Southwest Launches Nonstop Route From Orlando to Nassau

Updated: May 13, 2024, 12:16pm CDT

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Southwest Launches Nonstop Route From Orlando to Nassau

New Route to the Bahamas
How to Book
Final Thoughts

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Southwest Airlines will launch seasonal, daily flights between Orlando (MCO) and Nassau (NAS).

Let’s take a look at this exciting new route!

New Route to the Bahamas

The summer route between Orlando and Nassau, Bahamas, will operate between June 4 and August 4, with Southwest shifting operations from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Orlando.

Southwest will join Bahamasair and JetBlue in offering daily nonstop service between Orlando and Nassau. However, the roughly 90-minute flight can be pricey — with fares easily topping $370 round-trip. Southwest’s lower prices will undoubtedly be a welcome addition for Florida passengers.

The low-cost carrier has a nearly 3-decade history in Orlando. It flies nonstop to more than 50 U.S. and Caribbean destinations. Southwest is also the largest carrier at MCO, accounting for over 20% of all passenger traffic.

Best Beaches in the Bahamas — Image Credit: Allen Dewberry Jr via Unsplash

How to Book

Flights are available on Southwest.com. July offers the cheapest rates, with one-way tickets starting at just $105.

If booking with cash, you’ll want to purchase your tickets with a credit card to maximize flight purchases. Here are a few of our favorites at Upgraded Points:

The Platinum Card^® from American Express: 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel (capped at $500,000 spent in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points)
The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express: 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked through Amex Travel
Chase Sapphire Reserve^®: 5x Ultimate Rewards points on flights booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal; 3x points on all other travel purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card: 5x Ultimate Rewards points on flights booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal; 2x points on all other travel purchases
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: 5x Capital One miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel; 2x miles on all other purchases (including travel)

You’ll also find cheap tickets using Southwest Rapid Rewards, with one-way tickets starting at around 7,800 points. (If you’re running low on points, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio.)

MCO NAS SW points — Image Credit: Southwest

Hot Tip:

Southwest also offers several co-branded credit cards. These can come in handy if you’re trying to earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass!

Final Thoughts

Southwest is adding daily summer flights to Nassau from Orlando. What’s great about this new route is how affordable flights are using cash or points, making getting from Central Florida to the Bahamas easier (and cheaper) than ever!

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Ruth Peterkin via Shutterstock

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About Victoria M. Walker

Victoria holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the Howard University School of Communications and is an award-winning journalist, travel reporter, and the founder of the “Carrying On with Victoria M. Walker” newsletter.

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