Advice...only outgoing tickets open on SWA; should I buy now?

[daisyx3]

Never faced this before. I'm looking at a trip from April 1-8. I can buy tix (from DTW to MCO) on April 1 on SW for $132 a person. But then I have to wait until the next set opens up to buy our return tickets.
I'm a little worried because there is such a wide swing in prices! There are no wanna get away fares on April 2 (Thursday before Easter) and on Good Friday they are $338. Who is to say the Wednesday after Easter won't be $300?
On the other hand, Delta's price for tickets for these dates is now $525 pp!
Anyone buy tickets in this type of SWA situation?

 

[rwdavis2]

If you think about it, SW tickets are priced as one-way tickets. The only downside is if you end up cancelling the trip. You then have 1 year from when you made the reservation to use the credits.

If you like the price then buy. I would assume that flying after Easter in the middle of the week should be less expensive than Good Friday.

 

[daisyx3]

I went ahead and purchased! Now does anyone know when the next batch of dates open up so I can come home?
Daisyx3

 

[DebbieB]

I went ahead and purchased! Now does anyone know when the next batch of dates open up so I can come home?
Daisyx3

http://www.southwest.com/html/travel-tools/index.html?int=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-TRAVEL-TOOLS

We are currently accepting air reservations through April 6, 2015. On October 27, 2014, we will open our schedule for sale through June 5, 2015. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

 

[daisyx3]

Thanks!!!! I am at Disney on the 27th so I will put this on my calendar so I don't forget!

 

[TJA]

Just to reassure you, we just did exactly what you are doing. I purchased my flight into Orlando first, then had to wait until the next batch was released to purchase our flight home. It worked perfectly, no problems!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

http://www.southwest.com/html/travel-tools/index.html?int=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-TRAVEL-TOOLS

Thanks posting and I'm glad I saw this. Yesterday the next release was going to be 10/6/14 and I know they can keep changing it but dang now it's 10/27

Like you OP we are trying to book during this time but need 4/7-4/12.

Heather

 

[Pirate1+Princess4]

I did just that, but my return date IS open. I booked within minutes of the window opening and the price difference between the outbound and return is unreal. I got 4 tickets at $175 and 3 at $225, so I booked on 2 ressies too. The returns are $358 ONE WAY. That's more than the whole trip if I was going 3 weeks earlier.

We are going into FLL for a cruise so have almost no flexibility. Got the lowest I could on a direct o-dark-30 flight. With flexibility on the return, I'm going to wait it out. And if I have to fly another carrier, I'll consider bag fees and do what I can.

We have also booked an October trip into MCO for Universal where we have a lot of flexibility. If we approach those trip dates and our return flights for March aren't any better, then we can choose to drive in October and apply those travel funds to our March return. I hope it doesn't come to that.

BUT I <3 that I can at least do this with SW.