Flying In May Missed SW Cheap Fares Now What

[dpayne1969]

Hello,
i will be flying in May with 3 teens by myself.The date is May 20-May 27.
The prices i have found so far are:
SWA=okc to mco=127 each way plus tax
Delta=okc to mco (nonstop) 276 RT
these are PP.
Do i book now or wait for better prices?
What are your opinions please!!!!

 

[rie'smom]

Have you tried Delta? Their website often has the cheapest flights. Also, try Airtran.
I missed the cheap flights too. We are either:
1. going to use our Airtran/Wendy's coupons -DH and me-, and pay for 2 tickets- DD and her friend.
2. Cross our fingers and wait for Ding.
3. Drive- it's about 91/2 hours.
My preference is for a good Ding.I'd really like DH and I to use our airtran tickets for a special trip for he and I. We'll see.

 

[dpayne1969]

delta has nonstop flights from okc to mco for about 276 roundtrip per person.
i too was thinking about crossing the fingers for a great ding rate.i have seen a ding for okc to mco only 1 time in the past few months.i am not holding my breath for the ding fare.LOL>i was just wondering if 276 RT nonstop is a good deal or not?
thanks for your reply i do appreciate all help as we have only been to orlando 1 other time which was last year and we booked with expedia so this time i am trying this on my own.
Merry Christmas to you all!!!!!!!!!!!!
Payne's

 

[NotUrsula]

You may have missed the day-of-release SWA fares for May, but that does not begin to mean that it is too late to get a good price on SWA. They release fares constantly, and though they may not be DING's, they may be quite good, and sometimes better.

As long as you are not flying on the travel days for a popular holiday (you didn't give exact dates), your best price is normally going to come up between 12-7 weeks from departure. You are looking very early if you want to get a good SWA fare. We almost always vacation the final week of May/first week of June -- we normally buy the fares in early March sometime (whenever there is a good sale) and we seldom pay more than $60 o/w from STL.

 

[dpayne1969]

thank you for the advice.thats what i was looking for!!!
We are going May 20-27
I will hold out a little longer for a great rate.
$60 O/W would be excellent rates for us.
Thank you for responding i was looking for someone who had expert advice and you delivered for me.
I will be watching SWA like a hawk.LOL

 

[DisneyObsessed]

Keep checking SWA. We booked in October, and just got a ding today that cut our airfair in half!!! Keep looking! Good luck!

 

[Principessa1284]

Definately wait. We went last may and were going to drive, then a Ding fair came up about 3 weeks before our departure date for $34 one way, so we jumped on it. They'll offer it a few more times, don't worry. They usually have them up to 2 weeks before the flight if it isn't full.

 

[jiminy14]

I would definitely wait. My family is going to WDW from May 15-26 and I won't book Southwest at this point because the fares are too high. We can actually fly down cheaper on USAir ($202) than on Southwest ($230). Southwest usually offers Internet or Ding specials so I would just wait for one of those.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If the Delta rate you found includes tax, there doesn't appear to be much difference between the two fares

SW = $127 + $127 = $254 plus taxes and fees
Delta = $276 total(?)

SW = boarding zones, no assigned seats (checking in online 24 hours in advance increases likelihood of getting "A" boarding passes and being able to sit together, depending on origination of flight)
Delta = assigned seats

SW = how many stops/changes?
Delta = non-stop

SW = will credit difference on reduced airfare if contacted by passenger while lower fare is available at no charge, and keep credit available for use for one year from date of original booking; credit is transferable
Delta = will credit difference on reduced airfare if contacted by passenger while lower fare is available at either $50 or $100 per ticket, and keep credit available for use by same passenger for one year from date of original booking; credit is NOT transferable.

SW = financially healthy
Delta = in reorganization

 

[dpayne1969]

i was unaware that Delta was assigned seats as it showed a deal to pick your seats.
i think i will hold out a while longer and cross fingers for a great ding fare from SW!
thanks to all who responded i do appreciate your help and expertise on flying!
thanks again,
Dee

 

[mrford]

I would wait. We are from OK and we went almost the same week that you did last year. The internet special flights from SW came out at the end of March last year and we were able to get SW flights $79 each way from Tulsa. Of course you could buy the flights now and take a credit when the specials come out.

 

[marathonmommy]

I would definitely wait. My family is going to WDW from May 15-26 and I won't book Southwest at this point because the fares are too high. We can actually fly down cheaper on USAir ($202) than on Southwest ($230). Southwest usually offers Internet or Ding specials so I would just wait for one of those.

