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Airfare can be expensive, even if you book your tickets well before a trip. Luckily, there are ways to save money when buying plane tickets. One way is to purchase discounted gift cards for your favorite airlines and use the gift card funds to pay for your flights.

Costco members can save big. If you’re a Costco member, you can get a $70 discount on a Southwest Airlines gift card now through Nov. 4. This offer could help you save money on Southwest flights for your next trip. Here’s what you need to know about this limited-time deal.

Get $500 to spend on Southwest flights for $429.99

Costco sells gift cards for major brands at a discount to its members. You can maximize your Costco membership by taking advantage of these gift card deals. One travel gift card that the warehouse club sells is a $500 electronic Southwest Airlines gift card.

This gift card typically costs $449.99, but it’s on sale through Nov. 4. Members can buy it for $429.99, which is $70 off the face value. If you like to fly with Southwest, you may want to scoop up this deal before the sale ends to maximize your savings on upcoming flight bookings.

The gift card can be used to pay for Southwest Airlines flights and is redeemable at Southwest.com, the Southwest Airlines mobile app, Southwest ticket counters, or by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA. Once purchased, you will receive your digital gift card via email.

Note that there is a limit to how many gift cards you can buy. Costco members can purchase up to five Southwest Airlines gift cards in one transaction. After Nov. 4, the price of this gift card will return to $449.99, so now is an excellent time to purchase this deal if you have a flight to book soon.

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.

Here’s another way to save on flight costs

If you’re looking for more strategies to stretch your vacation dollars, use airfare price comparison tools like Google Flights.

You can search for flights across multiple carriers and compare prices quickly to find the most affordable flight options that fit your needs. For those with flexible travel schedules, Google Flights provides additional tools to help you save more.

You can use date grid and price graph tools to find the best departure and arrival dates with the most savings. Flying on a cheaper date could leave more room in your budget for activities.

If you scored Costco’s Southwest Airlines gift card deal, these pricing tools can help stretch your gift card funds further. Every dollar you save adds up.

Travel credit cards can help, too

Ready to book and pay for your flights? Remember to use credit cards that earn rewards. You can earn rewards on travel bookings with the right credit card. Many travelers redeem their travel credit card points or miles for free or lower-cost travel.

Want to get rewarded for traveling? Click here to see our curated list of the best 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.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent 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.