any insider info why Southwest flights are almost sold out

[jocin3]

Looking at specific dates of 10/17/2015 and returning 10/24/2015 BWI to MCO. It seems almost all the
"Wanna get away" flights are sold out already? anyone know if there is some big event that I am unaware of for those dates? Usually book my flights as soon as they are released but a bit behind this year (we are DVC and booked at BWV for those dates).

TIA

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

A lot of people want to travel that day? Maybe there are a lot of conferences in Orlando at that time? Perhaps Southwest didn't offer a lot of Wanna Get Away fares that day? Who knows?

 

[AriesAriel]

I wouldn't book so early. Much of what I read said the 75-90 day out range was the sweet spot for Orlando. It was true for us. I think I booked around day 85 out from our trip and I got round trip, non-stop flights (also flying on a Saturday) on Southwest for $250 each.

 

[PSUGuy]

The window for those dates opened a week earlier than announced, I know because I was waiting for Oct 29 to Nov 7. I got our leg down for $127 from PHL to MCO which was less than last year even though I found out a week after opening. Since then I've kept my eye on rates and $127 on the 'Wanna' deal was available from mid Feb until just now so I wouldn't say that they sold out fast, they just sold out. Orlando is hopping at that time as evidenced by the high car rental rates we saw last Oct.

Bill From PA

 

[ziravan]

I had no problem booking around the same window: $188 round trip from Austin for 4. But, I booked a month ago. Try out of Reagan, they are cheaper lots of times.

 

[ziravan]

Reagan to Orlando 10/17 10:25 - 3:20 1 stop: $158
Return 10/24 8:30am-1:30pm 1 stop: $91

Round trip: $249

 

[DebbieB]

I went that week last year and the wanna get away was not available for my flight down when I originally looked. Then a couple of weeks later, it became available again for a decent price. Saturdays tend to be popular.

 

[jocin3]

Thanks everyone! I normally book as soon as the fares are released and have gotten some great low Wanna Get Away fares. I happened to be at BWV while the fares were released and didn't even think to look and book. We are only about an hour from BWI (Baltimore)..it's an easy airport for us so want to stick to flying out of there. Reagan does have good flights also but a little too far for us to go on an early flight. It seems since Air Tran was purchased by Southwest there have been few and far between non stop flights. It's ridiculous to have a stop on a 2 hour 15 min flight!

 

[sam_gordon]

Is that fall break for the area schools?

 

[katallo]

Thanks everyone! I normally book as soon as the fares are released and have gotten some great low Wanna Get Away fares. I happened to be at BWV while the fares were released and didn't even think to look and book. We are only about an hour from BWI (Baltimore)..it's an easy airport for us so want to stick to flying out of there. Reagan does have good flights also but a little too far for us to go on an early flight. It seems since Air Tran was purchased by Southwest there have been few and far between non stop flights. It's ridiculous to have a stop on a 2 hour 15 min flight!

We feel the same way. We've noticed such a difference at BWI in both flight times and fares since the merger. Haven't seen a bargain in quite some time for fares at decent times.

 

[Lewisc]

Southwest is attempted to reduce the number of discounted fares offered on peak travel days (of the week). Lower fares might be available midweek. Southwest will release additional seats at lower fares if sales don't meet projections. Southwest has reduced the number of N/S flights to MCO. Passengers who used to fly N/S now connect in BWI.

 

[Fan of Figment]

I was just coming on here to see if anyone else was experiencing this. We had the same thing going on for our 9/26 departure day (from PHL). There is only one non-stop flight that is not sold out right now. I thought maybe it had something to do with the Pope coming that weekend, but now it sounds like it is happening for a lot of people and just has to do with the cheaper fares. Luckily we booked a couple weeks ago because now our flight says the wanna get away's are sold out!

 

[ziravan]

I live in the middle of a triangle between Dallas, Houston, and Austin. When we fly SW, we look at all three cities. I've found much cheaper flights flying out of Austin and changing flights in Houston than booking the same flight out of Houston. Like, $100 cheaper. Round trip.

I just found and booked tickets from Dallas to Reagan for $54 each way: $324 for 3 of us to fly, total round trip. I booked it just to bring my DD on a field trip to the Smithsonian/National Mall.

I've found that the secret to SW is being flexible on airports, when possible.

 

[Flynnismine]

I thankfully booked my flight the second the schedule opened up for Oct because they only offered one non-stop flight from Louisville to MCO and it quickly sold out (my return non-stop flight also sold out quickly). There's just less and less non-stop flights offered and the times are not great. Going down, we leave at 2 and arrive at 4, basically a day wasted.

 

[kwdw]

I've had this same problem lately for BWI to MCO. It's like they are only releasing a few great fares early - and then later on could find seats at a lower price. Frustrating!

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks everyone! I normally book as soon as the fares are released and have gotten some great low Wanna Get Away fares. I happened to be at BWV while the fares were released and didn't even think to look and book. We are only about an hour from BWI (Baltimore)..it's an easy airport for us so want to stick to flying out of there. Reagan does have good flights also but a little too far for us to go on an early flight. It seems since Air Tran was purchased by Southwest there have been few and far between non stop flights. It's ridiculous to have a stop on a 2 hour 15 min flight!

I fly from Grand Rapids, MI to Orlando fairly often. And I can tell you it is very rare to find a non-stop flight. Even though the actual time spent in flight is around 2 1/2 hours. I guess it is all in what you are used to.

 

[jayhawk74]

Southwest is going to have less and less non-stops because Southwest management wants to add more flights to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Additionally they don't want to add more aircraft to the fleet, at least until 2017 when the new 737MAX comes out. So the combination of more international flights and no fleet growth means less domestic non-stops.

 

[MScott1851]

Fall break for lots of southern schools is 10/12-10/16, so the flights for 10/10-10/17 are ridiculously priced and the wanna getaway fares are sold out for the dates I've checked. Our normal $235pp nonstop from Memphis to Orlando is now $850pp for any date that week. We are flying into Tampa this year.

 

[maxiesmom]

Southwest is going to have less and less non-stops because Southwest management wants to add more flights to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Additionally they don't want to add more aircraft to the fleet, at least until 2017 when the new 737MAX comes out. So the combination of more international flights and no fleet growth means less domestic non-stops.

Ohhh. That makes sense. Doesn't make it any less of a bummer, but at least I understand why now. Hopefully they won't pull the plug on the non stops to/from Flint any time soon.

 

[JanaDee]

BWI is also a Southwest hub. I know many of the flights originating from the midwest go to BWI. So many connecting flights go out of there.