Help - Southwest Questions

[teamagic]

I have always flown Delta or US Air. Since Southwest has moved into our airport, there is no comparsion in rates. We flew SW in May for the first time and was very impressed. I booked all of us a internet special at $88.00 each way. I was so thrilled with that rate - esp since the next best rate was over $225.00 round trip. Since then I have been lurking around here, trying to figure out the ding. I have download it and am waiting for the rates to come out past Oct 27. Here are my questions for the experts:

I will be booking 6 round trip flights.

1. Do I book all 6 together or is there an advantage to doing 3 & 3 or 2,2 &2.

2. Should I book then round trip or book trips down and then the return trip?
I was reading about someone that could not use ding because she booked them as round trip???

3. Should I book as soon as the rates for December come out or do I wait?

4. Any ideas as to how to get the best rates for a family of 6 would be appreciated. We want to go to Disney for Christmas and I am trying to keep the costs down.

Thanks for all your help

 

[teamagic]

Anyone?

 

[robinb]

I will be booking 6 round trip flights.

1. Do I book all 6 together or is there an advantage to doing 3 & 3 or 2,2 &2.

There is no advantage to booking less than 6 tickets at once UNLESS you are willing to fly on different flights.

2. Should I book then round trip or book trips down and then the return trip?
I was reading about someone that could not use ding because she booked them as round trip???

Round trips are often cheaper than two one-ways even with Southwest.

3. Should I book as soon as the rates for December come out or do I wait?

Book as soon as they come out and then you can cancel and re-book if a better fare comes out. You don't get a refund, but you will get a credit that you can use within a year.

4. Any ideas as to how to get the best rates for a family of 6 would be appreciated. We want to go to Disney for Christmas and I am trying to keep the costs down.

Booking months ago is the real key. I missed out on great fares for late December myself back in January/February. Keep an eye on SWA and December and book right away. Compare the base SWA fares from your city to MCO with the currrent non-SWA rates in December to convince yourself that even at "full price" SWA is a bargain. BTW, I flew round-trip into Tampa from Chicago on SWA last year for about $150 RT right before Christmas with a January return.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Here are my questions for the experts:
2. Should I book then round trip or book trips down and then the return trip?
I was reading about someone that could not use ding because she booked them as round trip???

Thanks for all your help

Yes, book two one-way fares for each passenger. Southwest (and JetBlue) actually don't sell round trip tickets, they only sell one-ways. Passengers can, obviously, combine two one-way fares to make a round trip itinerary, but there's no break for booking round trip - and, as you noticed, it's MUCH easier to rebook a Ding! (or other reduced) that's only available one way. If you purchase both legs on the same transaction, you need to rebook the entire trip and the other fare may be higher than what you paid originally.

 

[justplaingoofy]

First type in 1 passenger to view the fare. Then, change it to the correct amount of passengers to make sure the fare is the same. Sometimes airlines release so many seats at one fare, then it goes up to the next tier.

Ex. should you find there are only 3 seats at the lowest available fare then book those, then book your next 3.

 

[robinb]

Yes, book two one-way fares for each passenger. Southwest (and JetBlue) actually don't sell round trip tickets, they only sell one-ways. Passengers can, obviously, combine two one-way fares to make a round trip itinerary, but there's no break for booking round trip - and, as you noticed, it's MUCH easier to rebook a Ding! (or other reduced) that's only available one way. If you purchase both legs on the same transaction, you need to rebook the entire trip and the other fare may be higher than what you paid originally.

Actually there is a break in a round trip. I didn't think so last year when I was booking my Ding! for Christmas/New Year. Then I noticed that 2 one-way fares added together cost more than booking both ways as a roundtrip at the same time. If you have the Ding! up right now for Louisville/Orlando check it out (I used 8/3 and 8/10). It's $7 more per ticket to book 2 one-ways.

