Is this normal for Southwest from PIT???

[haley's mom]

When Southwest opened their most recent dates, I was able to book my January trip from Pittsburgh to Orlando. The fares opened at $79 each way. On my previous trip to Orlando with Southwest in Ocotber, I purchased my 5 round-trip fares for $79 each way, but was able to dings and reduce to $49 each way. I now have a $300 credit for this January trip for 3 of us.

My thinking was to book the $79 down to Orlando (dates cannot change due to Disney Cruise), use most of my credit. I was then hoping the $79 would go down, a DING would appear, and then I could use the additional credits to book my return flight (somewhat flexible).

Well, I was starting to get nervous, checked Southwest today, and the fares have increased to $113 each way for the cheapest fare (all are still available).

I've never seen Southwest to Orlando that high. Anyone else see an increase?

 

[Rpsemont]

I have found the a similiar pattern for Hartford (BDL)
DD and BIL are flying down 11/7 - a Tuesday during a slow time. I held off booking - IOW was $109 which is high for that route and time period on SWA. Since fares have opened up, there have only been a couple DINGS (at $99 - so I passed) and while at different times Sept and Oct were discounted to $59, that never happened for Nov and STILL HASN'T. Since it's two weeks to travel time, last Sun I did book a $99 DING. BUt I'm still waiting. I also notice that the IOW fares flying on any day exc Tues and Wed are $145 - which is MUCH more expensive than I'm used to paying. It has been incrediby nervewracking to wait unitl this late date to book; I suggest you book what you want and hope for a sale. The only reason I waiting this long, is because there were three NS flights on the Tuesday I wanted and all seemed to be wide open - which I would determine by checking availability for 8 people) Good Luck!

 

[salmoneous]

Before this year, I've always been able to get dirt-cheap flights from BDL -> MCO. I've got a flight in December that has been at $145 O/W and shows no signs of budging.

 

[haley's mom]

I wonder if this will be a "new" pattern for SW.

 

[NotUrsula]

It's a new pattern for everyone. The planes are flying full, so the market will bear higher prices. Dings are a capacity-fill device -- if the seats are already full, they don't have to slash fares to fill them.

 

[haley's mom]

At this point I am not looking exclusively for a DING, but would like to see the fares at $79 each way. Anyone think this will happen? I just checked and with 8 passengers, flight is way open. Why so high?

 

[DebbieB]

Have you checked USAir? I noticed that they are matching Southwest's $177 roundtrip on some dates. Southwest has pushed out some of their competition PIT/MCO. USAir went from 5 flights per day to 3 and Air Tran went from 2 to 1. Now that there are less seats available, they can raise the price.

 

[haley's mom]

Have you checked USAir? I noticed that they are matching Southwest's $177 roundtrip on some dates. Southwest has pushed out some of their competition PIT/MCO. USAir went from 5 flights per day to 3 and Air Tran went from 2 to 1. Now that there are less seats available, they can raise the price.

Thanks for the suggestion. USAir was always so expensive. I booked my return flight 1/31/07 for $59 per person. My trip in October on SW was $49, but now I am booked and can relax. No more checking SW daily.