From Southwest: Buy two flights, get one free

We don’t often highlight Southwest bonus offers because, frankly, Southwest doesn’t often offer noteworthy bonuses. On the scale of promotional activity, Southwest usually scores somewhere between “Rare” and “Infrequent.”

But the Texas-based discounter has rolled out a new promotion that qualifies as the exception that makes the rule. And it’s a dandy.

Southwest is offering Rapid Rewards members a free ticket for flying two paid long-distance round-trip flights between September 1 and November 15. (For purposes of this offer, ‘long distance’ is defined as flights of 1,250 or more miles each way, including stops and connections. There’s a list of eligible routes on Southwest’s website.)

Qualifying tickets must be purchased on southwest.com. A maximum of two awards may be earned during the promotion period.

Normally, Rapid Rewards members earn a free round-trip after every eight paid round-trips, so on the scale of promotional generosity, this limited-time offer rates as an unqualified “Go for It.”