 

[cepmom]

Actually there is a break in a round trip. I didn't think so last year when I was booking my Ding! for Christmas/New Year. Then I noticed that 2 one-way fares added together cost more than booking both ways as a roundtrip at the same time. If you have the Ding! up right now for Louisville/Orlando check it out (I used 8/3 and 8/10). It's $7 more per ticket to book 2 one-ways.

not in all cases though...I just priced out 2 one ways PVD - BWI for DH and it was the same price booking two one way tickets as one round trip ticket.

I would recommend booking each leg of the trip as one ways. Often times a Ding or sale will come along that only applies to one leg of the trip and it's a lot easier to take advantage of the sale price that way.

 

[robinb]

Often times a Ding or sale will come along that only applies to one leg of the trip and it's a lot easier to take advantage of the sale price that way.

Hmmm ... I have never noticed a Ding! that was good for only one direction and not the other. I'll keep my eyes peeled on that one!

 

[heathrow42]

It might now be that say BWI to MCO comes up in a ding, but MCO to BWI doesn't... they do usually come up in pairs. But the days of the week that come up might not be the ones you want to travel.. So, sometimes it is better to book each way separately. For example, say you want to fly down on Wednesday and fly home on Sunday. You might get a $66 Ding! that's good for Monday and Wednesday, go ahead and book the one way down for Wednesday at $66. Then wait and see if you can get a Ding! for the Sunday trip home. If you can't or it's getting to close for your comfort go ahead and book the full rate (or advance purchase rate.. ) etc. say it's $99. Then if you get Ding'd! and it's $77, you can cancel the full rate of $99 apply the credit for that flight to the Ding! rate. You will have a $22 left over credit with Southwest for your next trip.


--Heather

 

[cepmom]

Hmmm ... I have never noticed a Ding! that was good for only one direction and not the other. I'll keep my eyes peeled on that one!

what I meant was that sometimes a Ding will come out for only certain days of the week and those days might not apply to your travel.

For example ~ we are flying to MCO on Wednesday 8/30 and flying home on Sunday 9/3. We got a great Ding fare for $44 PVD ~ MCO but it was only good until 8/31. By booking our trip as one ways, I was able to take advantage of the $44 Ding fare for our flight to MCO and leave the flight home alone until another Ding or sale came along that would apply to that date/day of the week.

If I had booked my trip as round trip, I would have had to cancel the whole reservation, get the Ding fare for the first leg of the trip then purchase a possibly higher than we originally paid priced flight for our flight home.

 

[teamagic]

Thanks so much for all of your help. Now all I have to do is wait until SW extends beyond Oct 27.

 

[auntie]

First type in 1 passenger to view the fare. Then, change it to the correct amount of passengers to make sure the fare is the same. Sometimes airlines release so many seats at one fare, then it goes up to the next tier.

Ex. should you find there are only 3 seats at the lowest available fare then book those, then book your next 3.

Was reading this thread because we too are considering flying Southwest for first time and had questions also. I see you mentioned put in the fare for one ...which actually we need five seats. I put in fare for four and get a very good "Internet"..fare..and only on four. If I put in for the five tickets we need it only has available higher priced tickets. I was considering doing what you suggest above. Which is to purchase the 4 tickets at the lower "Internet' price and the the 5th ticket at the "fun fare" price. which is some $50.00 more..but at least it's only on one ticket instead of all five. I just hestitated, having never done this before that there wouldn't be a 5th seat available when I completed the transaction for the four..if that is likely to happen? Also...I see boarding passes to be printed twenty four hours prior to departure...does that increase likelyhod of an A or B pass..which would in turn increase our chances of sitting together. We don't have little ones in our group..but certainly still want to sit together. Hubby and I... Teens and a twentysomething son. Thanks for your help.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You could try opening and working in two screens at the same time - one for the four tickets and a separate screen for the fifth. Or four screens - one set for each way of your trip...
Checking in online 24 hours in advance means you are very likely, but not guaranteed, to get "A" boarding passes - depending how quick you actually are and whether your flight originates at your airport or if there'll already be passengers onboard.
You will most likely be able to sit together, especially if you head directly for the back of the plane; but even if the five of you can't sit together, you should be able to get two and three seats together even if the two groups aren't near each other; and to be honest, if you can't, it's not the biggest deal - you'll only be on the plane for a few hours.

