Southwest Airlines typically runs its highly anticipated "40% off base fares" sale approximately two to three times per year. These major sales often occur in June to celebrate the airline's "Wanna Get Away" day (its anniversary) and again in the fall (September or October) to drive bookings for the post-holiday winter period. In early 2026, Southwest has maintained this pattern, though the discounts are sometimes branded differently, such as "Up to 30% off" using codes like ONBOARD. Because these sales are usually valid for a very short window (often only 72 hours) and apply to specific travel dates, savvy travelers in 2026 use the Southwest "Low Fare Calendar" and subscribe to "The Click" email alerts to ensure they don't miss the narrow booking window for these significant base fare reductions.