Airlines question

[Goofypop]

Why does Southwest make you wait until 6 months out before booking?? Delta at least allows you to book 333 days out (which still makes no sense either. 333 days???) Where do they get these arbitrary numbers from? Did some CEO pick them out of a hat? Why not allow booking at 365 days out?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Booking at only 6 months out allows SWA to not have to make as many flight changes as other airlines. At least that is one reason; sure there are others. If you don't like it, go with another airline. I do (not for that reason).

 

[Goofypop]

Booking at only 6 months out allows SWA to not have to make as many flight changes as other airlines. At least that is one reason; sure there are others. If you don't like it, go with another airline. I do (not for that reason).

That would be so nice. We are going to use SW again this year as long as they charge less than Delta with baggage. I hate that Delta has for 4 years constantly changed the flights. At least 10 times each trip. And they don't notify me either that the change was made. I had to check at least once a day around 1 month out from each trip.


What did you not like about Southwest?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

What did you not like about Southwest?

I mostly fly internationally, so SWA is out. Their FF program doesn't give you the perks a legacy airlines does (free upgrades, early boarding, better seats, etc.). I don't like not having assigned seats. Not as many non-stop flights. Definitely not always the lowest price. Many inexperienced flyers (this is not a criticism), so more chaos boarding and deplaning. They are fine though if you are traveling a fairly short distance within the US.

 

[Goofypop]

I mostly fly internationally, so SWA is out. Their FF program doesn't give you the perks a legacy airlines does (free upgrades, early boarding, better seats, etc.). I don't like not having assigned seats. Not as many non-stop flights. Definitely not always the lowest price. Many inexperienced flyers (this is not a criticism), so more chaos boarding and deplaning. They are fine though if you are traveling a fairly short distance within the US.

Okay, that first post scared me a little there. I don't like non-assigned seats either but I think we'll be okay with that since we are going to use the Earlybird check in. And these days, I don't see anyone using common sense when it comes to boarding. The gate will call Business Class seating first and 40 people rush the gate and 30 of them get sent back for not being Business Class. Then they stare at you (while you are still seated) like "Don't even think about trying to get in front of me when they call us to the gate." Watching people jockey for position at the gates is hilarious.

 

[danielryan]

I'd assume Southwest does this knowing that it is more likely for a passenger to have something force them to change or cancel reservations the more in advance they allow them to make reservations. Allowing only a 6 month window would probably reduce the amount of changes or cancellations they would experience.

 

[Goofypop]

I'd assume Southwest does this knowing that it is more likely for a passenger to have something force them to change or cancel reservations the more in advance they allow them to make reservations. Allowing only a 6 month window would probably reduce the amount of changes or cancellations they would experience.

Good point too. I don't plan on booking until around the end of February anyway so that will be right about the 6 month mark.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's my experience. I used to fly Delta almost exclusively. Loved Song when they were available. BUT...I got tired of having my flights constantly change. If I booked more than 3 months out, my flights would change mulitple times. And many times my flight would be cancelled and I would be put on a flight that was almost full....so lost my seat choices. Drove me nuts. Then, I had to pay for each checked bag.
But, I was really afraid of flying with SW. So, I started flying with Jetblue. And I really like them. But, SW started having some really good fares..almost half what JB was charging for just about the same times. So....I took a deep breath and booked with SW. I've never looked back.

I love SW. No, you don't get an assigned seat. BUT with the new boarding proceedures (maybe not so new now), you don't have to stand in one of three cattle chutes, never leaving you spot, for up to two hours, in order to hold your 'spot'. Now, you get a boarding number, so you can sit and relax. When boarding is called, get up, take your spot and board. So easy.

And not having to pay for my checked bags is wonderful. All in all...I love SW. Since they don't open their booking window as soon as the legacy airlines, they don't make changes. Sure, there could be an equipment issue close to departure time, but there's nothing you can do about that. Generally speaking, when you book with SW, you pretty much can count on that flight being the same as when you booked it.

No way will I fly with Delta unless I absolutely have to anymore. For me, from Boston, it's Jetblue. From Providence (TFGreen), it's SW. I switch between the two pretty consistently.