Teachers, if you aren’t flying Southwest, what are you even doing?
In my opinion, Southwest airlines is a no-brainer for teacher travel.
I have pledged my allegiance to the airline for the past 10 years and it has really paid off.
Want to learn some teacher travel hacks to help you save money, fly for free, and get awesome perks?
I’ve got you covered!
DO’s:
Plan your travel ahead. Southwest releases their flights about 9 months in advance and the sooner you book, the better the ticket price.
Planning early allows you access to “Wanna Get Away” ticket prices which is their lowest pricing.
Pack as much as you want, if you want. Southwest allows you to check 2 bags FOR FREE. No hidden or extra costs for checking two suitcases or duffles to your final destination. I personally pack light and don’t check bags, but it’s SO nice to have that as a free option.
Apply for a southwest credit card. Southwest credit cards have allowed me to fly for leisure FOR FREE for the last 6 years. AND I always get to bring a guest with me on flights for FREE. I’m not even kidding. Since i have started flying southwest I have saved over $50,000 on flight travel. It’s literally mind-blowing. Learn ALL about the southwest credit card here
DON’Ts:
Never worry if you have to cancel your flight. Southwest allows you to cancel your flight and get a full flight credit that NEVER expires. You can use that flight credit on any future flights in your name.
Never think you are limited on designation that Southwest flies. Here is a list of places I’ve flown on Southwest:
New York, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, Orlando, Puerto Vallarta Mexico, Palm Springs, Austin, Dominican Republic, Los Angelos, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Philly, Hawaii, Phoenix, and more!
Never worry about picking your seat. Southwest has “open seating” which means they don’t assign you a seat when you book your ticket. Sometimes people get nervous about this process, but it’s SO easy and they guide you through the whole process when you board the plane. You are assigned A, B, or C boarding along with a number of 1-60. A-1 is first on the place and C-60 is the last on the plane. If you get somewhere in A, B, or early C it is very, very likely you will get a preferred seat. If you get late C, you may be in a middle seat, which I have done MANY times and it’s perfectly fine!
Teacher Travel Sample Plan
Summer is when I do a majority of my leisure travel because, well, teacher perks 🙂
But, some of my favorite teacher trips happen by leaving on Thursday after school and taking a personal day or “sick day” (mental health is a thing) on Friday and returning Sunday evening.
That timeline gets you 2 FULL days in a fun location, plus Thursday night and Sunday morning.
Here is a hypothetical idea that I highly recommend because NYC is AMAZING
Thursday, Nov 14th: Southwest Non-Stop Flight From St. Louis (STL) TO New York (LGA)
Departs: 5:40, Arrives 9:00 $145
Sunday, Nov 17th: Southwest Non-Stop Flight From LGA to STL
Departs 1:00, Arrives 2:50 $160
That is ROUND-TRIP for Less than $300
And PS- NYC is BEAUTIFUL in the winter!
Here is another hypothetical idea if you have never visited the best city, in my opinion, in the US…. Chicago
Thursday, Nov 14th: Southwest Non-Stop Flight From Phoenix (PHX) TO Chicago (ORD)
Departs: 6:40, Arrives 11:00 $154
Sunday, Nov 17th: Southwest Non-Stop Flight From ORD to PHX
Departs 7:15, Arrives 10:20 $164
That is ROUND-TRIP for $318
I intentionally used the same dates to show how big of a variety southwest offers, all for low round-trip pricing!
Are you blown away by these details and examples?
Are you running to activate your Southwest perks now!
If you still have questions about teacher travel, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!
Find me on all socials: @MonicaGentaEd
Happy Travels!
PS– Don’t forget to check out these Awesome Southwest Bonuses
***Disclaimer- credit cards can create dangerous spending behaviors for some people. Only apply for a card if you fully understand the terms and conditions of the cards you apply for. Monica Genta, LLC is not responsible for any fees, fines, or finances based on your choices after reading this information. Card bonuses and specific details change. Be sure to check the Chase website for the most up to date information about card details ***