Is there a way to see number of passengers on a flight?

[tripplanner2]

When I booked our August flights last month, I chose the most affordable option. Now that we are closer to our travel and I am working out the details, I am finding out that ME will not take our luggage to the hotel because our flight lands at 10:30. I keep checking SW to see if the earlier flight has gone on sale but of course it is still more than we paid. But the earlier flight, that I want to travel on, is less than the one we are currently scheduled to fly on. I am wondering if we can find details on how crowded the flight is because they just may want to switch our flight to a less crowded plain.

 

[Jestocost]

When I booked our August flights last month, I chose the most affordable option. Now that we are closer to our travel and I am working out the details, I am finding out that ME will not take our luggage to the hotel because our flight lands at 10:30. I keep checking SW to see if the earlier flight has gone on sale but of course it is still more than we paid. But the earlier flight, that I want to travel on, is less than the one we are currently scheduled to fly on. I am wondering if we can find details on how crowded the flight is because they just may want to switch our flight to a less crowded plain.

There is no way for the general public to see how many tickets have been sold for a given flight. Since many flights are flying close to full capacity these days I would not expect that you would see a significant difference in the number of passengers on one flight vs. another.

 

[SteveMouse]

There is no way for the general public to see how many tickets have been sold for a given flight. Since many flights are flying close to full capacity these days I would not expect that you would see a significant difference in the number of passengers on one flight vs. another.

You can take your luggage on ME if you get in after 10, you just have to pick it up at the baggage carousel and carry it to the ME bus. The driver will put it in the luggage compartment.

It is POSSIBLE that your flight might arrive before 10:30, especially if its a long flight from the west (wind helps).

SW won't generally move you for free between flights unless the same fare is currently available on the flight you're changing TO. The only times they MIGHT do it is if the flights were close together in timing, your flight was VASTLY oversold, everyone who bought a ticket showed for the flight, and you were within 30 minutes of departure.

 

[tripplanner2]

Thanks for the info. I pretty much figured we were stuck!

 

[monarchsfan16]

If you want an earlier flight, book it. There's no change fee with Southwest, and since it costs less than the flight you're currently booked on, you'll get a bit of a credit to use within a year of when the flight was booked.

 

[Jestocost]

If you want an earlier flight, book it. There's no change fee with Southwest, and since it costs less than the flight you're currently booked on, you'll get a bit of a credit to use within a year of when the flight was booked.

I think the OP means that the cost of his current flight TODAY is more than the earlier flight but what he paid when he booked is less than what the earlier flight costs.

Regardless, SWA will allow you to change without any fees. If the flight you want to change to costs more than what you paid for your flight, you pay the difference. If the new flight costs less than what you paid; you get the difference as a credit to be used for future travel as the PP has noted.

 

[Best Aunt]

Expedia lets you see available seats on flights, but unfortunately not for Southwest.

 

[gmeh1]

I think the OP means that the cost of his current flight TODAY is more than the earlier flight but what he paid when he booked is less than what the earlier flight costs.

Regardless, SWA will allow you to change without any fees. If the flight you want to change to costs more than what you paid for your flight, you pay the difference. If the new flight costs less than what you paid; you get the difference as a credit to be used for future travel as the PP has noted.

Glad you understood what the OP said.

 

[gmeh1]

You can take your luggage on ME if you get in after 10, you just have to pick it up at the baggage carousel and carry it to the ME bus. The driver will put it in the luggage compartment.

It is POSSIBLE that your flight might arrive before 10:30, especially if its a long flight from the west (wind helps).

SW won't generally move you for free between flights unless the same fare is currently available on the flight you're changing TO. The only times they MIGHT do it is if the flights were close together in timing, your flight was VASTLY oversold, everyone who bought a ticket showed for the flight, and you were within 30 minutes of departure.

SWA does not charge a change fee. The only thing you would pay is IF the flight you are moving to is more expensive. If it less, then you get a credit to be used (travel completed) within one year of the original booking date.

 

[MAYNARDS99]

On the web Expertflyer shows available seats, but not on all airlines.

Especially good for finding award seats on partner airlines!

 

[bdklein]

It is POSSIBLE that your flight might arrive before 10:30, especially if its a long flight from the west (wind helps).

I'm guessing the OP is flying from Long Island, so prob not going to get any wind aid.

 

[crashbb]

On the web Expertflyer shows available seats, but not on all airlines.

Especially good for finding award seats on partner airlines!

Even that though caps out at 9 seats - so 9 could mean 9 or it could mean 345 (or whatever).

