Deal or No Deal from SWA vaca'ns??

[ms.ojo]

Southwest Airlines Vacations is offering If you book through them every 2nd person in your party files free. On top of that you can then book the free dining or another deal. (Summer Special)

But it doesn't appear to be the case. Other posters on the codes board are right, the "free" airfare is not happening. The only "deal" is $100.

I spoke w/ a rep last night and the system is only giving one Child's fare for free, a difference of $80! I said SWA doesn't have a child's fare, all seats are the same price other than seniors. The response, well yes, from your end, but not on ours.

Current fares from BDL to MCO are $101 so give or take a bit w/ taxes that's $880 for a family of 4 so I expected this "deal" to cost me $440 for the airfare. NOPE. It's only $80 less and if I want a 2nd child free I'd need to book as 2 separate trips. I said wait a minute, that would mean 2 rooms! That's ridiculous!

The rep was very nice, he took my name/# and "marketing" is going to call me today. He can't do anything about the system...it's only allowing 1 free child's credit on the airfare.

I was very disapointed but as I told my son, if a deal sounds too good, it usually is.

I looked further into cancellation policies and you need to buy 2 types of trip insurance when you buy a SWA pkg. One allows for cancellations up to your trip, the 2nd to cover you during your trip if you need to come home early. Since we have elderly parents insurance is a must for us. The cost for this double insurance for our family of 4: $260 vs. Disney's very comprehensive insurance at $135

Overall, if they offered the true terms of their deal (free dining, extra $100 credit and 2 ppl fly free for a family of 4) I would net a couple hundred savings over direct w/ Disney....but this is too much effort, and I don't feel comfortable w/ their insurance. Can't wait to hear from "mktg" today!

Has anyone been able to book this deal and truly receive a full free airfare?? One for every 2nd person???

 

[Jestocost]

There are a lot of restrictions that apply to that deal. Just a few of them are:

• Seats are limited and may not be available on some flights that operate during peak travel times and holiday periods.
• Rates may be higher for other days of the week.
• Surcharges may apply to weekends, holidays, and convention periods.
• Flights available on Southwest-operated, published, scheduled service only.
• Travel valid for travel Monday - Thursday. If any part of the trip occurs on a day other than Monday - Thursday, that part of the trip is not eligible for the Friends Fly Free discount.

If your plans were captured by any of those, that may explain the prices quoted even if the agent you talked to couldn't explain it.

 

[squirrlygirl]

I just tried to pull up a quick trip for me and my son to see if this was "for real" Since I know the cost of my room, it looks like they were charging me $500 for my flight I didn't see the need to investigate any further, and my opinion of SWA just went down

 

[ms.ojo]

There are a lot of restrictions that apply to that deal. Just a few of them are:



If your plans were captured by any of those, that may explain the prices quoted even if the agent you talked to couldn't explain it.

Thanks. we met all of those criteria. The rep thought it was very strange too.

 

[ms.ojo]

I just tried to pull up a quick trip for me and my son to see if this was "for real" Since I know the cost of my room, it looks like they were charging me $500 for my flight I didn't see the need to investigate any further, and my opinion of SWA just went down

From what I understand...these vaca'n pkgs are SW flights...but actually offered by a different service. But the one who gets the black eye...SW! I was really put off. Someone who hadn't priced things out would thing wow...free dining...extra $100 credit AND every 2nd person flys free...what a deal I just got!!! Until they actually run the #s...and see what happened to them! FYI - still no call today from SW.

 

[tinka-belle]

I'm a travel agent and use Southwest Vacations often, but not much for Disney trips. Southwest Vacations is NOT run by the airline itself, they only contract to sell vacation packages using Southwest seats. Actually, lots of airline vacation packages operate this way.

So even though Southwest is the one getting the bad rap here, it's really the company that runs their vacation product that is setting the pricing and policies.

 

[ms.ojo]

I'm a travel agent and use Southwest Vacations often, but not much for Disney trips. Southwest Vacations is NOT run by the airline itself, they only contract to sell vacation packages using Southwest seats. Actually, lots of airline vacation packages operate this way.

