How do I get from Dallas to WDW flying Southwest?

[NvrBnToWDW]

Hi! We are first time flyers and I've been waiting for Southwest to publish flights for the first week of May. But I've heard that we have to fly Southwest from Dallas to another city and then we have to get on another plane to get to Orlando. Since we're first timers would it be better to just fly American straight out of Dallas. I know Southwest is cheaper but is it worth the hassle and time. Also, doesn't it take longer. My family is a little hesitant about flying anyway.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

This is from the Southwest Website:

Travel into and out of Dallas Love Field is subject to the limitations of the Wright Amendment. Federal law prohibits Southwest from offering for sale, or providing transportation between, Dallas Love Field and any point beyond Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Mississippi, and Alabama.

I dont know much about Dallas area airports, but I'd imagine if you fly out of Dallas Love Field, then it wouldn't matter what airline, it wouldn't be a direct flight.

By the way, does anyone know why that amendment exists?

 

[Pluto2003]

on SW out of Love field to MCO because of the Wright Ammendment. The Ammendment (you may only fly to the neighboring 5 states from Love Field) was made so that the the major airlines would move operations over to DFW when that was built rather than divide the business between Fort Worth and Dallas, as I understand.
BUT since Delta is giving up DFW as a hub, those gates are to open to others come 2/1/05 and Southwest is looking at those.
Then you could get SW out of Dallas to any place they do fly.

My suggestion is to sign up for AirTran e mails as we got a special offer sale out of DFW for $59. each way to MCO. American can just not beat that price.

DFW may get Jet Blue and expanded AirTran and Southwest flights next year.

My question is "why didn't Southwest fight the Wright Amendment?" They had been quoted in the paper that they would not do so.

Personally, SW is the last airline on earth I would fly. I'd walk.....

 

[gw_lit]

You can do what is known as the "Tulsa two-step." But actually in your case, you'd need to do the San Antonio, Houston, Austin or New Orleans two-step.

What you would need to do is purchase two different tickets for each person. One to go from Dallas Love to one of the cities above, and then a second from the intermediate city non-stop to Orlando. A disadvantage of this is that you will not be able to check baggage all the way through, you need to either travel with all carry-ons, or book your flights so that once you arrive at your intermediate destination you have time to claim your baggage, and then check-in and re-check your baggage and then re-clear security to go to your gate. So, obviously travelling this way with check baggage is quite a pain; it is really only practical if you have all carry-ons. (We have quite a few people that travel from Dallas to St. Louis, Kansas City or Chicago on Southwest do the change here in Little Rock, but only with carry-on luggage.) The other problem could be if your original flight is cancelled or delayed,so you won't make your connection (which is not protected since you have separate tickets), then you are at the mercy of the airline to get re-scheduled and possibly charged a change fee.

I agree with Pluto, I'd check out AirTran or American and see what kind of deals you can get out of DFW. Although I disagree with Pluto that Southwest is the last airline I'd fly.... service that I have received on Southwest rivals that of any other domestic airline (and I'm Platinum Advantage on American).

 

[CarolA]

Step one. write or call you senator and congressperson and ask they WHY they are protecting AA by refusing to repeal the Wright Amendement. (AA has lobbied VERY hard to keep this amendment in place and so far...)

I have done the two step when I flew to Dallas. Let me just say it was HORRID! I don't recommend it.... We had to rush to baggage claim get our luggage haul it back upstairs and recheck it etc.. (and this was before 9/11) We threatened our corporate travel person with bodily harm if she did that to us again!

 

[gw_lit]

AA has lobbied VERY hard to keep this amendment in place and so far...

Agreed. But I also understand that Southwest really doesn't want to fight the Wright Amendment themselves. They have a pretty good niche at Love, with very limited competition. A few years ago, American and Continental (and maybe even Delta) tried to start flying out of Love with planes (F100s IIRC that normally seat 100) that were re-configured with only 56 seats (thus not falling under the Wright Amendment) to places like New York and Chicago... that experiment failed miserably and was discontinued.

 

[Pluto2003]

gw_lit, I have taken there 6 am flight out to MCO many times but this trip, the price was the factor. I wish American could match it.
As for SW, the times I have flown with them, the planes smelled, were dirty and the boarding procedure is more than I can handle even on a short hop to Houston. I have been looking for flights on Delta and they seem to have abandon us already. DFW will be changing.........

 

[CarolA]

Several years ago SW did try to get the amendment changed. They had articles in thier magazine regarding the benefit of getting it overturned. It was extended and I think they have just moved on.

I can't imagine why they would go to DFW. They tend to try to avoid airports with huge backups. (For example, they don't do Atlanta, in Chicago they use Midway vs OHare)

 

[m&m's mom]

Speaking as someone who lives 15 minutes from DFW but works across the freeway from Love, I still prefer DFW.
This is so stupid but I feel so self conscious sitting in the aisle seat waiting to someone to choose me to sit next to. Agreed that I would prefer no one sitting next to me but I get my feeling hurt somewhat when they don't-Yes, I am looking into therapy Other airlines have assigned seating so I feel more comfortable.
Seriously, I can't stand the Wright Amendment. Every time they announce a SW sale I know it won't help me because I will only fly nonstop.

 

[chipscinderelly]

I hear you on the SWA deal! I've looked at this many times and with proper planning (and orbitz deal detector) I find that American or Delta (till they switch schedules) is actually at a decent fare for MCO flights.