Southwest Airlines selling $53 tickets in celebration of 53 years of flights

Southwest Airlines is celebrating turning 53 with $53 airfares.

Travelers hoping to score a deal need to book by 11:59 p.m. PT Thursday.

The $53 one-way tickets are only available on select days and routes but include flights to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and international destinations, according to Southwest.

Eligible travel must occur on Mondays-Thursdays or Saturdays between Aug. 6 and Dec. 18 for flights within the lower 48 with  Sept. 2, Oct. 14, Nov. 22-27 and Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 as blackout dates.

Flights to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and international destinations must occur on Tuesdays or Wednesdays between Aug. 20 and Nov. 20, with Sept. 3 blacked out.

Some of the routes currently advertising $53 fares are Atlanta to Tampa and Los Angeles to Phoenix.

Full availability, along with the terms and conditions, are listed on Southwest’s website.

Are changes coming to Southwest?

Southwest Airlines has long been known for its open seating policy, all-economy cabins and multiple free checked bags on every ticket. But amid activist investor scrutiny and changing customer preferences, the airline’s CEO has been signaling that its business model may soon change.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest Airlines celebrates 53 years with $53 tickets