I need advice on Southwest

[mvansear]

I am in need of advice for a flight on Southwest. I am looking at a flight for our trip to Disney. The current price is 59.00 one way. The flight to Disney looks good however I am having problems with the return flight. When I put in the dates for 1 adult I get the 59.00 rate but when I put in the dates for 5 adults, or 4 adults, or 3 ect i get a rate of 149.00. This flight is in February. I doubt that the rates will go below 59 so I am wondering should I book 1 fare at 59.00? Anyone know if Southwest ever offers more low rates after the ones they have sell out? Is it very likely that more 59.00 rates will come out? Also I have heard there are no fees to change flights is this true? Should I book maybe the day before our departure and try to get it changed later? Those rates are 69.00 and they have 5. Thanks in advance for any help or advice you have on Southwest.
Marci

 

[goofy4tink]

There are only so many seats at each fare. And usually, once those fares are gone, they're gone. I would book the ones you can find for all of you, at the lower rate now, before they go away.
As for booking the $69 rate, for the day before you are supposed to really leave....SW doesn't charge you for changes, but you would have to pay any difference in fares. I guess you could take those fares and then fly down the night before. But, if you got fares of $59 each one way, I wouldn't have a huge problem paying $150 the other way. Anytime I can get from Boston to MCO for $200, I'm thrilled.

 

[ccgirl]

I would definitely book the $59 flights. For the return flight, try booking just one or two at a time. It could be that there are not 4 or 5 seats at the discounted price. Remember, if the price goes down at any time you can also rebook with no penalty and get a credit to use for 1 year from the original booking date. Booking one way fares actually make this a lot easier. I did this and now have $185 in credit for our May trip. Good luck.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Like PP said only so many seats are offered at the $59 rate. I had this happen on my last trip. I kept trying first, using 1 person, then 2, then 3 etc so that I could get as many as possible at the lower rate and I booked that as 1 reservation. Then I made a 2nd reservation for the remaining people at the higher rate. I always book one way reservations so that if prices go down on one leg of my trip I can easily cancel and reserve again and get a credit for the future.

If you book 2 ressies for the return and prices lower in the future then you can change the higher fare resssie and get the credit at that time.

 

[bookwormde]

SW uses "dynamic pricing" (the number of discount seats changes as the flight gets closer) so it is very likely that over time you will be able to pick up additional low fares. The most low fares generally occur around the 3month mark.

Keep checking first thing in the morning and you will very likely pick up the additional seats that you need.

bookwormde

 

[mvansear]

Thank you all so much for your replies they are all really helpful!!!

 

[disneyfanUSA]

Very important to book each leg of your trip seperately so you can make any necessary changes easily. Better jump on those $59 fares for the way down. I love SW!!!

 

[Microcell]

I sat there reading this and wondered.. "Are they booking a Sunday back to KC and why the heck did they go up?" Then I read you are apparently from MO! Howdy neighbor!

I got tickets for $69 coming back Feb 7 on the first day they were released, then looking daily (as I do to see if they go lower, but not really anticipating they will) I see the return flight jumped to $149!

We try to fly somewhere every year, so if you have the extra 90 dollars per person I would book the flight back (separately like someone else said for easier changing) and then take the credit though you have to use it within a year of booking so you want to think about that.

If you don't want to do that I would monitor Ding and just regular click and save offers. I would think something cheaper would come up.

If you are able, coming back on a weekday seems to be at $59.00 if you can extend your trip a day?

 

[tankernav1]

Make sure you have DING downloaded. Then you can check for reductions in the fare coming home. Those are great prices!