Dear Southwest do you think you can lower your fares?

[mcd2745]

Flying AA out of JFK in August. I love the simplicity of ISP, and I hate by principal to pay for my luggage. But SW out of ISP for the days I needed was $500 r/t just for me. I was able to book out of JFK for less than half of that. So even with paying the bag fees, the LIRR ticket, and having to leave the house 90 minutes earlier for the same time flight--I'm coming out $200 ahead.

Strange. I live a stone's throw from JFK, so I would love to fly out of there but I could not find any decent fares out of JFK on JetBlue, AA, Delta - in fact, AA was by far the highest. And we are going approx the same time (according to your ticker). We ended up getting free flights down out of ISP (that flight is currently $119 - was as high as $164 and as low as $109) with the SW Visa promo. Coming back, we got flights for $168pp (there were no more rewards seats - even though we still have free flights from the promo). That flight was initially $170 the day they were released, incrementally went up as high as $264 and when we saw it back down to $168, we grabbed it. It actually went down to $159 for one day and is now $190. I don't mind going out of ISP, though. It's so quick to check-in and get through security. Plus, I have relatives 5 minutes away, so I can leave my car with them.

All that said...SW flights are definitely a lot higher than in the past. I never put as much work in to secure flights as I have for this trip.

 

[MEK]

From the Wall Street Journal yesterday:
http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/112851/cant-call-southwest-discount-airlines-wsj

Thanks for posting this. In the last eight years and 15 trips to Orlando I have never paid more than $179 RT out of baltimore or Philadelphia. The majority of the trips were on SWA. Unfortunately, my December trip is going to cost me $209 RT on SWA.

I have also noticed that SWA has fewer non-stops out of both PHL and BWI to MCO. On the Philadelphia schedule the last non-stop in the afternoon is 12:40 straight up until 19:15 (7:15pm). That's a big gap!

I have rarely bought tickets when they first come out. In my observation there are low fares to start. They sell out quick. Within the next couple months I think the higher fares just sit on the market, so they open up more low fares. That's usually when I purchase. However, my strategy may not work this time.

 

[katallo]

I agree with the rates from Baltimore/DC. Rates are crazy at 155.00 to 188.00 each way. They were expensive earlier in the year, but rates for the fall and and winter will make it difficult to travel. I can honestly say I have not seen a ding or sale in a very long time from this market.

 

[LisaTC]

I agree with the rates from Baltimore/DC. Rates are crazy at 155.00 to 188.00 each way. They were expensive earlier in the year, but rates for the fall and and winter will make it difficult to travel. I can honestly say I have not seen a ding or sale in a very long time from this market.

Yes - similar rates from CLE where it used to be a great market as was BWI. Not anymore. The avg was 186 one way...yipes!

All that said...SW flights are definitely a lot higher than in the past. I never put as much work in to secure flights as I have for this trip.

The same here. I looked diligently for months and finally decided on another airline. I gave up on SW.

 

[liz23455]

I have been checking Southwest for some time now trying to find low fares. Even considered using another airline and paying for bags.

I checked this morning and found what I was looking for. Airfares on Southwest went from $154 to $119 for orf to mco. Very excited!

 

[jojo0612]

Well, it didn't drop everywhere...I still couldn't get any deals for SW out of CLE or even out of Columbus, which would have been a 2 hr drive. So, I booked today with AirTran out of CAK. Came out w/deals for $114/each way, so I grabbed it. I gave up on waiting for SW. Plus with the coupons from Little Debbies, I paid for our seats, too! Yippee...what a relief. It's so nerve racking, isn't it???

I literally live 1 mile from CAK. I'm with you and can't believe the cost of the flights out of CLE this year! CAK is so close but have never flown out of there because I love the deals I was able to get on SW and the free bags. I was happy I found flights out of COL yesterday for $100 each way. Worth it driving the 2 hrs to Col for us since we have friends we visit when we go to COL.