 

[auntie]

What you said sounds good..only frankly..how do I do that..the two screens I mean?...

 

[justplaingoofy]

Was reading this thread because we too are considering flying Southwest for first time and had questions also. I see you mentioned put in the fare for one ...which actually we need five seats. I put in fare for four and get a very good "Internet"..fare..and only on four. If I put in for the five tickets we need it only has available higher priced tickets. I was considering doing what you suggest above. Which is to purchase the 4 tickets at the lower "Internet' price and the the 5th ticket at the "fun fare" price. which is some $50.00 more..but at least it's only on one ticket instead of all five. I just hestitated, having never done this before that there wouldn't be a 5th seat available when I completed the transaction for the four..if that is likely to happen? Also...I see boarding passes to be printed twenty four hours prior to departure...does that increase likelyhod of an A or B pass..which would in turn increase our chances of sitting together. We don't have little ones in our group..but certainly still want to sit together. Hubby and I... Teens and a twentysomething son. Thanks for your help.

Personally, I would book the four tickets, then the one. Do your boarding passes at home 24hrs in advance. I would check in the party of 4 first, then the single. That way if the group of 4 gets the 1st boarding they should be able to hold the one seat without a problem.

 

[Rpsemont]

4. Any ideas as to how to get the best rates for a family of 6 would be appreciated. We want to go to Disney for Christmas and I am trying to keep the costs down

A couple things to keep in mind, Chances are, the next round of fares to open up will not include Christmas. And Christmas time is an icredibly busy time to fly. If you're definitely going, and want to fly the 12/22-23 through12/30/31, book when it opens up. I wouldn't budget thinking you'll get a deal. You may be able to get a reduce fare flying to MCO before 12/19 of flying home past 1/3. Last year, there were a couple specials and dings to fly to MCO12/27-12/28, but when those came out, there were NO return flights open until 1/4.


With six people, I would personally book it as OW tickets and do them in pairs,2,2,2. to me, that would allow for maximum flexibility.

 

[robinb]

Duh. I think I finally "get" the point of booking one-way tickets. You can easily cancel and re-book a single one-way flight if a Ding! comes up for that specific day (like a Saturday) and not your other day (like a busier Sunday).

 

[DonnaL]

I agree with everything rpsemont has said....especially for maximum availability about booking 2,2,& 2.

 

[heaven2dc]

I wish we could fly out of Washington, D.C. (my closest airport) using Southwest. I would have to drive to Baltimore, MD to fly SW. The fares directly thru SW are now $79 each way non-stop which seems pretty good. Has anyone had a problem with seating (I've watched the Airline show on tv and see overbooking/seating problems and wouldn't want to start my vacation that way )

 

[katiedid0801]

I wish we could fly out of Washington, D.C. (my closest airport) using Southwest. I would have to drive to Baltimore, MD to fly SW. The fares directly thru SW are now $79 each way non-stop which seems pretty good. Has anyone had a problem with seating (I've watched the Airline show on tv and see overbooking/seating problems and wouldn't want to start my vacation that way )

I fly quite a bit for business and I LOVE SW! Seating is not a problem at all. As a matter of fact I hate that they're thinking of using assigned seating. Just remember to check in 24 hours before (you don't even need to print the boarding pass then) and you should be in group A. That's only 45 people so you should have a good chance of getting the seats you want, even if you're last in line to board. They also fly more non-stop flights than most big name airlines, use bigger planes, and give better snacks! And the flight attendants can't be beat! (And no I neither work for SW nor know anyone who does! )