Ouch! Airfare price doubled!

[smile4stamps]

ArrrggggHHH!!! I'm so upset. I really thought I could do this trip at a reasonable price. Now I'm not so sure. As I looked at airfare prices the last few weeks the price was only $39 each way on Southwest. Now its $79!!! That's really gonna make a BIG difference!

Hoping they go back down!! Otherwise driving may be a cheaper option after all... Only problem is I was going to depart from LAX for WI to visit my family so if we drive it ruins all those plans!

Anyone know Southwest history? Should the priced go back down?

 

[Homemom]

Not sure, but if you do buy at the higher price you can switch it if they lower it. You have to go to change reservation and select the new flight, then they issue you a credit that has to be used within a year from original purchase. They changed our price so much last time we flew that I had enough to pay for one way of our tickets this trip.

 

[Queen Elisabeth]

I know that they frequently have sales for $40 flights between here and there throughout the year (my son flies back and forth very often), but I'm not %100 sure when exactly. When is your trip scheduled for?

 

[Queen Elisabeth]

Also, how many people are in your family? Isn't it always much cheaper to drive? I find that even at the least expensive airfare price, the cost is pretty much always more to fly plus it doesn't really save enough time and hassle to be worth it. I like to drive, though, so that factors in, I guess.

 

[smile4stamps]

Not sure, but if you do buy at the higher price you can switch it if they lower it. You have to go to change reservation and select the new flight, then they issue you a credit that has to be used within a year from original purchase. They changed our price so much last time we flew that I had enough to pay for one way of our tickets this trip.

The problem becomes if the price doesn't come down I'm not sure if my friend would be willing to fly. So therefore I would have to completely cancel the flight...

I know that they frequently have sales for $40 flights between here and there throughout the year (my son flies back and forth very often), but I'm not %100 sure when exactly. When is your trip scheduled for?

We are planning for Mid-October the 13-17 (approximately... dates not completely set yet.)

 

[smile4stamps]

Also, how many people are in your family? Isn't it always much cheaper to drive? I find that even at the least expensive airfare price, the cost is pretty much always more to fly plus it doesn't really save enough time and hassle to be worth it. I like to drive, though, so that factors in, I guess.

Going with a friend. My hubby has NO interest in going to DL!

 

[Ariel224]

The Southwest deals that are that low are often 3 day sales that go Tues through Thurs...very limited timing. If you haven't already, you need to sign up for Southwest's email alerts so that you get notice every Tuesday of any great deals. They also have an application called Ding! that you can download to your computer (there is also a new iPhone app for this) that will give you very random special offers just for Ding! subscribers. From my home airport, $79 to LAX is the usual fare. I've only seen it go to $39 a time or two in the past couple of years, unfortunately.

 

[Joybelles]

ergh! How frustrating for you!

Your message prompted me to check my flight options again.... I can still get $89 each way but the flight times I wanted have changed price. Guess I should have booked earlier in the week...

 

[smile4stamps]

The Southwest deals that are that low are often 3 day sales that go Tues through Thurs...very limited timing. If you haven't already, you need to sign up for Southwest's email alerts so that you get notice every Tuesday of any great deals. They also have an application called Ding! that you can download to your computer (there is also a new iPhone app for this) that will give you very random special offers just for Ding! subscribers. From my home airport, $79 to LAX is the usual fare. I've only seen it go to $39 a time or two in the past couple of years, unfortunately.

They were the same price for about 2 weeks. I think the difference is that was August. Today is the first time I checked them this month. It must have been an August special and I didn't know it so now I've lost out :-(

 

[Ariel224]

They were the same price for about 2 weeks. I think the difference is that was August. Today is the first time I checked them this month. It must have been an August special and I didn't know it so now I've lost out :-(

That's a bummer. There is a somewhat obscure link on the website to a fare comparison calendar that will show the lowest fares for each day a month at a time. That might help in the future to see how long any given special will be running. I hope they have a post-Labor Day sale that will help you out!

 

[smile4stamps]

That's a bummer. There is a somewhat obscure link on the website to a fare comparison calendar that will show the lowest fares for each day a month at a time. That might help in the future to see how long any given special will be running. I hope they have a post-Labor Day sale that will help you out!

I was using the calendar to pick the flying dates because certain days of the week were running the $39 fare and others were not. It had the $39 fare for September & October so I think in general all the fares just went up to their basic fare after August. ALL dates and times right now are the same price regardless of day of the week right now!