 

[magicalmoments]

I am trying to figure this out.....

We have the Disney Dream booked for January out of PC. I am in PA. What airport is near there? Should I be booking to fly into Phila from the Orlando International Airport or is there a better choice.

Prior to this cruise we are doing 5 days at Disney. Any recommendations on who to get the transport us from AKV to the port?

Thank You,
Stacy

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I am trying to figure this out.....

We have the Disney Dream booked for January out of PC. I am in PA. What airport is near there? Should I be booking to fly into Phila from the Orlando International Airport or is there a better choice.

Prior to this cruise we are doing 5 days at Disney. Any recommendations on who to get the transport us from AKV to the port?

Thank You,
Stacy

We flew in and out of Orlando for our Disney cruise....as far as transportation from AKV to the port I'm pretty sure you can book that with disney

 

[mdsd8700]

Overall even though prices are not as low as I remember them but I have been lucky enough that my fares this year have not been too outrageous. Still within my "budget" amount in my head, but more than I would like to pay. We travel Chicago to Orlando, our June trip was $303 per person. We bought tickets for our Thanksgiving trip the day they came out, cost was $325 per person round trip. Last year we paid $350 same time frame. Currently they are between $443 and $516 per person depending on when I check. Makes the $325 look like a bargin. I would love to see the prices come down; last year we only paid $39 one way for Phoenix to LAX. I think as others have said due to the many changes with SW and their expansion I think the days of really cheap airfare is gone. Overall I do like the fact SW doesn't charge for baggage (we over pack) and they generally seem to have a non-stop flight that work into our schedule which is really important to us. We have never flown unless it was non-stop.

 

[Ro Z]

Our plan was to go Nov 29-Dec 8. The same week as last year. Staying on DVC points we could only get SSR. Checked SW air and it would have been $1200+ for the 3 of us. Decided to check the 10 days before Thanksgiving and found fares to be $900. AND we got a studio at BWI!!! Still hoping they lower the fares so we can get some credits for our March trip!

 

[Rhode Island Quahog]

SWA just raised our return flight fare from $144 to $189. We fly roundtrip from Providence, RI to Orlando. I'm glad I purchased ours at $144, but the flight out is expensive too, $177. As much as I hate to, for our February 2012 trip we'll probably fly Jet Blue out of Boston. Southwest is so much higher than any other airline out of the east coast right now. Very disappointed in having to use another carrier for our next trip. We love SWA, but I won't pay twice the price to fly them!

 

[doggydoc]

For those who think SWA doesn't create lower overall prices take a look at fares out of MEM(Memphis), we don't have SWA yet. The only direct flight is Delta and the lowest fare I've been able to find is $248 plus another $60 in bag fees. To go through ATL, which triples the flight time, it's still $230 with Airtran. 4 hours south of here in Jackson MS, a smaller market I have seen SWA fares for under $200 roundtrip direct. Also, as mentioned SWA doesn't charge bag fees, a minimum $50-$60 savings and don't forget that $150 change fee if you need to change flight arrangements. I can't wait until we get an SWA terminal here, I just hope they have a direct flight to MCO.

 

[Minniekins]

I've been watching the fares for the 11th - 18th of Dec to orlando. RT, they were each 117 for about 5 mins a couple wks ago, then the trip out of Chicago went up to 170 for the time and nonstop we wanted when I refreshed the page! The next flight time has one stop but is still priced at 117. Well, yesterday the return flight i'd been watching at 117 jumped to 170! i don't know why but i didn't really expect that! Now i'm not sure what to do, I don' t want to pay 170 one way, let alone RT! And we haven't used SW before, i guess that's why i kept hesitating on buying the tickets. Airtran, who we usually fly, has the flight down, nonstop, at 117 but then there's the bag fee! Argh! And the last day they show fares for is the 17th. I almost thought i better jump on something quick but decided to wait a bit more, hoping they go down more. And still I could buy SW at 117 on the way down at the time we don't want and with a stop, but usually fly the same airline each way. Not quite sure what to do, wish the prices didn't jump so high like that! i think if they both went down to 117 i'd book them right away, mainly because of the no bag fee!

