Photo via Flickr/InSapphoWeTrust

As a Southwest Airlines enthusiast, I keep an eye out for any new openings in their calendar. Thanks to a recent move on part of the airline, you can now book Southwest Airlines flights through Aug. 14, 2017.

If you were waiting to book summer travel, now is the perfect time to start shopping around. With a sale running through Jan. 26, one-way flights as low as $59, and cheap base rates, there’s no reason to delay.

If you’re wondering why the fuss, you’ve probably never flown Southwest. By and large, Southwest is easily America’s most family-friendly airline. There are numerous reasons why this is the case, and here are a few:

Reason #1: Get free checked bags.

Regardless of whether you pay for your flight with points or cash, you get two checked bags for free. For an average family of four, this equals out to a savings of at least $100 per flight.

Reason #2: Enjoy simple, tiered boarding.

Southwest Airlines doesn’t offer assigned seats, but they make it easy to sit where you want provided you check in for your flight early. Checking in exactly 24 hours before your trip guarantees you early boarding and a seat you can live with.

Reason #3: Family boarding lets you sit with your kids.

If you have children under the age of 6, you can board during the “family boarding” stage. This happens between the first two boarding groups, A and B. You get this benefit regardless of when you check in for your flight online.

Reason #4: There’s no limit on award availability.

The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program is one of the only airline loyalty programs that doesn’t limit award availability on its flights. If there’s an open seat on any plane, it’s yours.

Reason #5: Enjoy a mostly fare-based redemption policy.

Southwest Rapid Rewards is mostly fare-based, meaning cheaper flights cost fewer points. This policy makes it easy to wait for a great sale, then make award or cash bookings for a lower price.

Reason #6: Change or cancel your flights at any time.

Amazingly, Southwest Airlines doesn’t charge a fee for flight changes or cancellations. You can change flights for free, with an overage returned to you for cheaper flights or a demand for more money or points for more expensive fares. If you cancel a flight altogether, you’ll receive Southwest credits good for a future flight.

Conclusion

While it’s easy to find affordable flights around the U.S. and to the Caribbean on Southwest Airlines, it’s also possible to score nearly-free travel with the airline. By picking up the Chase Sapphire Preferred or a co-branded Southwest Airlines credit card, you can earn points redeemable for travel anywhere Southwest flies.

And if you don’t plan to travel before August, don’t despair. Southwest Airlines will open its calendar up once again on Feb. 23, 2017. On that date, you’ll be able to book flights through Sept. 29 of this year.

Do you fly Southwest Airlines? Why or why not?