Come on Southwest!!

[fireman17]

Heading down to our DVC resort of Saratoga Springs for 8 days in June. Now if only Southwest would drop some prices just a little for the time frame we are flying.
Anyone else hopeful??

 

[DebbieB]

I flew SW last June PIT-MCO and it never budged, it went up.

 

[loveswdw]

I got tired of waiting for SW and just booked AirTran instead. We've never flown them but there's only one nonstop a day out of LEX so hopefully there shouldn't be schedule changes.

SW was around $900 for the 4 of us RT. They dropped one Friday evening to $78/ow and as I was booking the tickets the prices went up to $116/ow. Yes, AS I was booking the tickets. I was so PO'd. I'm tired of playing the SW game of checking airfare several times a day, waiting for a DING, etc.

AT had better flight times for us and total cost of tix including seat assignments was $605 for 4 nonstop RT. We'll check 2 bags each way (another $60). Still cheaper than SW and I don't have to play the waiting game.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I think SW is concentrating on their spring specials right now. Give it another month and you might see some shifts in the summer rates. At least, that's what I'm hoping for.

 

[Rpsemont]

If you fly out of BDL - right now there are may days at $109. If you can get that rate, I would grab it. For our recent 2/4-2/9 trip I watched and watched and watched. I don't remember if I ever saw it for less than $100. I finally booked at about 3 weeks out for $129 OW down and $109 OW back. A few days later the $109 OW down became available and I rebooked and took the credit. For our 3 most current trips - last October, Feb, and next month, THe BEST I've been able to do was $99, I think.
The days of $35, $49, $59, $69, $79, $89 and possible even $94 seem to be gone. We're already scaling to two trips a year for future years.
Providence and Islip seem to still get some of the lower fares

 

[ClanHarrison]

Heading down to our DVC resort of Saratoga Springs for 8 days in June. Now if only Southwest would drop some prices just a little for the time frame we are flying.
Anyone else hopeful??

Yep...I am. This waiting is NOT fun. I'm about to start pulling my hair out it's making me so nervous.

I flew SW last June PIT-MCO and it never budged, it went up.

Oh, please don't tell me that. This is exactly what I'm going through now. I booked our June departure in Dec.-when they released my dates-and they have.NOT.budged.since. Our return flight has been sitting at $147. THAT'S ridiculously high and I just CAN'T bring myself to book at this rate. I'll book AirTran (currently $77) before I do that. I didn't want to split our trip like that, but I may have no other choice.

I think SW is concentrating on their spring specials right now. Give it another month and you might see some shifts in the summer rates. At least, that's what I'm hoping for.

THIS is what I'm hoping for also. I've also noticed the spring dates on the Dings! (today's had 'for travel through 3/31' I think). I hope they move it along faster because it's making me afraid booking so close to my trip. I want this settled so I can relax .

 

[Bobo912]

I'm flying to San Francisco in June and I've been watching SWA fares to SFO and they have gone up. I think I'll be booking my flight this coming week, just in case the upward trend continues. If the fare goes down, I'll rebook and use the funds later. I flew to Orlando mid-Dec last year and booked the flight about 3 months out and the fare just kept going up. If you're flying Tues - Thurs you have a better chance of getting a good deal.

 

[ClanHarrison]

If you're flying Tues - Thurs you have a better chance of getting a good deal.

This was exactly why we planned our trip to be Tues. - Tues., to help insure a better airfare. So far...I'm disappointed. But, I'm aware, it could be worse, but I'm still hopeful it's gonna get better...I'm gonna get that sale . I also realize we're traveling during a pretty peak time in the summer & will be in Orlando for the 4th of July too.

 

[Pocahantas]

I am hopeful! Last year I bought our flights with Southwest as soon as the schedule for late May/early June opened up and the prices went down in March. I made a note of it on my calender to wait it out this year. So far I haven't booked. Our flights home have come down a little in the last couple of weeks but the flights to Orlando haven't so I am still waiting it out. All of the flights on our days have plenty of availability so I don't think I am the only one waiting...

 

[ClanHarrison]

All of the flights on our days have plenty of availability so I don't think I am the only one waiting...

How can you tell how full the planes are (on SW)? I was also wondering this to help me gauge when to purchase our tixs too. I need 7 of them.

 

[Megan07]

I'm hopeful, I bet next month prices will drop some! I need mid/late June!

 

[dpayne1969]

I check mine daily they are running $119 OW right now but I usually get $99 OW
which isn't much savings but it averages out to around $80 total savings so I gonna wait till March & hopefully I can get the price I usually pay

 

[5terre]

Pocahontas, PLEASE share with us how you can tell there is plenty of availability on the flights! That info could possibly be really helpful.

 

[Virtucomp]

I got $109 each way the day the dates were available. I have been watching but it looks like all flights are now $129 each way min.

SW is always cheapest when they first start booking new dates.

 

[Bobo912]

SW is always cheapest when they first start booking new dates.

That definitely hasn't been my experience. I've flown with SWA a lot in the last 6 years (especially to MCO) and on almost every flight a lower price came out at some point and I rebooked to get the savings. Several times, I've taken unplanned trips just because a really good fare came out. But you've got to keep your eyes open and check the specials every week and open up every DING.

 

[fireman17]

We love our Dings, Dings are a good thing. Wishing for one soon!!

 

[Virtucomp]

That definitely hasn't been my experience. I've flown with SWA a lot in the last 6 years (especially to MCO) and on almost every flight a lower price came out at some point and I rebooked to get the savings. Several times, I've taken unplanned trips just because a really good fare came out. But you've got to keep your eyes open and check the specials every week and open up every DING.

I have heard that many times. Maybe it is just from my airport. The only way I can get a lower rate is to fly into Tampa instead of Orlando but then there is the car rental cost.

I have Ding installed for the first time and they keep offering me great trips to KC and Philly. Not too useful. I will keep watching.

 

[ClanHarrison]

Well...Dings are moving up the calendar. Today's Dings are for travel dates April 7th thru May 24th. But STILL none for BWI to MCO .

 

[Pocahantas]

With our flights out of New Orleans there normally is no avalability for the cheapest seats by this time of year for flights around Memorial weekend. The fact that their system will let me price out 8 seats on any of the cheapest flights for my days tells me there is still lots of seats available. In the past there have been times that I was not able to even get 4 seats at the cheapest rate so I knew I should book then and not wait much longer. Not a very "scientific" or even "certain" way to tell but it has worked just fine for me over the last 5 years or so.