Any chance they lower prices sometimes after they've raised them or do they always stay at the higher price once they go up usually? I've been watching the fares on SW several time daily so I'm hopeful of catching a price dip!

 

[katallo]

SWA just raised our return flight fare from $144 to $189. We fly roundtrip from Providence, RI to Orlando. I'm glad I purchased ours at $144, but the flight out is expensive too, $177. As much as I hate to, for our February 2012trip we'll probably fly Jet Blue out of Boston. Southwest is so much higher than any other airline out of the east coast right now. Very disappointed in having to use another carrier for our next trip. We love SWA, but I won't pay twice the price to fly them!

Sadly, I totally agree. SWA promotes "free baggage". Yet, even with the $15.00 luggage charge, most airlines cost less. We travel light, so it's not a problem for each of us to pack one piece of luggage. It seems the NE corridor is one of the most expensive for SWA.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

I love the 1st posters headline "Dear Southwest do you think you can lower your fares?" Thats like someone writing "Dear Disney,do you think you can lower your ticket prices?" lol,,,and they just raised them starting tomorrow

 

[DebbieB]

For those who think SWA doesn't create lower overall prices take a look at fares out of MEM(Memphis), we don't have SWA yet. The only direct flight is Delta and the lowest fare I've been able to find is $248 plus another $60 in bag fees. To go through ATL, which triples the flight time, it's still $230 with Airtran. 4 hours south of here in Jackson MS, a smaller market I have seen SWA fares for under $200 roundtrip direct. Also, as mentioned SWA doesn't charge bag fees, a minimum $50-$60 savings and don't forget that $150 change fee if you need to change flight arrangements. I can't wait until we get an SWA terminal here, I just hope they have a direct flight to MCO.

I wouldn't count on getting a non-stop. SWA has taken away non-stops to MCO from many cities, especially other airline's hubs (Detroit, Cleveland, Washington Dulles). It's not a profitable route with mostly leisure travelers. They like business travelers who will pay alot of money for last minute tickets. In a hub, business travelers are usually loyal to the legacy airline because of the frequent flyer elite benefits.

 

[Mjkre]

Southwest is killing me. For our family of 5 to fly to MCO it will cost us $2400-$2500 rt. Double the price we have paid for the last few years. Almost $500.00 per person! Last year I waited to July to book my November fairs. I am trying to do that again, but watching the fares rise everyday is making my heart palipitate. SW is the only non-stop for us available. Of course, we could fly out from another airport that is anywhere from 1.5-3 hrs away, depending on traffic, and pick a different airline. Problem is, the fares are not that much better. All around, this stinks. So I agree with the OP....

 

[Dziactor]

Wish fares were a bit cheaper myself. I have a bunch of DVC points I have to use by Feb and wanted to take DS for my birthday. Not sure if ill do it as for the two of us its almost $800.

 

[justcruisin]

Fortunately, I haven't found the rates from Albany to Orlando to be too expensive. They certainly are more than in the past and I'm not expecting a ding for $39 like in the past.

$119 MCO-ALB, just booked it. Flight down is still $136 so I'm holding off on that hoping it goes a bit lower. Going in November for F&WF.

 

[Rhode Island Quahog]

SWA just raised our return flight fare from $144 to $189. We fly roundtrip from Providence, RI to Orlando. I'm glad I purchased ours at $144, but the flight out is expensive too, $177. As much as I hate to, for our February 2012 trip we'll probably fly Jet Blue out of Boston. Southwest is so much higher than any other airline out of the east coast right now. Very disappointed in having to use another carrier for our next trip. We love SWA, but I won't pay twice the price to fly them!

SWA just lowered our roundtrip flights...so I have a $45 credit to use by May 30, 2012. which is good, since we are going in February of 2012.