Patience Pays Off

[judykay53]

My daughter, son in law and grandchild are going to WDW for a long weekend on September 28. She originally booked a $49 one way flight on SW and a few days later a Ding came out for $33 for their particular flight. She had a $49 credit to go toward the return flight which is October 2. She has been impatiently waiting for sales to go out for that date. This morning she was asking if she should go ahead a book at $130. There was $94 fares for the days before and after the one she wanted. I said no just be patient and wait at least for 21 day advance. Well guess what, during the time that she was out on the parking lot at her work because her car had been hit, a ding came out for $39 for their return flight. That is $33 down and $39 back. Can't beat that. Oh, and the flight coming back was the one that they wanted. This is flying out of Nashville.

 

[K9pal]

It does pay to be patient - just look at my tag!!

 

[tracys2cents]

Wow, tell 'em they saved enuff to take you with them!

 

[judykay53]

I hear ya! I'm staying home with the two older grandkids. I got to go last year with them and the little one did not go. On the positive side, we are all going back Thanksgiving week. However, there is nothing more exicting than getting on that plane bound for MCO and in an hour and a half you are there. Then you get on the Magical Express and pull into your resort. Sniff, Sniff!
Oh well, I'm excited for the little one to be going to his first MNSSHP.

 

[faulks family]

judykay53, I hear you! We have been in the same boat! We are flying out of Nashville on Sept. 27, and we also got the $33 fare down. I have been waiting and waiting for our return flights, too. In fact, I feel like I have been absolutely glued to the SW site for 3 months!!! I was SO excited when I saw the Ding this morning...booked $39 on Oct. 4 for the time we wanted!! WOO HOO!!!! I was getting nervous with only 4 weeks to go, but SW came through for us!!!!

 

[madge]

add me to the patience pays off crowd!

I booked a $39 Ding last week that was only available for my trip home, taking a pretty big risk that the outbound flight would come up as a Ding as well. I could tell that the flights on Oct 5 had decent availability, so it was a risk I was willing to take.

$39 down, $34 back... $453 for a family of 5 I don't know that we could have driven it (and spent the night both ways - our DD isn't a great car traveler) for that.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I got Dinged out of Nashville too!! I just booked a trip for October, 130 on the way down (no ding for that date) but 39 for the return. I had 150 dollar credit that was expiring in November so i used that and I consider it a great fare. But I will keep looking for dings for the first leg of the trip.

 

[tracys2cents]

No you couldn't drive for THAT, madge! AAA says to estimate the cost of driving these days at about 55c per mile.....so you do the math!

No driving, you're there in 90 minutes, ME picks you up, plus all the while you know you've saved a bundle!

 

[judykay53]

Our choices for flying out are Little Rock, St. Louis, Jackson, MS and Nashville. We flew out of Jackson last year and Nashville earlier this year. The Nashville drive is so much pretier. They are all 4 to 5 hours drives for us, except LR. Little Rock is only 2 and a half hours away but they stop off in St Louis. The fares for Little Rock and St Louis are always more. Memphis is closer but SW doesn't fly out of there. We were going to drive last year but when the $49 fares came out it was much cheaper to fly. Now I'm hooked on flying. Congrats to everyone and have a MAGICAL TIME.

 

[judykay53]

Oh, did everyone notice that on the confrimation email it said that you are allowed three checked bags per person. Guess that is a result of the new restrictions.

 

[madge]

No you couldn't drive for THAT, madge! AAA says to estimate the cost of driving these days at about 55c per mile.....so you do the math!

No driving, you're there in 90 minutes, ME picks you up, plus all the while you know you've saved a bundle!

I still can't get over the fact that a flight that cost $260RT this time yesterday cost $73RT a few hours later. Amazing.

We are lucky.... we have 3 SWA airports within 3 hours: Indianapolis, Nashville, and Louisville... Nashville consistently has the lowest fares of the 3. It takes us 2 hours to get to BNA from our house in Kentucky. It's probably 6-6.5 hours total travel time, by the time we leave from here, get to the airport in enough time, take the flight, pick up luggage & car and get to WDW. Much less stressful than 13 hours in the car with 3 kids

We estimated our gas costs would be approx. $350, if gas stays in the $2.60 range. That didn't include any other travel expenses or wear and tear on the van. (or our nerves, LOL)

 

[clkelley]

Oh, did everyone notice that on the confrimation email it said that you are allowed three checked bags per person. Guess that is a result of the new restrictions.

Southwest has always allowed 3 bags per person. That is not a change since the new restrictions.