, and compare the total trip cost rather than only the advertised base fare.

Final Thoughts

Booking a Southwest round-trip flight is straightforward when you compare both travel segments, understand the available fare options, review seat and baggage requirements, and check the cancellation and change rules before paying.

For travelers researching Southwest Flight Booking & Reservations, the key is to look beyond the initial ticket price. A slightly higher fare may provide valuable flexibility or additional benefits depending on your trip.

thejerseyflights can be used as a travel-information resource while you research Southwest flight options, booking considerations, and trip-planning information. Always verify the latest fare, baggage, seating, and reservation rules with Southwest before completing your purchase because airline policies and prices can change.

Quick Answer

How do you book a Southwest round-trip flight?
Select the Round trip option, enter your departure and destination airports, choose your outbound and return dates, select the number of passengers, compare available Southwest flights and fares, choose your preferred options, enter passenger details, review the complete itinerary, and complete payment. Before booking, compare the fare rules, seat options, baggage costs, and change or cancellation conditions.