What are red-eye flights?
Did you know? The term ‘red eye flight’ is coined to identify with the travelers who deboard with red eyes after an overnight trip or that in the wee hours.
So, as evident, flights that depart at late night and reach their destinations early morning the next day are Red Eye flights. These flights last for almost 4 to 6 hours. Business travelers count on such flights as they can reach their destination overnight and won’t miss a day at work.
Although almost all the major USA airlines operate Red-eye Flights, Southwest is an exception. So, you won’t find red eye flights Southwest but can choose to fly on red eye flights on other airlines.
Let’s find out some more details on getting Southwest red-eye tickets below:
Why does Southwest Not Offer Red Eye Flights?
Are you wondering, why doesn’t Southwest operate red eye flights? Over a period of half a century of its operations, Southwest hasn’t operated a redeye flight!
Well, there are valid reasons for it that makes the airline not start with it, though it is a competitive and advantageous flight scheduled.
Let’s take a look at these –
- A technical limitation didn’t allow Southwest Airlines red-eye flights to be scheduled till 2017. Moreover, it has an old-fashioned booking method, which –
- Restricted Southwest from scheduling connecting itineraries including Redeyes
- Didn’t let Southwest vary its schedule on different days.
- All its flights have to land by 11 PM PT (2 AM ET). Thereby, the system can be switched over to the next day.
Southwest transitioned to Amadeus in 2017. It has much higher capability and equips the airline with reasons to schedule Redeyes, among other aspects.
Through these five years, Southwest has still not started with red eye flights, even after the switch. The early part of 2020, before the world closed for travel, Network Planning VP of the airline was inquired about the absence of Redeyes. The reply, in a nutshell, is that the airline will start with it when the operation looks convenient for the employees and they can maintain it smoothly.
Therefore, Southwest has not yet added nor does it have plans to add red eye flights. The airline is following its set flight schedules and is not intending to modify those anytime soon.