It is great for finding award seats (where having 345 is never a problem!).

 

[keishashadow]

Expedia lets you see available seats on flights, but unfortunately not for Southwest.

Problem is you're not able to see all the available seats

There's an interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal, personal journal section, entitled "A Seat Chart Regular Fliers Wish They Could See".

It details how airlines routinely block coach seats to the tune of 30% to 40% to hold them back for premium customers, special needs or those who are willing to pay for a reserved seat. Newer practice of adding extra legroom coach seats for premium customers has further reduced the pool of seats available.

Good news is: all the blocked seats as well as the ones available to be purchased in advance are opened up shortly before departure.

The complaint is: people check the seat maps, see that there are few coach seats available on their flight, so they pay extra for a ticketed seat which also helps to avoid being bumped on what they think is a near-full flight. Rightfully so, they are upset when they find a half full flight or that others on the plane were able to select a coach seat 'free' the day of travel.

It's understandable that it's a proprietary sort of thing where they don't want the competition knowing how full a flight is, but it's interesting to see how they are churning revenue imo.

 

[Lewisc]

You can call. Tell them your spouse is trying to change his/her schedule so you can take the earlier flight. Ask if the flight is close to selling out or if you have still have time to adjust your schedule. The rep is unlikely to tell you the exact number of seats available for sale (they might) but might say something like the flight is still pretty open or it's pretty full you better speed up your decision making. The exact number is considered a "trade secret".

That won't tell you if a fare reduction is likely. There are a surprising number of passengers who book close to date of the flight and who pay full fare. The question isn't how many seats are available on the flight but rather how many more, or fewer, seats are available then was projected.

 

[tripplanner2]

Thanks for all the replies. I was really hoping to take an earlier flight from Long Island. We need 5 seats total but I booked for $110 one way and I am not really looking to pay $200 which is the current price. When you multiple the increase by a family of 5 the cost is huge. I will keep checking. I was curious because our current flight was booking for $15 less than what the flight we are on is selling for. But not less than what we actually paid. Problem is if we get there early it changes the time we pick up our car too so everything is connected. I would love to let ME take our luggage for us but with landing at 1030 we have to take it from the carousel. All is good. We are still going on vacation.

 

[Lewisc]

You'll see the lowest available fare bucket which has 5 seats available. Try booking fewer then 5 seats. You might be able to change some tickets at a lower fare then is available for 5. Your choice is to then pay the higher fare for a few tickets or wait. My experience differs from what most posters say. Sometimes an airline, even Southwest, will release more seats at the lower fare bucket after the bucket sells out.If you can change 3 or 4 tickets at a price you can live with I'd go for it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks for all the replies. I was really hoping to take an earlier flight from Long Island. We need 5 seats total but I booked for $110 one way and I am not really looking to pay $200 which is the current price. When you multiple the increase by a family of 5 the cost is huge. I will keep checking. I was curious because our current flight was booking for $15 less than what the flight we are on is selling for. But not less than what we actually paid. Problem is if we get there early it changes the time we pick up our car too so everything is connected. I would love to let ME take our luggage for us but with landing at 1030 we have to take it from the carousel. All is good. We are still going on vacation.

Just as well. Magical Express isn't a luggage delivery service, it's a guest transport service that also gets users' luggage to their rooms.

 

[Best Aunt]

Problem is you're not able to see all the available seats

There's an interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal, personal journal section, entitled "A Seat Chart Regular Fliers Wish They Could See".

It details how airlines routinely block coach seats to the tune of 30% to 40% to hold them back for premium customers, special needs or those who are willing to pay for a reserved seat. Newer practice of adding extra legroom coach seats for premium customers has further reduced the pool of seats available.

That was an interesting article. (My WSJ comes in the mail, so I had saved yesterday's Personal Journal to read over breakfast this morning.)

According to the article: if you are an elite frequent flyer and I am not, and we both go to an airline website at the same time, you will see more seats available than I will.

Question - what do travel agents see? The same as a person who is not an elite frequent flyer?

 

[keishashadow]

That was an interesting article. (My WSJ comes in the mail, so I had saved yesterday's Personal Journal to read over breakfast this morning.)

According to the article: if you are an elite frequent flyer and I am not, and we both go to an airline website at the same time, you will see more seats available than I will.

Question - what do travel agents see? The same as a person who is not an elite frequent flyer?

good question, we need a TA who issues airline e-tickets to let us know

 

[tripplanner2]

Well I called today and the agent said that there are tons of seats on both flights, they are just asking a lot of money for them right now. I will keep my eyes peeled.