You can now book Southwest Airlines flights on Expedia platforms
You can now book Southwest Airlines flights on Expedia platforms
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Southwest to launch overnight flights
Southwest Airlines overnight flights are coming soon.
Fox - LA
Southwest Airlines tickets can now be purchased on Expedia-owned websites.
This partnership marks a significant shift for Southwest, which previously only allowed bookings through its own platforms.
The move aims to expand Southwest's reach to new customers and align its services with competitors.
Southwest Airlines tickets are now available on Expedia.
It's a big change for the airline, which previously required customers to book directly on its channels.
"We are pleased to broaden our distribution with this new cost-effective channel,' Tony Roach, executive vice president Customer & Brand at Southwest Airlines, said in a statement. 'Expedia provides a high-quality experience, and we look forward to partnering with them to introduce new travelers to our extensive network and Southwest hospitality."
Southwest began listing fares on Google Flights in May 2024 but still required would-be customers to click through to the airline website to book.
Now, all Expedia-owned sites, including Travelocity, Hotwire, Orbitz and CheapTickets, will show and allow customers to book Southwest fares.
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"Southwest Airlines is a beloved brand known for its customer-first service and operational excellence. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to offer the most travel options and deliver exceptional value to our customers," Greg Schulze, Expedia Group Chief Commercial Officer, said in a statement.
According to Expedia, it will take some time for all of Southwest's flights to get loaded into the system, but the airline's full schedule should be bookable on Expedia platforms by the end of the day on Thursday.
It's just one of many changes bringing Southwest in line with its competitors.
The airline plans to roll out assigned seating, as well as a new cabin layout with extra legroom seats, in the coming months. Southwest also recently began its first-ever redeye flights.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
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