If you are 65 and above, you must be getting senior citizen discounts in most places. When it comes to flights, it’s at the discretion of the respective airlines. Some airlines offer discounts, while many don’t. Specifically, senior citizen discounts are implemented on the base fare, varying from 5-50%. No two airlines offer the same discount percentage; it differs from one to another. Delta Airlines provides discounted offers to senior citizens on some of their flights. Coming to the topic – does Southwest Airlines offer a senior citizen fare? If yes, what’s the age limit? We’ll know it all in this article. Read on to know more.
Senior Fare on Southwest Airlines – Are There Any Offers?
If you are traveling by Southwest Airlines, you must be keen to know if they offer any provisions or concessions for senior citizens. Right? Well, FYI, Southwest Airlines currently doesn’t offer any senior fares. Initially, some concessions were provided for senior citizens, but these have ceased to exist. Let’s look at the discount offers Southwest Airlines provided to senior citizens in the past.
- On September 23rd, 1985, Southwest Airlines began senior citizen fares for those aged 65 and older. They offered a flat $25 fare for both ways of travel from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- On the 24th of February, 1986, Southwest Airlines renewed the $25 senior citizen program. This allowed them to fly $25 one way and $50 both ways.
- On April 14, 1986, Southwest declared a $25 fare for senior citizens valid on Saturdays only.
- On March 17, 1988, the senior fare was lowered further to $15. This gesture reflected the airlines’ amicable relationship with senior citizens over the years.
- On January 4th, Southwest Airlines put a $79 fare limit on senior fares for all routes. The lowest fare started at $19. The low prices were available Monday through Thursday, 9 am -3 pm, and throughout Saturday.
- On November 1, 1990, senior fares started as low as $20 to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
- On January 30, 1997, another special offer was announced for seniors, i.e., those aged 65 and above. The lowest fare was $29, and the highest was $99 for a one-way travel.
There were lucrative offers on Southwest senior fares in the past. Though there aren’t any offers for seniors at present, Southwest keeps offering lucrative discounts and promotional offers. To know more about the various offers, visit the official website. If you wish Southwest to send you promotional texts, type FLYDEALS and text it to 70139. You may even call at 1-800-435-9792 (1-800-I-FLY-SWA)
Conclusion
So, that was about Southwest’s Senior fare. As of now, Southwest Airlines doesn’t provide concessions to seniors. However, they may avail of other promotional offers to enjoy a fulfilling travel experience. When it comes to customer satisfaction, Southwest Airlines ranks pretty high due to the immense amenities it provides and the flexibility in cancellation policies.
FAQs – How old is Senior Fare on Southwest?
At present, Southwest doesn’t offer any discounts to senior travelers.
No, there aren’t any special provisions for seniors to take the privilege of early boarding in Southwest Airlines because of their age. To take the benefits of early boarding, passengers may avail of the EarlyBird Check-In® policy. This way, they can check in earlier than the 24-hour check-in.
They will also benefit from choosing the preferred seat (if available) and get earlier access to the bin storage overhead. Some passengers may even opt for preboarding, particularly if they have any disability and need assistance while boarding. Under such circumstances, contact the customer service agent upon reaching the ticket counter or departure gate for further assistance. If you qualify for preboarding, a PRBD will be marked on your boarding pass. In this way, the operation agent understands that you can preboard.
As per the airline rules, a person aged 65 and above are considered seniors by airlines.