It's no secret that travel expenses can add up fast, especially if your trip requires you to fly. But you can keep more money in your wallet by looking for ways to save money on flights. One strategy that has helped travelers save money is purchasing discounted airfare gift cards.
You can buy cheap gift cards if you have a Costco membership -- the warehouse club sells Southwest Airlines gift cards at a discount. And guess what? They're on sale for $20 off through Nov. 18. By shopping this Costco gift card deal, you could unlock a total of $70 off Southwest flights.
Score a $500 Southwest gift card for $429.99
Costco sells various gift cards at affordable prices. Costco's $500 Southwest Airlines gift card is a popular option with travelers. Usually, Costco sells this gift card for $449.99. But it's available with a more sizable discount through Nov. 18. You'll pay only $429.99.
By taking advantage of this offer, you can walk away with an additional $70 to spend on Southwest airfare. If you still have holiday flights to book, this is the perfect deal to shop.
You can redeem the gift card funds for Southwest Airlines tickets at Southwest.com, the Southwest mobile app, Southwest ticket counters, or by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.
Each Costco member can purchase a maximum of five gift cards in one transaction. Your electronic gift card will be delivered by email. Considering the face value for this gift card is $500, this deal makes it easy for travelers to keep more money in their checking accounts.
If you're not earning rewards for your Costco hauls, you're leaving money on the table. Click here to explore the top credit cards for Costco that offer big rewards on your spending.
This is my favorite hack to score cheap Southwest flights
You can maximize your Costco membership and get more money to spend on flights by taking advantage of this deal. But there are other ways to save money on Southwest airfare. I travel often, and my favorite way to find cheap Southwest flights is to use Google Flights.
Before booking airfare, I use Google Flights to compare ticket prices for my preferred destination and dates. I can explore pricing between multiple carriers or one specific airline. I then use Google's Date Grid and Price Graph tools to find the cheapest dates to fly.
This airfare price comparison platform helps me avoid overpaying for flights. This strategy works best if you have some flexibility with your travel dates. But by taking this extra step before booking your tickets, you can stretch your Southwest Airlines gift card funds further.
Save even more by earning travel rewards
Do you have other travel expenses that you need to book for an upcoming trip? Consider using a travel rewards credit card to pay for your hotel, rental car, and other travel reservations.
You can earn valuable rewards when you swipe your card and redeem them for free or low-cost travel. This strategy could help you save more on a future trip, and every dollar you save is a win.
Want to earn points or miles for travel?Click here to see our curated list of the top travel credit cards with valuable perks and plentiful rewards.
Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)
We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America's favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.
Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it's no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.
Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool recommends Southwest Airlines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.