Booking Southwest with Points

[bdunworth]

Hi! I plan on booking at least half of my 5 flights with Southwest points this May when flights are released for November from PHL. My question is should I book right away or wait and see if points/ prices come down? If I wait is there any day of the week Southwest usually drops their price? Thanks!

 

[Skywise]

Generally, the earlier you book the cheaper.

My rule of thumb is that the prices will be the lowest at about 3 months out then start gradually increasing. (It used to be around 2 months but that no longer seems to be the case.)

Sales between 6 months - 3 months are possible and I've gotten a few deals that way but, in my experience, when you're within the 3 month window it's unlikely you're going to see a sale unless the flights just aren't selling to begin with (or if you do they'll go back to the original price)

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If you're using points, you might as well book right away, because if the redemption points go down, you can get them credited back to your account. It's more complicated getting a credit when you pay for the ticket, as these credits expire.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree, I would just book it, if the price goes down, just do a modify reservation and the points are refunded to your account.

 

[ski_mom]

I'm doing the same thing booking tickets to DLR.

There are 6 of us getting tickets. Is there a reason to split our reservations in case the prices go down?

I remember last time we booked 5 flights and the prices went down, but there weren't enough seats at the cheaper price for all 5 of us, but we did get the reduction on a few of the tickets.

I don't remember if I booked them separately for this to be an option or if you can change on just a few of them even if all booked on one reservation.

I hope some of that made sense lol!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I'm doing the same thing booking tickets to DLR.

There are 6 of us getting tickets. Is there a reason to split our reservations in case the prices go down?

I remember last time we booked 5 flights and the prices went down, but there weren't enough seats at the cheaper price for all 5 of us, but we did get the reduction on a few of the tickets.

I don't remember if I booked them separately for this to be an option or if you can change on just a few of them even if all booked on one reservation.

I hope some of that made sense lol!

If you are planning to buy your tickets using points, everyone will get their own confirmation number. So if the price goes down you will have to change each ticket separately. So if the price goes down, try to price the cost of 6 tickets and see if it gives you the discount price for all 6. If it doesn't then chances are there are only a few seats available for the discounted price. You then can try 5 tickets and see what the result is and keep reducing the number until you find out how many you can get for the sale price. Then go in and modify that number of your tickets.

 

[ski_mom]

If you are planning to buy your tickets using points, everyone will get their own confirmation number. So if the price goes down you will have to change each ticket separately. So if the price goes down, try to price the cost of 6 tickets and see if it gives you the discount price for all 6. If it doesn't then chances are there are only a few seats available for the discounted price. You then can try 5 tickets and see what the result is and keep reducing the number until you find out how many you can get for the sale price. Then go in and modify that number of your tickets.

Thank you! I knew last time we flew we had separate confirmation numbers, but I didn't remember if I booked them separately or not. This should be much easier. Prices might not go down anyway, but here's to hoping!

 

[richmo]

If you are planning to buy your tickets using points, everyone will get their own confirmation number. ...

That brings up the question: if you each have different confirmation numbers, does that mean you have to check-in for the flight separately?

 

[amomma23]

That brings up the question: if you each have different confirmation numbers, does that mean you have to check-in for the flight separately?

Yes. I usually spring for EBCI so I don't have to deal with checking in my family of 5.

 

[ski_mom]

That brings up the question: if you each have different confirmation numbers, does that mean you have to check-in for the flight separately?

Yes, as the PP said, you do have to check in separately. We've still used online checkin. Last time we were all in NYC and didn't have a computer. We downloaded the Southwest app on everyone's phone (youngest DS didn't have a smart phone) and all checked in that way and then I just did 2 on my phone.

I can see it being more of an issue if you have small children. Ours are old enough now that if we're a few spots away while boarding, it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I usually open multiple web browsers about 30 minutes before check in time. Then on the 24 hour mark click check in on each one and in no time we are all checked in.

 

[georgina]

Different browsers, hmmm. Maybe I will try that. I had 2 windows open in the same browser and tried to check in 2 confirmations at once, and both came up as me and neither as my DD. I had to complete the first checkin before the second would go through. I'm not sure I have 2 browsers that work, maybe if I do one on my computer and one on the ap?

 

[maciec]

last time I checked my family of 5 in I didn't have to check us all in seperately. There is a box to check and it will check you all in.

Also, I have never gotten a good deal on first day of release plane tickets. The tickets have always gone down so if you do book keep watch on prices!!!