The Cheapest Southwest Flights to Las Vegas on Points

Las Vegas is one of the most popular travel destinations in the United States. Travelers visit from all over the world to gamble, watch live shows and attend conferences. Many travelers choose Southwest flights to Vegas because of the airline’s low fares, free checked bags policy, and generous cancellation rules when heading to Sin City.

Serving more than 100 destinations, you are likely to find a way to get to Las Vegas with Southwest — and get there affordably. Here are the Southwest Airlines' Las Vegas deals you need to know.

The Southwest Airlines loyalty program doesn’t have a fixed redemption chart. Instead, the price of an award ticket is based on the cash price of the ticket. So when you redeem points, the most significant factors in how many points you’ll need are the cash price and the type of ticket you buy.

The entire aircraft is configured as Economy seating, but Southwest offers four ticket types:

• Wanna Get Away — The cheapest fare.

• Wanna Get Away Plus — Transferable travel funds.

• Anytime — Fully refundable.

• Business Select — Comes with priority boarding.

The least expensive option is Wanna Get Away, which costs approximately 72 to 75 points per dollar.

We’ve selected a handful of cities from around the U.S. to show how inexpensively you can book Southwest flights to Las Vegas.

» Learn more: Things to know before flying Southwest

Southwest offers numerous affordable flights to Las Vegas, but four cities, in particular, boasts some great prices: Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco.

Each city offers numerous Vegas-bound flights per day and some of the cheapest tickets to Las Vegas, depending on the flight you choose. However, keep in mind that prices can vary depending on when you purchase your tickets, demand for your given travel date and several other factors.

Here are some of the cheapest flights to Vegas you can book with Southwest points.

From Denver International Airport for 5.8K miles

You can find affordable Southwest flights to Vegas from Denver when you book far in advance. We looked at the airline’s Low Fare Calendar for prices roughly six months ahead of trip dates and the prices were pretty consistent throughout the month — around 5,800 points each way. Prices fluctuated throughout the day, and early morning and late-night flights tended to cost the fewest points.

Oddly, some flights that required a layover cost more than some flights that were nonstop, direct flights. It is generally good to avoid flights on Friday and Sunday evenings. This is usually when weekend travelers are flying to and from destinations. Airlines know that these flights are more popular, so they tend to cost more.

From Los Angeles International Airport for less than 2K miles

The cheapest Southwest flights to Las Vegas available six months out from Los Angeles International Airport could be found for as few as 1,899 Rapid Rewards points in each direction. The lowest-priced flights tended to be Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday flights being the most expensive. Even then, the most expensive flight was just 10,237 points each way.

Since Southwest Airlines allows each passenger two free checked bags on every flight, these Southwest flights to Vegas are an even better deal compared to other airlines. Many airlines charge $25 to $35 for a single checked bag in each direction and even more for a second. So a family of four could spend hundreds of dollars on bag fees for a roundtrip flight if each member checks a bag. Those added fees are no worry with Southwest, making this cheap option from Los Angeles all the more desirable.

» Learn more: Airline credit cards that offer free checked bags

From Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for 3.8K miles

Flights between Phoenix and Las Vegas could be purchased starting at 3,828 Southwest points. When you book flights using points, your only out-of-pocket cost is the $5.60 in taxes and fees that airlines are required to charge travelers. This makes booking an award ticket very easy on a traveler’s budget.

Prices between these two cities are pretty consistent throughout the week. However, prices start to increase when spring break dates happen later in the month. Low fares are available throughout the day, including nonstop flights. Being flexible with your travel times will enable you to secure the lowest possible price on your flights.

From San Francisco International Airport for 2.6K miles

San Francisco is another California city that offers cheap Southwest flights to Vegas, with flights available for booking starting at 2,671 Southwest points. If your travel dates are inflexible, you might be on the hook for redeeming up to 12,568 points when flying from Las Vegas back to San Francisco. Avoid those pricy travel dates if you want to optimize for savings.

Southwest offers general boarding based on when you check-in for the flight, with Business Select passengers getting to board first. However, if you didn’t purchase a Business Select ticket, there are still ways to get a better boarding number. One way to move up and get the best selection of seats is to purchase EarlyBird Check-In. Prices range from $15 to $25 per person for each flight. With this optional upgrade, you’ll be automatically checked into your flight to receive a better boarding position and early access to overhead bins and your choice of seating.

It pays to be flexible with your dates and book in advance as with any trip. Wanna Get Away fares are the airline’s cheapest ticket option and remember that seating is not assigned.