Can someone explain Ding to me as if I'm a 2 year old?

[3princesses4us]

I already downloaded it and have been checking it daily. Here's where I'm confused. If it's only one way (say Tulsa to Orlando) that's a Ding special, then how do I book my flight home? Do I wait around for a Ding from Orlando back to Tulsa? What if that never comes? Do I book at full price back home? Sorry, I'm new to this Dinging...

 

[1000th happy haunt]

From what I've seen, DINGS are both ways. If there's a DING for Tulsa to Orlando, there should be a DING for Orlando to Tulsa.

Next time you see a DING for your city, click on the link and start the purchase process (this is just an experiment, you don't have to actually book and pay for the flights).

 

[3princesses4us]

Thanks, that makes much more sense! Loved your food reports by the way...

 

[MickeysMommy]

*ducking* What's a DING?

 

[CleveRocks]

"Ding" is the name of a brilliant marketing and sales tool from Southwest Airlines. It's sort of like a clearance sale for airfare. They try to entice people to fly on flights that aren't selling too well.

It works like this: You go to the Southwest website and download the Ding program into your computer. It's set up so that you automatically get notified when there are new "Ding" fares. You click on the Ding icon on your computer and you see a huge list of airfares. You look for the fares from your home airport -- there may be none, there may be 10. You never know. They're very time limited. The prices expire later the same day, and travel must be started and completed within a specific time frame. Right now, the Dings are for March 20th through April 30th.

That's Ding as I understand it. I've never booked a Ding fare, I've never even flown on Southwest, but the fares are incredible and I'm just hoping to get lucky somday and see a Ding that coincides with when we might be able to travel, and then jump on it just for the heck of it.

 

[Wiggle]

How does Ding work if you are not logged into your computer when the Ding comes in?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Um, it works the same way as if a tree falls in the forest and there's nobody around to hear it?
If you're not logged onto (and at) your computer when the new Ding! is released, you miss the 'ding', but the icon showing the envelope (read the Ding! information before downloading) will still show on your Start bar. When you DO log on, or sit down, you can open the Ding! notification and see what's available, then select your flights - if the Ding! fare isn't sold out, you'll be connected to the booking page.

 

[3princesses4us]

2 more new questions for you Ding experts:

1) Does it always only let you book a month out? In other words, we're going to WDW in September. Does that mean the Ding won't come out until August? Seems risky...

2) Do the Dings ever let you fly Sunday to Sunday or is that always blacked out?

Any help appreciated!

 

[gw_lit]

Generally Ding fares have only been available 4-6 weeks out and lately it seems that many of the Ding fares are only good on Tuesday, Wednesday and other off-peak times. Since Southwest uses Ding to fill in seats on flights that haven't been selling well, I wouldn't plan on seeing Ding fares offered way in advance, and I'd imagine we'll continue to see more off-peak days. If you're going to Orlando, Saturday and Sunday are NEVER off-peak... that's when everyone wants to fly!

 

[Fionasmommy]

Just had to reply and say that I love the thread title!!