 

[Porturican]

if this helps any...Jet Blue has $54 airfare each way from SFO to LGB... Also Virgin America usually has decent airfare into LAX

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Your message prompted me to check my flight options again.... I can still get $89 each way but the flight times I wanted have changed price. Guess I should have booked earlier in the week...

Keep checking...the fare for our flight out to DLR in November has increased by almost $100 since we bought, but the return fare had been steady since I'd started checking fares and it actually dropped by $18 this week. Seemed pretty random but I was able to easily get that fare and a credit of 3x$18.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

I must be missing something here, but If the OP saw the $39 fares for weeks, why did they not book it then? Surely they didn't expect them to get any lower????

 

[Joybelles]

I must be missing something here, but If the OP saw the $39 fares for weeks, why did they not book it then? Surely they didn't expect them to get any lower????

Probably not, but the OP did say her dates weren't completely set. It's a pricey part of a vacation to book without knowing exactly when you want to/can go!

 

[CADisneyMom]

I work for Southwest and it's not a matter that they changed their fares, more of they ran out of those fares. There are only a limited amount of seats at that rate and then it goes up from there. Whenever you see fares that you really want you should always book them, and hope you can change them later. If you do have to change them later at least you're only paying the difference in fare and not a change fee plus the difference in fare (like other airlines do). It can also be beneficial to do this because if you can't afford the higher fares at one time this way you can book it cheaper and then pay the rest later when you know your flights. They are also usually day specific (only Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdays).

I agree with Ariel224, sign up for the e-mails and also the Ding! application, those are the best ways to find out what deals are out there. Also, there are times when they give the employees discount cards for like 20% off fares to either use themselves or give to people (headquarters send them to us for personal use). I've actually given mine to a couple of passengers at the airport when they had to fly out last minute just to give them a break. The best thing to do is post on here if anyone has any discounts for the airlines. If I ever have them then I would be happy to share since I don't use them.

 

[Queen Elisabeth]

Thanks for sharing the info, CADMom!

 

[smile4stamps]

I must be missing something here, but If the OP saw the $39 fares for weeks, why did they not book it then? Surely they didn't expect them to get any lower????

Joybelle's had it right. My dates are not set yet and that is why we haven't booked anything yet. I have vacation scheduled (was scheduled back in January when I had no clue when else to use my vacation.) However my friend has to try and get a few days off. We are getting together tomorrow and hopefully we can get some things ironed out for our trip. The days have switched from flying down late on the 11th to flying down the morning of the 12th to now late on the 13th. This all depends on if she can get the 15th off of work.

I actually was originally thinking the last few days in Sept -Oct 2nd but my husband is gone hunting during that time so I need to be home to take care of our doggies.

I figured those were the regular southwest fares to the LA area so thought I had till 14 days prior to book. I guess I was VERY WRONG!

 

[smile4stamps]

I work for Southwest and it's not a matter that they changed their fares, more of they ran out of those fares. There are only a limited amount of seats at that rate and then it goes up from there. Whenever you see fares that you really want you should always book them, and hope you can change them later. If you do have to change them later at least you're only paying the difference in fare and not a change fee plus the difference in fare (like other airlines do). It can also be beneficial to do this because if you can't afford the higher fares at one time this way you can book it cheaper and then pay the rest later when you know your flights. They are also usually day specific (only Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdays).

I agree with Ariel224, sign up for the e-mails and also the Ding! application, those are the best ways to find out what deals are out there. Also, there are times when they give the employees discount cards for like 20% off fares to either use themselves or give to people (headquarters send them to us for personal use). I've actually given mine to a couple of passengers at the airport when they had to fly out last minute just to give them a break. The best thing to do is post on here if anyone has any discounts for the airlines. If I ever have them then I would be happy to share since I don't use them.

I realize that the rates often go up as people buy the fares but in this case I think it is that they changed the fares (they were probably under a promo for August). When I was looking in August the rates were ALL different depending on day of the week and time of day. Now the whole month of October regardless of day or time of day is currently exactly the same! I highly suspect that the rates will change as people buy the fares. \

I am signed up for the e-mails and for Ding! Hopefully something comes up. Really hoping to be able to afford this trip!

 

[smile4stamps]

OOOPPSS!! I spoke too soon. The rates are no longer identical for the whole month. The rates are now at $64 for the days I am looking at. Lower than what they were early this morning but still not as good as what I had seen.

Keeping my fingers crossed that a good rate returns!