So even though Southwest is the one getting the bad rap here, it's really the company that runs their vacation product that is setting the pricing and policies.

Yes, that's what I was trying to say above.

I will still look to travel on SW for this trip as I expect some great prices flying midweek in early Oct...but this deal...was no deal. And I do look unfavorably on SW vacation Pkgs b/c of this.

 

[Jestocost]

If I remember correctly how Friends Fly Free works, I believe it's a free companion for every full-fare ticket (Anytime Fare) purchased? If that's the case, it may very well be that purchasing two Wanna Get Away tickets is cheaper than purchasing one Anytime Fare. That could account for why the deal isn't much of a deal after all. It's still a little deceptive to promote it that way, but IIRC, that's how Friends Fly Free works.

 

[pamjb]

I looked further into cancellation policies and you need to buy 2 types of trip insurance when you buy a SWA pkg. One allows for cancellations up to your trip, the 2nd to cover you during your trip if you need to come home early. Since we have elderly parents insurance is a must for us. The cost for this double insurance for our family of 4: $260 vs. Disney's very comprehensive insurance at $135

Remember, that you don't have to buy insurance thru "them". I have always gotten my trip insurance thru insuremytrip.com You can compare policies so that you pick the one the fulfills all of your needs.

I used SW vacations for a trip that I took in Feb 09 to WDW. I was traveling with my friend, whose daughter cheerleading team was a Nationals. She had to stay at ASSp and the only availability that I could get was thru SW vacations. For 4 nights AND roundtrip airfare from PHL it was about $389. Not a bad deal at all.
Like a PP said about airfare specials, they are typically too good to be true. It is all in the small print. Just like the "free" companion ticket that I used to get with my Amex card.

 

[squirrlygirl]

Use the name, use the logo, use the website to promote it....obviously the two "separate" companies are entangled regardless of who technically runs them. If Southwest Airlines did not find the practices acceptable, the company would not get to use their name.

 

[pamjb]

You do know that us Dis'ers are the exception, not the rule. SW vacations is marketing to "the others" who will find it a great deal. Like I said before, some of the packages are a great deal, some aren't. Just like Disney promos, some are a great deal, others, not so much. I still luv SW because they don't charge me for luggage and I can change my flights to my hearts content without paying a fee. If you don't like them because of the way the "market" vacations, you probably feel the same way about other airline vacation dealers, as they all run about the same way.

 

[ms.ojo]

Remember, that you don't have to buy insurance thru "them". I have always gotten my trip insurance thru insuremytrip.com You can compare policies so that you pick the one the fulfills all of your needs.

I used SW vacations for a trip that I took in Feb 09 to WDW. I was traveling with my friend, whose daughter cheerleading team was a Nationals. She had to stay at ASSp and the only availability that I could get was thru SW vacations. For 4 nights AND roundtrip airfare from PHL it was about $389. Not a bad deal at all.
Like a PP said about airfare specials, they are typically too good to be true. It is all in the small print. Just like the "free" companion ticket that I used to get with my Amex card.

Hmm, now that's a thought. I'll check the site out. Thank you.

FYI - haven't been contacted by anyone.

Also, I'm thinking the poster who mentioned her memory is it is off the higher fares might be on to something! That would explain a lot. Guess I'll just lurk and wait for the low "wanna get away" fares. My only reason for posting was to draw attn to the fact it isn't really a "deal".

 

[ms.ojo]

You do know that us Dis'ers are the exception, not the rule. SW vacations is marketing to "the others" who will find it a great deal. Like I said before, some of the packages are a great deal, some aren't. Just like Disney promos, some are a great deal, others, not so much. I still luv SW because they don't charge me for luggage and I can change my flights to my hearts content without paying a fee. If you don't like them because of the way the "market" vacations, you probably feel the same way about other airline vacation dealers, as they all run about the same way.

True enough, I don't have much use for pkg deals. As you point out, some of Disney's aren't that great either. The free Dining for our family of 4 at a value was a much better deal than Kids stay, play and eat free. usually I just book ala carte...but w/ all the pricey char meals, free dining rocks for this family!