Southwest Is No Longer Flying to These 4 Cities

Southwest is facing struggles that have left the airline grounded in some cities rather than flying to earnings success.

The airline’s financial struggles have caused it to make changes like cutting back on routes or completely dropping some airports in August. Will you still be able to save money traveling with Southwest ?

Check out these cities to see if you’ll need to find a new carrier and find out what other cities could be affected by cutbacks.

1. Cozumel, Mexico

Southwest dropped its flights to Cozumel, but there is a close option for flyers.

The company will still fly into nearby Cancun so you can get to the Yucatan Peninsula with the airline. You may have to plan ahead though as it takes about an hour and a half to drive from the Cancun area to Cozumel, or you can take another flight not operated by Southwest, which takes about 20 minutes.

2. Syracuse, New York

Syracuse will no longer have Southwest airplanes flying into its gates after the company cuts ties in August.

Instead, you can try flying into Rochester, New York, and drive about an hour and a half to get to Syracuse. Buffalo could also be an option, but a drive from there to Syracuse is about two and a half hours.

3. Bellingham, Washington

Northern Washington State is home to Bellingham, a great option if you’re trying to get to nearby Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

You can fly directly into Vancouver instead of on another airline, but be aware that crossing into Canada via an airport instead of driving through the border may be a different experience when dealing with customs and documents.

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4. Houston

Southwest stopped all its flights into George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston in August as it made cuts to its services.

The airline is still flyin into Houston, but you’ll have to fly into the smaller Hobby Airport than the Bush Airport.

5. Atlanta (limited service)

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was the busiest airport in the world based on the number of passengers at the airport in 2023. However, Southwest’s passenger numbers are likely to go down this year.

Southwest said it might be cutting half its flights in Atlanta as part of its cost-cutting moves this year. So far they've already reduced their flights to 94 on weekdays, rather than the previous 119.

You may still find flights in and out of Atlanta on the airline, but plan for a limited number of flights compared to what you book now.

6. Chicago O’Hare (limited service)

Southwest also announced it will cut about one-third of its flights to and from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

The company will still operate flights out of Chicago’s Midway Airport, so customers in the Windy City will still have some Southwest flight options.

Southwest flies into financial challenges

Southwest announced in April that it was having financial struggles, causing it to make some changes.

The company said it lost $231 million in the first quarter of the year and would be making cuts to address its financial underperformance, according to Southwest CEO Robert Jordan.

In addition to cutting airports from its roster, Southwest is also limiting the hiring of new employees in some positions and asking workers to take unpaid time off.

Boeing’s troubles spill over

Southwest also said it had to cut and limit some routes to smaller planes due to issues that Boeing is facing. The airline will limit retiring some of its planes as it expects to receive fewer planes from Boeing this year.

Boeing ran into production delays after an airplane malfunction on an Alaskan Airlines flight in January.

Compare prices to get affordable tickets

There are still ways for you to save money on flights, whether you use Southwest or not.

Check online sites that compare prices to see if you can find different airline options at various price points and flight times.

Also, consider expanding your search to different airports and destinations so you discover more options for a getaway.

Consider frequent flyer options

You may have a favorite airline or one that has more options than other airlines at your local airport.

Consider signing up as a frequent flyer to earn miles that you can use later for seat upgrades or to get tickets for your next flight using miles.

Check other retailers

You may be surprised to find that you can buy plane tickets from places you may not expect.

Savvy shoppers, for example, may book their flights, hotels, and car rentals through Costco Travel with their Costco membership to save money .

Some all-inclusive resorts or cruise lines may also get you a good deal on flights if you book your vacation through them.

Bottom line

Southwest may be making some changes, but there are still ways for you to save money without having airline issues bust your wallet.

Make sure you have the top travel credit cards in your wallet to earn extra perks and points when you travel. It’s also a good idea to check on what you have earned so far to help yourself financially by using your points instead of cash for hotels, flights, and more.

Money tips that can work for everyone

No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.

Focus on paying off your debt. Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.

Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.

Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).