Anyone want to take a guess at Southwest pricing when they open tomorrow?

[mcd2745]

We are in Bellmore. Closer to JFK, but still prefer to fly out of ISP.

Southwest has definitely cut flights out of ISP. They seem to have added flights out of LGA, but that looks more like a conversion of AirTran routes.

Curious...I did some digging on the internet and found an article regarding Southwest's reduced schedule at ISP. I came across this stat:

Southwest's entry into MacArthur in 1999 was an instant game-changer. The airport went from roughly 8,000 air carrier arrivals and departures in 1998 to 21,688 the next year, according to FAA reports. Southwest service peaked there in 2007 with 11,416 departures and dropped to 5,875 in 2012.

So basically a 50% decrease over that span. And I'm sure the decline has continued in 2013 & 2014. They are adding flights out of LGA, but none that are going to Florida. One reason speculated for the shift...all flights from ISP go to FLA markets or their BWI hub. These flights, while regularly full, are filled with vacation/leisure travelers on "Wanna Get Away" fares as opposed to the routes they will be running out of LGA which tend to be more business travelers on the more expensive "Business Select" fares.

 

[Elmo007]

The ISP market to MCO is wacky. I looked yesterday when fares opened and saw $130 from MCO to ISP. I like the fare but not the time. I went over and looked at other airlines and saw the fare much higher. I went back 5 minutes later and the fare jumped to $144 so I bought it. Today its at $416 one way.

I figured that was unusual because its over the labor day holiday weekend. So i decided to look at the tickets from ISP to MCO. This is a midweek fare. It was at $109, again with a not great time but I decided to buy it and be done. Again its up to $416, the next day

Looks like they are down to 3 nonstops a day, at least in late summer

 

[OnceUponATime15]

The ISP market to MCO is wacky. I looked yesterday when fares opened and saw $130 from MCO to ISP. I like the fare but not the time. I went over and looked at other airlines and saw the fare much higher. I went back 5 minutes later and the fare jumped to $144 so I bought it. Today its at $416 one way. I figured that was unusual because its over the labor day holiday weekend. So i decided to look at the tickets from ISP to MCO. This is a midweek fare. It was at $109, again with a not great time but I decided to buy it and be done. Again its up to $416, the next day Looks like they are down to 3 nonstops a day, at least in late summer

It's not just ISP affected.. it's all across the board.

I had the same results checking BUF, ROC, & SYR to MCO this week. it's crazy. Fares that started at $123 each way on Monday are now double plus that amount as of today.
I'm waiting this out for now to see if it levels out. If not I'll be flying out of my home airport YYZ - at those prices with the exchange rates on our poor dollar... it doesn't make sense to drive 2 to 3 hours to pay the same price as flying from home.

 

[mdsd8700]

We are flying Midway to Orlando and got $139 each way so $278 round trip, overall not bad. We needed 7 tickets with a combination of points and cash so I was nervous that all of us wouldn't get the same fare as I know with SW they can change very quickly.

Typically I have found that the flights are cheapest as soon as they are released so I always get up as soon the SW window opens to book. There have been occasions where the price has dropped after but then I just get a credit.

I have found in general there are not as many non-stop flights before and sometimes the times are not as convenient but overall for our family SW is the most economical and best option.

Congrats to everyone who scored some great prices

 

[3happydancers]

Curious...I did some digging on the internet and found an article regarding Southwest's reduced schedule at ISP. I came across this stat:




So basically a 50% decrease over that span. And I'm sure the decline has continued in 2013 & 2014. They are adding flights out of LGA, but none that are going to Florida. One reason speculated for the shift...all flights from ISP go to FLA markets or their BWI hub. These flights, while regularly full, are filled with vacation/leisure travelers on "Wanna Get Away" fares as opposed to the routes they will be running out of LGA which tend to be more business travelers on the more expensive "Business Select" fares.

This is not good news since I live right near ISP and always fly SWA to MCO. Last year we took flights we weren't too happy with but cuts had been made. This year they cut even more. I wonder if they are going to stop offering the non-stops altogether in the next year and just keep the connecting flights?

 

[mcd2745]

This is not good news since I live right near ISP and always fly SWA to MCO. Last year we took flights we weren't too happy with but cuts had been made. This year they cut even more. I wonder if they are going to stop offering the non-stops altogether in the next year and just keep the connecting flights?

There has been some specualtion that SW would leave ISP entirely. SW has denied that. But even if they don't leave entirely, obviously their committment is not that strong at all. I agree with what other have said, it's not just that there are fewer flights...it's also that the ones they have left seem to be at awkward times. Used to be coming back from WDW, I would always get the last flight from MCO to ISP - usually around 8-8:30pm. This would give us a decent amount of time to enjoy that last day (I try to milk my vacations for every possible minute I can ). Now, the latest flights are around 5-6pm, which gives you a Magical Expresss pickup of 2-3pm. Really limits what you can do that last day.

