first time on SW, questions?

[jacksonsmom]

I am thinking for the first time flying SouthWest. We want to leave June 4th and I know those dates will be released next month. Are the best prices always the date SW releases? What time do they release the dates and should I be on the computer ready to buy at that time?

I know SW you can get a credit if it goes cheaper, how does that work. Do you rebook the flight and pay another ticket and get a credit for the old one?

Any other pointers on SW you can give me I would love to hear about. SW came to our state a few years(?) ago (can't remember exactly when) I've always stayed away from them, but their no baggage fee is looking very nice. Plus Delta (which is my airline of choice) just isn't what they used to be.

 

[AWish]

I usually fly Southwest if they service my destination. In my experience, the flights are the cheapest the day they are released. The prices start going up about 3 months before the actual date of departure. For instance, my flight was $109 each way to Orlando when I booked in July for December, the prices stayed at 109 until the beginning of Sept. Now they are 160-180 each way and its still 45 days out. Book early!
Also, with southwest, there is no assigned seating. You are assigned a boarding group when you check in - A,B,C- A boards first. You pick your own seats when you enter the plane- it's a free for all. You MUST check in online 24 hours before flight time to assure you are in A group so you won't be separtated from your family/children.
I heart southwest. Baggage flies free, and if you catch them early the flights are the cheapest. Never had a problem.

 

[AlexDurrani]

I usually fly Southwest if they service my destination. In my experience, the flights are the cheapest the day they are released. The prices start going up about 3 months before the actual date of departure. For instance, my flight was $109 each way to Orlando when I booked in July for December, the prices stayed at 109 until the beginning of Sept. Now they are 160-180 each way and its still 45 days out. Book early!
Also, with southwest, there is no assigned seating. You are assigned a boarding group when you check in - A,B,C- A boards first. You pick your own seats when you enter the plane- it's a free for all. You MUST check in online 24 hours before flight time to assure you are in A group so you won't be separtated from your family/children.
I heart southwest. Baggage flies free, and if you catch them early the flights are the cheapest. Never had a problem.

Don't count on A group always depending if you pay extra for ECBI or not and how many others did too.

 

[dburg30]

We bought ours right when they opened, and those were the lowest prices I saw.

 

[Bobo912]

I don't think you need to be on your computer the minute the June flights ae released. But I think you may as well book within the first few weeks, because the prices aren't likely to go any lower unless they have a sale like they released today or a DING. In that case you just go to the SWA website and select Change Itinerary and select the same flight at the new price. The difference in the price will be credited to you in travel funds and you can you it the next time you fly with Southwest, as long as it's within a year of the original booking date.

 

[disney11fan]

I am thinking for the first time flying SouthWest. We want to leave June 4th and I know those dates will be released next month. Are the best prices always the date SW releases? What time do they release the dates and should I be on the computer ready to buy at that time?

I know SW you can get a credit if it goes cheaper, how does that work. Do you rebook the flight and pay another ticket and get a credit for the old one?

Any other pointers on SW you can give me I would love to hear about. SW came to our state a few years(?) ago (can't remember exactly when) I've always stayed away from them, but their no baggage fee is looking very nice. Plus Delta (which is my airline of choice) just isn't what they used to be.

i will say yes. last year we booked for aug 11 thru aug 25th . direct flightws both ways out of buf . three round trippers with all taxes and fees 476. that was the lowest price i remember seeing. good luck sw is a great airline.

 

[jacksonsmom]

Thanks! I always was nervous flying SW, don't like the non assign seating, but I can get over that.

Our last experience with Delta, they changed our flight 3x before our trip and the service just wasn't what I was used to from Delta, add the baggage fees, etc and now I am looking towards SouthWest. The no baggage fees is a biggie!

Was thinking of purchasing the ECBI, at least for the trip home. Is it better to purchase that right away when I buy the tickets?

Last question, does the next set of dates open on November 18th? I thought I remember seeing that somewhere. We want to leave June 4th and right now they are only booking until June 3rd.

 

[Bobo912]

Thanks! I always was nervous flying SW, don't like the non assign seating, but I can get over that.

Our last experience with Delta, they changed our flight 3x before our trip and the service just wasn't what I was used to from Delta, add the baggage fees, etc and now I am looking towards SouthWest. The no baggage fees is a biggie!

Was thinking of purchasing the ECBI, at least for the trip home. Is it better to purchase that right away when I buy the tickets?

Last question, does the next set of dates open on November 18th? I thought I remember seeing that somewhere. We want to leave June 4th and right now they are only booking until June 3rd.

On Nov 18th the schedule opens up for booking through Aug 12.

That's an interesting question about whether to purchase EBCI right away. I've always made the assumption that I would be checked in prior to someone who bought the same fare class as me if I purchased EBCI before them, but I checked the EBCI FAQ and it doesn't say anything about the order other than "customers who purchase Anytime Fares will receive priority over other fare types", so maybe it's just random for those of us who purchase Wanna Get Away fares. Regardless, I highly recommend purchasing EBCI for your return flight, not for earlier boarding necessarily, but because it is just really convenient.