Booking SWA "down" and "back" flights separately because of booking window cut-o

[thebs19]

Hey all,

Looking into booking my Southwest flights from LI-Islip to MCO for Easter Break 2015 trip....

(caveat: This may be a dumb question but I've never been so into planning ahead of time so its never been a concern for me)

The current window for which Southwest allows you to book closes in the beginning of March. On the website, it notes that at the end of August, it'll open bookings through April 6...which is the Monday after Easter. We are going to go from Fri to Fri, 4/3 thru 4/10...which means our flight down will be available to book, but our flight back likely not for another month or so after.

I mean, I'm sure you can book separately, but does that screw up an itinerary or rates if you're booking 2 separate one-ways rather than a roundtrip? Anyone ever do this? IS refunding or transferring any different (our only concern is 4/10 is the day the kids and wife lose from Spring Break if there are too many snow days, so there would be a chance of having to come home a day earlier than at the time of booking).

Never think about these things when you only plan a month or two in advance!! But I paid ridiculous airfare costs last year when I booked our April flights in February (Wanna Get Aways were all sold out, etc) so want to be more proactive this year.

Thanks!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Plenty of people do this.

Back a long time ago, pre-2001, domestic airlines often had deals where a roundtrip was better than one-ways. Those days are LONG gone, domestically at least (we got a great rate Seattle-Dublin then Shannon-Seattle in June that was literally the same amount as ONE way would have been).

There is no issue with booking two one-ways. I do it almost exclusively.

 

[hildai]

I'm jumping on this thread because we're in the same situation. We'll be sailing on the Dream departing April 6 with a return of April 10th.

I just wish SW would have included the entire week after Easter with their next release of fares. I know waiting probably won't give us the best fares, but I'm not sure about buying half of our plane tickets!!!

 

[jcarwash]

As has been stated above, there won't be any cost savings by booking under a single itinerary number (round trip) vs. separate itineraries (one ways).

If I were you, I'd purchase the first leg (one way) on August 25th and then purchase the return leg later.

Also keep an eye on the Travel Tools page as the August 25th date may change. The calendar opening through March 6, 2015, which opened yesterday on August 4th, was originally listed as opening on July 21, so they aren't kidding when they say the date may change.

 

[jacksonsmom]

I rarely book RT any more. I book one ways that I can live with, price & times, sometimes they are even on different airlines.

The days of RT tickets cheaper are long gone, it doesn't matter and you won't save any money booking RT vs separate booking

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I book one-ways all the time too. In Dec 2010 I was in DC, and morning I was supposed to leave, a big snowstorm shut the airport. I had bought 2 one-way flights, so the cancelled flight was good toward another future flight. I was told by SWA employee if it had been a roundtrip, because I had used part of it, all funds would be considered gone!!
Somehow got a seat on the last flight with Delta out of Reagan to Atlanta. No luck getting out of there though, as so many other passengers were stranded there too.
Point is, I fly one-ways all the time. I really don't see price breaks on roundtrips domestically, as Bumbershoot said, so no reason to ever book a roundtrip.

 

[amomma23]

Absolutely book 2 one-ways. If the price happens to drop on the flight down, you can rebook and use the credit for your flight home once it is released.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I book one-ways all the time too. In Dec 2010 I was in DC, and morning I was supposed to leave, a big snowstorm shut the airport. I had bought 2 one-way flights, so the cancelled flight was good toward another future flight. I was told by SWA employee if it had been a roundtrip, because I had used part of it, all funds would be considered gone!!
.....

You either misunderstood or the Southwest employee was wrong. Southwest would have gotten you on the next available flight after the airport opened or they would have refunded the return portion of your ticket. You don't lose the value of a ticket, round trip or one way, if your flight is cancelled.

Please note that when you're flying internationally, a round trip ticket is far cheaper than buying two one ways.

 

[thebs19]

Welp, it seems pretty unanimous so that you everyone for the quick response.

It is noted that if I were flying internationally, this would be an issue; however, our trek from Long Island to Orlando appears to be safe from any sort of funny business w/ 2 one-ways. I'll be doing that - and sure to be checking back on SWA's website daily leading up to the supposed release of dates.

THANKS!!

 

[Principessa]

Yes, thanks. Timely question for me too. I was going to buy the return for an early date and change it after the dates were released, but I wasn't sure that was going to work. I bought my Feb tickets one way going there and will buy the March return as a one way when released. I'm not sure why, but I never would have thought of doing one way tickets! Thanks.

 

[JimboCh]

Absolutely book 2 one-ways. If the price happens to drop on the flight down, you can rebook and use the credit for your flight home once it is released.

Exactly, we are flying down in December, booking our one way tickets down, but not the return yet...........Hopeing the tickets on the way down go down some so I can use some of the credit for the return flight home.