Current:Home > FinanceSouthwest Airlines flights will appear in Google Flights results -Blueprint Wealth Network
Southwest Airlines flights will appear in Google Flights results
View
Date:2025-04-17 13:34:07
Southwest Airlines fares are now appearing on Google after long being excluded from the search engine's search results.
The Dallas-based carrier had previously omitted its fares from searches on Google Flights and from online flight aggregators like Expedia.com, preferring for customers to find tickets mostly through its own website. As of Wednesday, Southwest's fares were for the first time shown on Google Flights alongside those from other airlines on Google Flights.
Southwest's move to partner with Google makes it easier for travelers to compare their options on a single dashboard. Displaying its airfares to consumers who didn't in the past visit Southwest's website could also bring in new customers for the airline. Customers must still book flights directly through Southwest.
A Southwest spokesperson said the move, which the carrier said it's testing, broadens its reach with consumers while allowing the company to retain control of the booking process.
"We're extending the reach of Southwest.com by giving users of Google Flights enhanced visibility into our available flights, fares and the benefits of our products and services," the spokesperson said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. "In our initial piloting of this partnership, we've made it possible for Google Flights users to compare our different fare options and click directly into Southwest.com to book their selected itinerary."
The change is one of several the airline has said it's exploring to improve the customer experience. On a call with Wall Street analytst last month, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said the airline is also considering overhauling its signature open seating policy and assigning customer seats as most other airlines do. In the coming years, it also plans to start scheduling red-eye flights for the first time.
Travel site "The Points Guy" expects Southwest's initiative with Google to benefit travelers, noting that consumers can also use Google Flights' fare-tracking tools to monitor the airline's prices and book flights when prices are lowest.
Southwest's strategic initiatives comes as the airline looks to boost its results and temper the impact of problems with Boeing 737 Max 8 planes. The airline said in April it was suspending service at four U.S. airports, in part because of delivery delays of new Max 8 aircraft. The delays mean slower growth for the airline, which is looking for ways to cut costs after it reported a first-quarter loss of $231 million.
- In:
- Southwest Airlines
Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.
veryGood! (99179)
Related
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Bill Belichick ties worst season of coaching career with 11th loss as Patriots fall to Chiefs
- BP is the latest company to pause Red Sea shipments over fears of Houthi attacks
- 1 person dead after Nebraska home exploded, sparking an investigation into ‘destructive devices’
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Jeff Roe, main strategist for DeSantis super PAC, resigns
- Applesauce pouches recalled for lead could have been contaminated intentionally: Reports
- Bengals' Jake Browning admits extra motivation vs. Vikings: 'They never should've cut me'
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- Mark Meadows' bid to move election interference charges to federal court met with skepticism by three-judge panel
Ranking
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Everything to Know About Brad Pitt's Romantic History Before Girlfriend Ines de Ramon
- Saddam Hussein's golden AK-47 goes on display for the first time ever in a U.K. museum
- Amanda Bynes Reveals Why She's Pressing Pause on Her Podcast One Week After Its Debut
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Check the Powerball winning numbers for Saturday's drawing with $535 million jackpot
- Author Masha Gessen receives German prize in scaled-down format after comparing Gaza to Nazi-era ghettos
- BP is the latest company to pause Red Sea shipments over fears of Houthi attacks
Recommendation
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Fantasy football winners, losers from Week 15: WRs Terry McLaurin, Josh Palmer bounce back
Storm drenches Florida before heading up East Coast
Giving gifts boosts happiness, research shows. So why do we feel frazzled?
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence placed in concussion protocol after loss to Ravens
Germany’s economy seen shrinking again in the current quarter as business confidence declines
Southwest Airlines reaches $140 million settlement for December 2022 flight-canceling meltdown