Did Southwest Raise it's Fares?

[summerrluvv]

It seems the prices have been increased dramatically from our local airport! $130 each way not including taxes with a "sale" just seems like a lot compared to what fares were last year.

 

[KELLY]

I think alot has to do with the price of oil and gas right now.

I got a great deal 4 non stop for 665.00 roundtrip out of New Hampshire. Those same flights are up to 1450.00. I only booked a month ago. But to get that price I moved my trip up a week and stayed a extra night.

 

[Karenj2]

From what i heard, the reason they used to have crazy low prices was because they had purchased a bunch of oil when it was at it's lowest cost (years ago). Unfortunately, they're beginning to run out of that oil, and now have to buy at the crazy high prices they are now. I wouldn't expect to see those low prices any more.

 

[pigletto]

I don't think we'll be seeing the prices of the old days anytime soon if ever again. Especially with current oil prices.
There may be better deals to be had though.

Within 6 months I managed to get return flights for 800 one trip (for four of us) and could not find anything under 1200 for the next trip. Our plan is to drive this time (so excited about that one) but I just can't justify the prices in our vacation budget at this time.

I even looked at an airport 5 hours away because I found flights for 750 return. Still debating that one. We'd still have to pay parking and baggage fees.. and it would be nice to have our car this trip.

 

[Hanover]

We booked flights for this July for $145 each after seeing them creep up quickly from $129. They are now at $160 and have not gone down at all. I check each day, usually twice a day.

I booked flights for this June for $93 and $140 about 2 or 3 months ago. Today is the first day they went lower and I managed to get them for $89 each, leaving us with a nice credit.

I just flew to Tampa last week and paid $238 down and $280 back. It was booked 2 weeks before (last minute trip.)

We fly Southwest all the time and until this year had not paid more than $79 each way.

 

[summerrluvv]

From what i heard, the reason they used to have crazy low prices was because they had purchased a bunch of oil when it was at it's lowest cost (years ago). Unfortunately, they're beginning to run out of that oil, and now have to buy at the crazy high prices they are now. I wouldn't expect to see those low prices any more.

Ahhh

Wonder if Jet Blue did the same oil deal. Their prices are still low though, and include a free bag and TV, so we'll just be using them going forward I'm sure

 

[cmusschoot]

I am in the same boat...I LOVE Southwest...and fly them ALL the time. I fly out of Chicago and alwasy manage to get a good deal! I am watching flight prices...and they are SO expensive. I had been able to find the 87 each way fares, I think those might be gone for good!

Looking at US Airways...and shipping luggage down. (DH can ship for free through work). Still looking at saving 500.

Cannot beat that, and the drive is NOT going to happen.
UH!!

 

[mybestieismickey]

Definitely more expensive this year. We fly out of Vegas and I'm looking at just shy of $1000 round for two of us . We flew from a more expensive airport last time (2009) and it was about $500 round for the two of us. Never thought I'd say that it would be cheaper to fly on American even with the baggage fees . We still have several months, so I will wait and see. Right now, air fare may cancel our trip and I will be cranky pants if that happens.

 

[Hanover]

I have a SW signature visa I applied for a month ago to get the 2 free round trip offer after 1 purchase (plus a $59 annual fee). Right now they have a deal for 15% off Wanna get Away flights through June 1. I am hoping they extend the dates so I can get the discount when we fly to Orlando in November.

 

[ccgirl]

I actually saw the rise last year. We switched to AirTran because they were so much less expensive even with their baggage and seat fees. However, I just booked PVD to MCO on SW this morning for $134 each way for an October trip. I have never paid that much. Jet Blue was the same. AirTran was a bit cheaper but they didn't have my return dates published yet.

 

[CathrynRose]

Mind Reader.....

I just looked at the prices yesterday. $700-something for 2 tickets: Chicago to Orlando. WHAT?!?!?

Last year was $300-something.

Yuck!!!

 

[usnuzuloose]

Definitely more expensive this year. We fly out of Vegas and I'm looking at just shy of $1000 round for two of us . We flew from a more expensive airport last time (2009) and it was about $500 round for the two of us. Never thought I'd say that it would be cheaper to fly on American even with the baggage fees . We still have several months, so I will wait and see. Right now, air fare may cancel our trip and I will be cranky pants if that happens.

I hear you I was thinking about flying from northern ca to vegas and it was any where from 400 to 600 Rt for 2 people. That is just crazy

 

[jls886]

Southwest hedges their gas, and they're one of the only airlines that does so. I just recently read that their supply of gas that they were able to get very cheap however long ago is now running out. I think the days of super inexpensive airfare are gone.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Summer, dont' ya know we are such a captive group here on LI, so they can charge probably whatever the market will bear.

