Does Delta discount like SWA???

[ms.ojo]

I know we've all been talking/waiting for special Dings and Internet specials in our markets to MCO from SWA. But.....

I was checking other options for me from Hartford...or Providence w/out any luck when I DID notice something interesting w/ Delta. For my travel dates it would cost ~$1100 for my family of 4 (much more than I want to spend) but since they allow you to book your seats...I could see the flights are not very full. It would seem reasonable that at some time soon these seats should be discounted so Delta isn't flying a largely unpopulated plane. Makes sense...but do they do that??

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not usually. The legacy airlines may have occasional sales, but none of them price or drop prices like Southwest does. More likely, they'd combine two flights - but your trip is still either a couple or several months away (don't know which one you're buying tickets for) and chances are the plane will fill more with passengers who're playing chicken, hoping the fares drop.

 

[kda]

Delta has matched some SWA sales from BDL to MCO, but not always and not like they used to. There was a very brief sale on a Saturday ~ a month ago for travel in July/August. In the past few months, I have seen a $117 RT sale once (that might have been the one mentioned above), and another time for ~ $157 RT. So, it's possible, but not nearly as frequent as in the past, and the sale was for a few hrs or a few days, not weeks. Most of the airlines are in financial trouble now.

I check 3-4 times a day, waiting for November to be released on SWA and watching Delta for a sale. But I seriously doubt that Delta will have a sale until SWA releases November and has a sale. Trying to get a good fare on a holiday weekend is always tricky and requires real vigilance and tenacity.

Oh, and it can be misleading to look at the seat maps on any airline. Some seats are blocked off for frequent flyer awards that aren't really booked, and some people have tickets without assigned seats yet (ie, cruise lines who book seats for passengers).

 

[Disneyjosh229]

More likely, they'd combine two flights - but your trip is still either a couple or several months away (don't know which one you're buying tickets for) and chances are the plane will fill more with passengers who're playing chicken, hoping the fares drop.

Exactly. If they have 2, 1/2 empty planes, Delta has NOOOO problem with cancelling both and condensing them into 1 full flight. I wouldn't expect to see those sales with Southwest last too much longer, because thier prepaid fuel supply is nearing the end.

 

[ms.ojo]

Exactly. If they have 2, 1/2 empty planes, Delta has NOOOO problem with cancelling both and condensing them into 1 full flight. I wouldn't expect to see those sales with Southwest last too much longer, because thier prepaid fuel supply is nearing the end.

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Thanks for the info'n. Last night I decided to jump on $99 fares to Orlando from my city. Certainly not the rate I've become use to securing these last few yrs...but much bette than $157 that was out there now from my city. Problem was I could only get 3 of the 4 of us. DH said go for it...so we did. And now I'm hoping I'll be able to change dhs to a lower fare along the way and use the credit for the trip back (no deals yet on my return dates) or a trip next year. I know lots of people got some great deals earlier this mth...but the only $49 and $69 fares I'm seeing are in very low volume markets or off times for flying. i think you're right on the $$$ about prepaid fuel running near the end. In any event, it makes me feel better, so I'm going w/ that!!!

 

[pooch]

booked w/swa when our flights first became available in April at $1132 for 4 rt's. Since then, I've rebooked at $908 and, most recently at $548!!! Missed a Ding that would have saved another $120 but I keep looking. Delta has really not come close to this and, for us, the Delta flight times are awful. SWA has not charged for reducing my fares and I'm hoping for a refund when we return ($584). If not, spring training in March!!! Good luck!

 

[ms.ojo]

booked w/swa when our flights first became available in April at $1132 for 4 rt's. Since then, I've rebooked at $908 and, most recently at $548!!! Missed a Ding that would have saved another $120 but I keep looking. Delta has really not come close to this and, for us, the Delta flight times are awful. SWA has not charged for reducing my fares and I'm hoping for a refund when we return ($584). If not, spring training in March!!! Good luck!

Thank you! This was a last minute trip and I'm grateful to have even one leg at $99 since we have to fly on the weekend and can't go midweek this time around. I think by shortening our trip a day or two I'll be able to get decent fares for the return over the next mth or so.

I'm really glad I stayed away from Delta. I don't like how they cancel and/or combine flights. That would really unnerve me.

Thanks too for the well wishes!!! I'll take all the good luck and pixie dust we can get!!!!