 

[Ozzygirl]

SW had a big announcement last August that they were adding a nonstop from Portland ME-MCO. I was so happy as we have NO nonstops to MCO. Well they did add it for 4 weeks from March to April only!! It is about $400 RT and then the NS flight doesn't exist anymore. WTH???? Really for 4 weeks?


Righ now I'm looking at $186 and $123 for $309 return but the flight down leaves at 6am and it stops in BWI, flight home leaves at7:25 am and stops in BWI...Yuck!!!

No idea what to do If I need to change the dates can you do that? (my Dad is not well and things can change suddenly) I know it's nonrefundable but you can change dates without penalty? (Wann get away rates) Help!

Should I pull the trigger and buy or wait for the 7 weeks out like I've heard??

 

[kristenrice]

Help me out...

The WGA far for our October flight sold out on opening day. Historically, will they offer a WGA fare again, even at a higher price point?

 

[mcd2745]

Help me out...

The WGA far for our October flight sold out on opening day. Historically, will they offer a WGA fare again, even at a higher price point?

Usually they do. There are roughly 140 seats on SW's planes. They probably only sold 25% of that as WGA with the hope of selling the rest at the higher categories.. As time goes on, and they still have most of the flight unsold, they will likely trnasfer the seats from the other categories to WGA fares.

 

[kristenrice]

Usually they do. There are roughly 140 seats on SW's planes. They probably only sold 25% of that as WGA with the hope of selling the rest at the higher categories.. As time goes on, and they still have most of the flight unsold, they will likely trnasfer the seats from the other categories to WGA fares.

That's good to hear!

My sister is flying on points and she wants to return home on Friday with us. Unfortunately, the WGA fare sold out before she could get them so she had to opt for the Saturday flight instead. She's hoping to be able to switch to the Friday flight before she is pressed to book a hotel for the extra night.

 

[3happydancers]

For anyone interested, SWA opened up some of their non stop Wanna Get Away flights!

 

[OnceUponATime15]

The 2 non stop return flights from MCO/BUF for the date I'm hoping for have gone from sold out to unavailable this morning... no price changes on any of the flights I've been keeping an eye on at this point.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Good grief - I shouldn't have waited - The flights I was looking at have gone WAY up - $1300 for our family of 4 to fly out of Manchester. We have never paid that much. I'm not sure if I should book it or wait a little bit. Jet Blue is even higher.

 

[3happydancers]

The 2 non stop return flights from MCO/BUF for the date I'm hoping for have gone from sold out to unavailable this morning... no price changes on any of the flights I've been keeping an eye on at this point.

So sorry! Yet here in Long Island, Islip, the Wanna Get Away flights that were marked Sold Out, are now available. Go figure. The prices aren't great but at least I was able to get my SIL a flight home. Keep looking.

Good grief - I shouldn't have waited - The flights I was looking at have gone WAY up - $1300 for our family of 4 to fly out of Manchester. We have never paid that much. I'm not sure if I should book it or wait a little bit. Jet Blue is even higher.

Holy cow! That is a lot. Although, the flight I got for my SIL on a Sunday is $306.00 one way, which is crazy. I booked it only because I was using points and the only other non stop is too late in the evening. I hope the price drops so I can get some credit back.

I don't know if you should wait or not. The prices seem to go up and down. I am not a gambler so for me, I would book as soon as I am ok with the cost. FWIW, every time I check Jet Blue out of JFK, it is always way more than SWA.

 

[kristenrice]

That's good to hear!

My sister is flying on points and she wants to return home on Friday with us. Unfortunately, the WGA fare sold out before she could get them so she had to opt for the Saturday flight instead. She's hoping to be able to switch to the Friday flight before she is pressed to book a hotel for the extra night.

For anyone interested, SWA opened up some of their non stop Wanna Get Away flights!

Yup! That WGA fare for our Friday return is back at $111. I told my sister this morning and she is going to discuss it with her husband tonight. They might decide to sticking with staying the extra night, even though it involves changing resorts.

 

[3happydancers]

Yup! That WGA fare for our Friday return is back at $111. I told my sister this morning and she is going to discuss it with her husband tonight. They might decide to sticking with staying the extra night, even though it involves changing resorts.

If your sister doesn't know, I'd would inform her that Friday price can change if she waits (if they decide to change their flight). But hey, staying the extra night works; changing resorts isn't that big a deal. Bell services will transport the luggage to the new resort so your sister's family can still have a full day having fun. The can check in at the end of their day.