A couple more Southwest questions

[nisiemouse]

We are going to use Southwest for our Dec 15-23 trip. If the schedule stops at say the 16th when it comes out can I book the first part of my trip then book the return when the other dates come out. Also we may fly into Tampa on the way down to get there earlier and out of MCO for the return trip. Any problems doing this? It looks as if Southwest lets you book each leg seperately. Thanks so much.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Nope, no problem doing that.

 

[prncess674]

you can certainly book one leg at a time but the most deeply discounted tickets require a round trip purchase to qualify for the lowest fares.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by prncess674
you can certainly book one leg at a time but the most deeply discounted tickets require a round trip purchase to qualify for the lowest fares.

Except for the deeply discounted internet one way fares, which is what I booked at 49.00 each way, from PVD to MCO.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Except for the deeply discounted internet one way fares, which is what I booked at 49.00 each way, from PVD to MCO.

I do agree that SWA has the best one way fares but the round trip fares are 99% of the time cheaper than buying two one way fares. SWA is great though for reasonable one way fares. Most of the major airlines however will rip your pockets out for a one way fare. Also the other great thing about SWA is they won't charge a change fee if your plans change. The only thing you need to pay is the difference between what you paid and what the current fare is. Most of the majors will slap you with a $100 change fee if your plans need to change.

To read the rules of the different fare buckets see this site:

http://www.southwest.com/restrictions/farerule.html

 

[nisiemouse]

Thanks for the responses. We will probably fly in and out of mco I was most worried that if the schedule did not go far enough that the first leg would fill up. Southwest from sdf is really our only alternative because flights out of lex are too high.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by prncess674
I do agree that SWA has the best one way fares but the round trip fares are 99% of the time cheaper than buying two one way fares. SWA is great though for reasonable one way fares. Most of the major airlines however will rip your pockets out for a one way fare. Also the other great thing about SWA is they won't charge a change fee if your plans change. The only thing you need to pay is the difference between what you paid and what the current fare is. Most of the majors will slap you with a $100 change fee if your plans need to change.

To read the rules of the different fare buckets see this site:

http://www.southwest.com/restrictions/farerule.html

I do agree with your assessment that 99% of the time the r/t fares are the best bet, but, sometimes you get lucky. IMHO, 49 each way (which works out to 115.20 rt including taxes) was a GREAT find. The best I can do now is 79.00 each way excluding taxes and fees.
And you are correct about other airlines charging you big time for non refundable, non changable fares, but, at least they let you do it. SWA, IMHO, is the friendliest for travelers.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
49 each way (which works out to 115.20 rt including taxes) was a GREAT find. The best I can do now is 79.00 each way excluding taxes and fees.

Glad you got a good deal. The airlines have been rather stingy with the cheap flights lately. May the original poster have such good luck. The best advise to the original poster is to start playing with dates and see what type of fares are available in her market and then when you see something that looks like a "deal" (a subjective matter) jump quickly because they generally don't last long.