Calling all BWI and PHL Southwest Experts

[dtuleya]

As we're waiting for Southwest to release their summer dates I'd like to pick your brains. How much can I expect to pay for R/T tickets from either BWI or PHL on Southwest. Trying to decide what the top price I'm willing to pay before the Autotrain becomes an option. We'll be flying to MCO the last week of July and returning sometime the first week of August. Our dates are flexible so that helps me out quite a bit. TIA!

 

[WillCAD]

I always fly from BWI, and I have been flying nothing but SWA for the last 4 years because of their low prices and the fact that they do not charge change fees if I need to reschedule after booking.

I don't normally travel in the summer time, but the highest price I ever paid from BWI to MCO was in June 2002 - $230 RT.

In the off-seasons, I normally pay about $130-$160 RT, depending on sales.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I've paid from $39 each way to $79 each way. When the dates first open up,they're usually $79. Then, those same dates go on sale periodically until the travel time, and I re-book and get the lower price. This is from PHL.

 

[Mark P.]

I've paid from $39 each way to $79 each way. When the dates first open up,they're usually $79. Then, those same dates go on sale periodically until the travel time, and I re-book and get the lower price. This is from PHL.

Ditto to exactly what princesspumkin posted

Have you downloaded the Ding program from Southwest?

-Mark

 

[boxer]

I've paid the following from BWI:

Trip 1: $120 R/T
Trip 2: $95 R/T
Upcoming Trip: $85 R/T


I use the DING fares religiously, and just wait to book my trips until I see a good fare come up. I would say over summer, you *should* be able to get something for no more than $120 R/T.

 

[DonnaL]

We fly from PHL on SW and our last trip in December we paid $116.90 rd trp
total per person. DH and I flew last May and paid $130.90 rd trp each. January, 2005 our cost was about $825.00 for six of us. So, it appears we're averaging about 128/129 pp rd trip. I always book at the $79 fare ow as soon as it's released and then watch on practically a daily basis for the price to drop.
The lowest I've gotten was in December and that was $49 ow pp plus taxes, etc. SW then will credit you the difference for a future trip to be used within one year from date original ticket was purchased. Unfortunately, we can't use Ding because we're MAC users and Ding isn't available for MAC's.

 

[dtuleya]

Ditto to exactly what princesspumkin posted

Have you downloaded the Ding program from Southwest?

-Mark

Yes I have. TYAVM for the quick responses. Waiting for them to release summer rates like everyone else.

 

[Mark P.]

We got a super Ding fare for early June (1st. - 4th.)...$39 each way.
The total for our family of 4 was $388 r/t!

 

[dtuleya]

We got a super Ding fare for early June (1st. - 4th.)...$39 each way.
The total for our family of 4 was $388 r/t!

Wow, you probably couldn't drive there for that!

 

[zurgswife]

Anywhere from $39 to $79.

 

[WillCAD]

Wow, you probably couldn't drive there for that!

No, you sure couldn't, at least not from Baltimore. The cost of driving from Baltimore, depending on the milage your vehicle gets, is around $170 RT. That's assuming 900 miles at 23 MPG and $2.20 per gallon - higher milage would make it cheaper, higher prices would make it more expensive.

Of course, for couples or families, the cost of driving would still be cheaper than multiple air fares, but since i travel solo, I add my air fare and rental car cost together, and the cost is manageable even if it does add up to more than the cost of driving. I can't drive 900 miles solo, anyway; I have a bad back.

 

[dtuleya]

Got my direct flights with the times I wanted from BWI today!!!!!

Had to book our return flight for Aug 3 even though we wanted to stay until the 4th. Just couldn't stand the thought of waiting for more dates to be released.

Total for the 4 of us is $740 with all taxes and fees. Comes to about $185/pp, a little more than I wanted to pay, but not complaining.

Thank you Southwest gods!

 

[WillCAD]

Got my direct flights with the times I wanted from BWI today!!!!!

Had to book our return flight for Aug 3 even though we wanted to stay until the 4th. Just couldn't stand the thought of waiting for more dates to be released.

Total for the 4 of us is $740 with all taxes and fees. Comes to about $185/pp, a little more than I wanted to pay, but not complaining.

Thank you Southwest gods!

Well, keep your eyes on those fares dtuleya. SWA may drop the price later, and you can rebook and get a credit for the difference. Also, when the dates are released past Aug 3, you can change your return flights. SWA doesn't charge a fee for changing your schedule, so I have extended trips or changed dates several times since I started flying SWA.

 

[dtuleya]

Good to know since I'm totally depressed! I'll keep hoping for a sale. I posted this on another thread...

I thought waiting paid off for me, $740/total for 4 of us, but then I happened to stumble upon a AA flight for $435/total for us. They only con about the AA rate is that there is a 4 hour layover at MIA both ways. Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk.

I'm always so careful to get the best deal and now I feel terrible knowing if I had just checked Expedia one more time before I booked I could have saved us $300. I feel like such a failure!