Airfare: do other airlines typically drop in price when SW releases a new batch of flights?

[Mrs~Incredible]

I know SW will be releasing their next batch of flights on June 10- does anyone know why typically happens with other carriers that week (will they drop in price to be competitive?) Could I hope for fare decreases next week or not until June 10? Or perhaps not at all?

American has decent flights and prices right now, but still about $200 over what I am budgeting.... but I would prefer to fly with them because we can select seats. Not sure if I should just book them or play the wait-and-see game.....

Thanks!!

 

[EACarlson]

When and where are you booking out of will make a huge difference. If Southwest usually has a huge presence in your market then it might change it, if American is dominant it may not matter. Southwest could always come out incredibly high and American raises their prices to match. Book at whatever price you're comfortable with.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

When and where are you booking out of will make a huge difference. If Southwest usually has a huge presence in your market then it might change it, if American is dominant it may not matter. Southwest could always come out incredibly high and American raises their prices to match. Book at whatever price you're comfortable with.

Good point. Ok thanks!!

 

[spiders]

I think it largely depends on the route. Something two different airline executives told us in college and still shows true today is that they began to change when they compete. Back when AirTran was eating Delta's lunch in Atlanta, Delta used to match the fares almost 100% of the time. Eventually, they stopped doing it (at least not nearly as often). Delta used to run widebodies to Florida all the time. They eventually began redeploying those on longer routes. The first reason was to escape AirTran and the second reason is that there is no air cargo market for an Atlanta to Orlando flight. So, rather than match AirTran's $59 fare, they kept their fare high. The hope was that you would eventually sell Rio de Janeiro to Orlando for $800. But you can't sell that itinerary if you gave up all of your Atlanta to Orlando seats for $59.

Delta is still higher than Southwest on many routes out of Atlanta even when there is head-to-head non-stop competition. For our upcoming trip later this month, Delta was $350 and Southwest was about $290. I went with Delta, because like you, I like advanced seat assignments and Delta offers a lot more flights making the times better for my trip.

Another thing you could always do with Southwest is pay for Early Bird. It's really not that much and you'll definitely get good seats.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I think it largely depends on the route. Something two different airline executives told us in college and still shows true today is that they began to change when they compete. Back when AirTran was eating Delta's lunch in Atlanta, Delta used to match the fares almost 100% of the time. Eventually, they stopped doing it (at least not nearly as often). Delta used to run widebodies to Florida all the time. They eventually began redeploying those on longer routes. The first reason was to escape AirTran and the second reason is that there is no air cargo market for an Atlanta to Orlando flight. So, rather than match AirTran's $59 fare, they kept their fare high. The hope was that you would eventually sell Rio de Janeiro to Orlando for $800. But you can't sell that itinerary if you gave up all of your Atlanta to Orlando seats for $59.

Delta is still higher than Southwest on many routes out of Atlanta even when there is head-to-head non-stop competition. For our upcoming trip later this month, Delta was $350 and Southwest was about $290. I went with Delta, because like you, I like advanced seat assignments and Delta offers a lot more flights making the times better for my trip.

Another thing you could always do with Southwest is pay for Early Bird. It's really not that much and you'll definitely get good seats.

Thanks for the insight! I actually didn’t look at the early bird cost- I’ll do that. May end up doing American though, because they seem to have more flights and times to choose from. Thanks again!

 

[sam_gordon]

Another thing you could always do with Southwest is pay for Early Bird. It's really not that much and you'll definitely get good seats.

Not a guarantee.
A) More people (at least before Covid) were getting early bird, so you could get bumped into the B boarding.
B) Going to a "family friendly" destination (like Orlando), there could be a lot of families boarding between A & B, taking up "good" seats.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Update: we went ahead and booked AA because the price was good and about what we budget for when SW fares come out- and as a bonus, they didn’t charge us to choose our seats!

thank you everyone for writing in here!

 

[EACarlson]

Not a guarantee.
A) More people (at least before Covid) were getting early bird, so you could get bumped into the B boarding.
B) Going to a "family friendly" destination (like Orlando), there could be a lot of families boarding between A & B, taking up "good" seats.

A: Very easily, between the number of people paying for early bird and the number of people that got A list through promotions it can be half the flight.
B: I've been on flights where family boarding was not done because of how many families were on it. Don't count on anything with Southwest.

The only way to ensure you get on board the earliest is to to buy a Business Select ticket, or buy up to a Business Select boarding position at the gate. For $40 you get one of the A1-A15 boarding positions reserved for Business Select customers if any are available. I've never been on a Southwest Flight that didn't have them available, usually on my flights to and from MCO if I pay for it I get A1.