Jiminy14,
Where do you fly out of (PHL)? I am in NJ, too and am getting a bit nervous about finding reasonable airfare for April 9 and April 14. I am willing to fly out of EWR or PHL . . . The fares, at this point, are a bit much or the times are horrible. Also, does SW participate in DME? I am hoping I am not too late. What are your thoughts? Right now, AirTran seems to have the best rates for us.

 

[jiminy14]

marathonmommy...We usually fly out of Philly on Southwest though we have used Spirit out of Atlantic City. I wouldn't panic right now. I think that Southwest will offer internet specials of either $49 or $79. We are flying down to WDW next week (Jan. 3-13) and I originally booked our flights in September for $79 each way. In November, Southwest offered internet specials of $49 for that time period. It was not offered on my flight down, but I was able to re-book my flight back at the $49 rate and got a $30 credit on each of our tickets. We will be going back to WDW in mid-May (DD's graduation gift) but I won't book my flights at the current rates. I am hoping that the rates will go down sometime in January or February.
As for DME, the last time I flew down on SWA they did not participate, however you can still use the service. The only difference was that we had to pick up our bags at baggage claim and transport them to the bus. On the return trip, we were not able to check-in at the hotel but had to bring our bags out to the bus and then transport them from the bus dropoff up to the check-in counter. You can call DME and ask if SWA is now participating.
BTW...noticed your BWV tag. Are you DVC members there? BWV is our home resort and we became members in 1996. We will be there next week and again in May.

 

[dpayne1969]

I would wait. We are from OK and we went almost the same week that you did last year. The internet special flights from SW came out at the end of March last year and we were able to get SW flights $79 each way from Tulsa. Of course you could buy the flights now and take a credit when the specials come out.


thank you for your heads up on this rate!I think i will hold out a while longer.I just wanted to get my airlines out of the way.LOL>Thanks again for the advice from all of you you guys are the best on the internet.I love all the advice and money saving tips you have all given me!
Happy New Year to all!!!!
Denise Dee Payne

 

[marathonmommy]

marathonmommy...We usually fly out of Philly on Southwest though we have used Spirit out of Atlantic City. I wouldn't panic right now. I think that Southwest will offer internet specials of either $49 or $79. We are flying down to WDW next week (Jan. 3-13) and I originally booked our flights in September for $79 each way. In November, Southwest offered internet specials of $49 for that time period. It was not offered on my flight down, but I was able to re-book my flight back at the $49 rate and got a $30 credit on each of our tickets. We will be going back to WDW in mid-May (DD's graduation gift) but I won't book my flights at the current rates. I am hoping that the rates will go down sometime in January or February.
As for DME, the last time I flew down on SWA they did not participate, however you can still use the service. The only difference was that we had to pick up our bags at baggage claim and transport them to the bus. On the return trip, we were not able to check-in at the hotel but had to bring our bags out to the bus and then transport them from the bus dropoff up to the check-in counter. You can call DME and ask if SWA is now participating.
BTW...noticed your BWV tag. Are you DVC members there? BWV is our home resort and we became members in 1996. We will be there next week and again in May.

Thanks for the info! Yes, I am a DVC member. Bought last July . . . no regrets. Never had to travel during this crazy time of year though - April 9-14 - so I never experienced stressing over airfare. I'll take your advice though, and not worry yet. I will keep checking! (Where in NJ are you?)

 

[jiminy14]

marathonmommy...just booked my May trip on Southwest. They lowered the prices to $79 each way. I figured I would book now and try to get a credit later if the fare goes down to $49. I have some credits on SWA now but they expire in February of 2006 so I couldn't apply them to this ressie. Looks like I'm just going to lose them. I ran your dates and you could get the $79 going down with limited flight availability but not coming back. The lowest return fare was $125.
BTW... I live in Mount Laurel near Cherry Hill in South Jersey. Exit 4 off the turnpike LOL Where are you?

 

[marathonmommy]

marathonmommy...just booked my May trip on Southwest. They lowered the prices to $79 each way. I figured I would book now and try to get a credit later if the fare goes down to $49. I have some credits on SWA now but they expire in February of 2006 so I couldn't apply them to this ressie. Looks like I'm just going to lose them. I ran your dates and you could get the $79 going down with limited flight availability but not coming back. The lowest return fare was $125.
BTW... I live in Mount Laurel near Cherry Hill in South Jersey. Exit 4 off the turnpike LOL Where are you?

Thanks again for the info. I am northwest of you. Up near the border of Hunterdon and Warren counties. I am about an hour from EWR and a little less than two hourse of PHL. ABE is only about 45 minutes, but the prices/fllight times are less than desirable! It's fun to find someone with similar interests (WDW, DVC, BWV) living in NJ! Not too many people (outside of the Dis Boards) "get it"!