I just cant seem schlepping to LGA so I put up with the price. I still havent gotten tickets for our may trip. I am looking at the 20-26 and its expensive, like $500 for dh and I.

In Dec. I used a free ticket for dh. That was using his credits and I won the rest of the credits in a southwest contest,.

Southwest is having another contest right now and I am gonna enter for sure.

 

[sydneysmom]

I think they're WAY more expensive. We're flying to Boston this July and we've been watching the prices....well, round trip for 3 from Jackson, MS was $1890 on Southwest ! And for Delta and US AIR it's at $1100 and $1200. that's a HUGE difference!

Then this whole thing started getting worse, and BING Travel had "buy" so I bought the Delta tix. Two days later Delta went up $ 150 total and SW went up another $120. I'm relieved to have the tix bought and done with! But honestly, the prices on Southwest are no longer the cheapest..... I don't care that they do free bags, it's not worth us paying another $900!!

 

[summerrluvv]

Summer, dont' ya know we are such a captive group here on LI, so they can charge probably whatever the market will bear.

I just cant seem schlepping to LGA so I put up with the price. I still havent gotten tickets for our may trip. I am looking at the 20-26 and its expensive, like $500 for dh and I.

In Dec. I used a free ticket for dh. That was using his credits and I won the rest of the credits in a southwest contest,.

Southwest is having another contest right now and I am gonna enter for sure.

We ended up flying out of JFK a few weeks ago for our trip. I won't fly out of LGA...headache there! It wasn't THAT bad to be honest. We did mid-day flights so we didn't have to deal with traffic. I just couldn't justify paying like $1,000 more on SW. Granted we did book last minute, but still.

 

[LexiC123]

Summer, dont' ya know we are such a captive group here on LI, so they can charge probably whatever the market will bear.

I just cant seem schlepping to LGA so I put up with the price. I still havent gotten tickets for our may trip. I am looking at the 20-26 and its expensive, like $500 for dh and I.

In Dec. I used a free ticket for dh. That was using his credits and I won the rest of the credits in a southwest contest,.

Southwest is having another contest right now and I am gonna enter for sure.

I know what you mean about schlepping into LGA or JFK. It's just so easy and stress-free to fly out of ISP, but the prices for October are making me crazy...$618.80 R/T for DH and I. That's almost $200 more than we paid last year!

I'm going to wait it out for now, but I really just want to have it done with, so I can stop stressing out about transportation and worry about the really important stuff...like ADRs, LOL.

We ended up flying out of JFK a few weeks ago for our trip. I won't fly out of LGA...headache there! It wasn't THAT bad to be honest. We did mid-day flights so we didn't have to deal with traffic. I just couldn't justify paying like $1,000 more on SW. Granted we did book last minute, but still.

I hate, hate, hate LGA! We're on the south shore, so it's easier to get to JFK, but even if we weren't, I'd go out of my way to NOT fly out of LGA.

If you don't mind me asking...did you take a car service, or did drive yourself and park in a long-term parking lot? I'm not crazy about the idea of driving in myself, but R/T car service would run in the area of $200 (with tip), which would pretty much eat up the savings we'd have by flying Jet Blue.

So frustrating!

 

[edk35]

I would say sooooooooo. BIG TIME. I just checked dates for Oct. and the cheapest out of BWI to MCO is 150 one way. This is not a special 3 day weekend/holiday weekend either. There is no way we are going for a 4 day trip for prices like that.

 

[summerrluvv]

I know what you mean about schlepping into LGA or JFK. It's just so easy and stress-free to fly out of ISP, but the prices for October are making me crazy...$618.80 R/T for DH and I. That's almost $200 more than we paid last year!

I'm going to wait it out for now, but I really just want to have it done with, so I can stop stressing out about transportation and worry about the really important stuff...like ADRs, LOL.


I hate, hate, hate LGA! We're on the south shore, so it's easier to get to JFK, but even if we weren't, I'd go out of my way to NOT fly out of LGA.

If you don't mind me asking...did you take a car service, or did drive yourself and park in a long-term parking lot? I'm not crazy about the idea of driving in myself, but R/T car service would run in the area of $200 (with tip), which would pretty much eat up the savings we'd have by flying Jet Blue.

So frustrating!

We had a family member drop us off and pick us up. What about the Air Train thing? Or is that a pain?

 

[macfinn]

booked trip in jan, flights out of PVD 134$, checked 2 weeks ago (before tax refund) out of PVD 82$ flight,couldnt book than, checked last friday 124$ went to book on saturdau 134$, booked return for 92$, but why is the trip down still high??? no one can explain that.....will have to book soon.....hopefully at 82$ agin>>>>>