Fly Southwest: MHT to Little Rock, Arkansas

If you're reading this, I dare wager you're a jet-setter, a globetrotter, perhaps even an aficionado of the airways. Not just any airways, mind you, but those under the auspicious banner of Southwest. You hail from Manchester, the vivacious city of unyielding rain, where every citizen is seemingly issued a football ticket at birth, and dream of embarking on an exhilarating flight to Little Rock – the city, unlike its namesake, is anything but small or imperceptible.

Now, the questions surging forth like a troupe of unruly reporters is, when is the best time to book? Is it one-way or round-trip? And incidentally, what's this 'layover' notion, and is it significantly different from a 'non-stop flight?'

Quench those question marks. Tuck them snugly into bed because, dear reader, you're buckling in for answers.

Much like an impromptu quiz show, let's tease apart this fantastic airfare puzzle, one piece at a time. Firstly, you ought to know that flying Southwest is the laissez-faire equivalent of a red carpet rollout in the airfare world. The airline proffers a generous baggage allowance - not one, but two free checked bags. Can it get any more gracious?

As the sun dips under the horizon in Manchester, you can opt for a red-eye flight that will see you touch down in Little Rock while the roosters are still fast asleep, or perchance a layover in Chicago sounds enticing? Imagine tasting the city's famed deep-dish pizza in between flights; a treat onto itself!

Prefer the direct, no-nonsense, get-me-there-quick route instead? A hearty 'no problem' echoes right back at you – Southwest offers direct flights too. Little Rock sits at the end of a straightforward flight path, like a destination 'X' marking your personal treasure map.

Yet, as the suspense hits a crescendo, are we talking one-way or round-trip tickets? Mayhap there lies a mystery, a sweetie to be unwrapped by each traveller. Want to savour Little Rock down to the very last draught of Southern charm and then, like a migratory bird, return homeward bound to Manchester? Then, indulge in the round-trip ticket. Is Little Rock a pit stop in a meandering adventure? Your calling is the one-way.

Now, onto the great debate: economy class or its higher-flying cousin, the business class? On Southwest flights, don't expect sprawling lounges with a cocktail concoction on the horizon. Yet, what it lacks in 'lay-flat-beds,' it makes up for in giddy friendliness, standout onboard service, and their frequent flyer, better known as the Rapid Rewards mileage program.

Oh, and before we forget amidst the hubbub, the golden rule - always scout for those flight deals. Even the savviest of passengers can get mesmerised by the allure of last-minute flights, but patience we must exercise. Like catching an elusive butterfly, the best time to book often flutters a couple of weeks from departure.

However, as life would have it, last-minute changes can be as nasty as a wasp in one's bonnet. But fear not! Southwest's flight cancellation policy is, quite frankly, as amiable as they come.

So, valiant traveller, make haste. Consider this a toast to your upcoming adventure, from Manchester’s bustling streets to the appealing allure of Little Rock. Remember, flying is but a curated art; the joy lies as much in the journey as it does in the destination. May your flight be breezy, your experience delightful, and may the memory of your journey etch into the annals of your adventures.