Southwest question - all flights unavailable?

[luvavacation]

I see that another poster had a question similar to mine, but that poster was looking at flights 9 days out. My flights are almost 3 months out.

I have been checking flights daily for my upcoming to trip to Orlando. I have already booked my departure from my home airport. The return trip has been crazy expensive (I am on a cruise, so can not take any flights before noon). Previously on Southwest, I have been able to find great prices about 6 - 8 weeks before departure.

Everyday, I have been logging on numerous times to check prices.

This morning, I logged on, and every single one of the "wanna getaway fare" non-stops from MCO are "not available"!!!! How does this happen since I just looked 10 hours ago and everything was still available!

I would prefer nonstops since I am a very bad, very nervous flyer.

Is this just a game by Southwest? I looked on the next day's departures, and the nonstops are almost all gone on that day, too.

Did some really large group of people suddenly book all the nonstops? For two days in a row?

Or does Southwest normally do this to reconfigure prices, and in a few hours, new prices will be up?

What to do, what to do....

 

[SilverMickey]

I had the same freakout... but I closed out of my browser and logged back on and there they were... at an even better price. (last night to this morning). Try again! Good Luck!

 

[Lewisc]

You might get better information if you listed your date and destination airport.

Your situation isn't the same as the OP. Flights were sold out, even full fares, for the flight the other poster was looking at.

Southwest tries to price "peak" flights higher then off peak flights. The revenue people think the flights you're looking at should sell out at full fare. Bookings aren't what's expected and seats might be released at lower fare buckets.

Afternoon N/S flight. Cruise day. Best guess Southwest thinks enough people will be willing to pay higher prices.

A suggestion. Try to book 9 seats. Not available (at any fare) try 8. Find out how many seats are available at any price. 9 (or more) you have a shot. Less. You might not be able to purchase a seat, even at full fare, if you wait.

What would I do. Assuming 9 seats(or more) are available. Book a connecting flight. Change to a N/S flight if the fare for a N/S flight is in your price range. Also try other airlines.

Only a few seats are available. Decide what's more important. The exact flight you want or the fare you want.

 

[DebbieB]

The airlines are cutting back on the number of flights so flights will sellout earlier than they used to, especially to popular destinations.

 

[SilverMickey]

You might get better information if you listed your date and destination airport.

Your situation isn't the same as the OP. Flights were sold out, even full fares, for the flight the other poster was looking at.

Southwest tries to price "peak" flights higher then off peak flights. The revenue people think the flights you're looking at should sell out at full fare. Bookings aren't what's expected and seats might be released at lower fare buckets.

Afternoon N/S flight. Cruise day. Best guess Southwest thinks enough people will be willing to pay higher prices.

A suggestion. Try to book 9 seats. Not available (at any fare) try 8. Find out how many seats are available at any price. 9 (or more) you have a shot. Less. You might not be able to purchase a seat, even at full fare, if you wait.

What would I do. Assuming 9 seats(or more) are available. Book a connecting flight. Change to a N/S flight if the fare for a N/S flight is in your price range. Also try other airlines.

Only a few seats are available. Decide what's more important. The exact flight you want or the fare you want.

When I 1st logged on this morning all the "wanna get away fares" showed sold out. For a trip in the last weekend in June. Your right not for a cruise... I closed my browser and logged back on and non of the fares were sold out. It might be a little bit like the OP.

 

[luvavacation]

I took the suggestion of booking 9 seats, but Southwest only allowed 8, so that is what I went with. I was able to find availability for 8 seats on the nonstop flight I am interested in, on the day I desire, but of course only the Anytime and Business Select fares are available. Well, at least I know there are seats available.

I may just go ahead and book at the higher fare, since they are refundable. Then if the lower fare shows up, I will cancel with no penalty. I will not book anything but a nonstop, because the armrest will not remain attached if I have to do more take-offs and landings!

My date is indeed for June, from MCO to MDW. I would prefer to fly Allegiant, their prices are great, have flown them before so I know how the fees work, but I don't believe the cruise ship will get me to Port in time to make a 6:00 a.m. flight! Why can't Allegiant have better flight times?!

 

[Lewisc]

A lot of passengers, but not members of DIS going to WDW, book close to the day of their flight. Only 8 seats available a few months before your flight. I'd be surprised if discounted fares show up.

Carriers like Allegiant have to balance demand and price. Offering "bad" flight times on routes where passengers will only book low fares, and will accept less then optimum flight times, makes a lot of sense. Could you book Allegiant the morning after your cruise?

It's always possible passengers checking fares at the same time Southwest is updating inventory might give inaccurate information. Only eight seats available for sale..Doesn't look good for a discount.

 

[luvavacation]

Lewisc, I do not know for sure that only 8 seats are left on the flight, but rather that Southwest only let me do a search for up to 8 seats. If one needs more, I suppose one would do multiple bookings. And Allegiant, oh how I wish I could go with them, but the next day they fly into Sanford is a Monday, and I need to be home that Saturday since Father's Day is the next day.

I went ahead and just booked the higher fare, since at least I know we will get home in time. Hopefully the same thing happens to me that happened to a previous poster, where better prices were added in later. At least the other fares are refundable!

Still can't believe how all those fares went unavailable overnight. Oh the wonders of the airline booking systems.

 

[Lewisc]

My bad. I thought you could look for 9. You know at least 8 seats are available. Did you try checking for only one passenger?

Lewisc, I do not know for sure that only 8 seats are left on the flight, but rather that Southwest only let me do a search for up to 8 seats. If one needs more, I suppose one would do multiple bookings. And Allegiant, oh how I wish I could go with them, but the next day they fly into Sanford is a Monday, and I need to be home that Saturday since Father's Day is the next day.

I went ahead and just booked the higher fare, since at least I know we will get home in time. Hopefully the same thing happens to me that happened to a previous poster, where better prices were added in later. At least the other fares are refundable!

Still can't believe how all those fares went unavailable overnight. Oh the wonders of the airline booking systems.