Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...

[DisDadDVC]

Just went through my emails from last Thanksgiving.

6/11/15: WGA fares released for my 29NOV15 return. 11pm flight - 19,583 pts (Bad time. Only flight that had WGA fares)
7/3/15: WGA fares released for my 29NOV15 return. 3pm flight - 24,373 pts (Better time, wasn't available on 6/11)
9/9/15: 3pm flight above down to 22,486 pts
11/9/15: 3pm flight down to 21,396 pts
11/25/15: 3pm flight down to 17,313 pts

So, don't give up hope yet!

 

[Iowamomof4]

Just went through my emails from last Thanksgiving.

6/11/15: WGA fares released for my 29NOV15 return. 11pm flight - 19,583 pts (Bad time. Only flight that had WGA fares)
7/3/15: WGA fares released for my 29NOV15 return. 3pm flight - 24,373 pts (Better time, wasn't available on 6/11)
9/9/15: 3pm flight above down to 22,486 pts
11/9/15: 3pm flight down to 21,396 pts
11/25/15: 3pm flight down to 17,313 pts

So, don't give up hope yet!

Thank you so much, that helps a lot!

EDIT: I have a feeling SW will not be competitive from my airport, but I'm hoping by them releasing their WGA fares for Thanksgiving weekend it will create some competition and help drive down prices on Delta and United. Is that a possibility?

 

[DisDadDVC]

Thank you so much, that helps a lot!

EDIT: I have a feeling SW will not be competitive from my airport, but I'm hoping by them releasing their WGA fares for Thanksgiving weekend it will create some competition and help drive down prices on Delta and United. Is that a possibility?

In my experience, it is usually the other way around. SW will fare match a Delta sale. But it seems the legacy carriers aren't as concerned with matching what SW does. But anything is possible.

I would expect WGA returns from MCO on 11/27 to be around ~$300 on SW to most airports.

 

[DisDadDVC]

Since I'm bored waiting for my trip on Sunday, here is 2014:

5/19/14: No WGA fare. Booked BS on 5:25pm flights - $488
7/14/14: WGA fares released. - 19,470 pts
8/14/14: Flight went down. Switched to cash reservation - $313.10
9/1/14: Flight went down. - $270.10

 

[Iowamomof4]

In my experience, it is usually the other way around. SW will fare match a Delta sale. But it seems the legacy carriers aren't as concerned with matching what SW does. But anything is possible.

I would expect WGA returns from MCO on 11/27 to be around ~$300 on SW to most airports.

We'll be traveling to MCO from DSM. We have some flexibility though, and will take the cheapest flight we can get on from 11/26-11/28. So far, SW has been awful for that weekend compared to Delta and United. I bought our return flight for about $640 for the 6 of us on United (12/7) so we're locked into flying now. Hoping to spend less than $1000 to get us down to Orlando!

 

[DisDadDVC]

We'll be traveling to MCO from DSM. We have some flexibility though, and will take the cheapest flight we can get on from 11/26-11/28. So far, SW has been awful for that weekend compared to Delta and United. I bought our return flight for about $640 for the 6 of us on United (12/7) so we're locked into flying now. Hoping to spend less than $1000 to get us down to Orlando!

I would think 11/28 will be your best bet. I'm surprised that day is that high now. Prices fall off a cliff the next day....

 

[Iowamomof4]

I would think 11/28 will be your best bet. I'm surprised that day is that high now. Prices fall off a cliff the next day....

I know...

 

[Iowamomof4]

SW just released some WGA fares for 11/28! The evening flight is well within my price range. Here's my question: Can I book us on the evening flight and then monitor the price of the morning flight with the hopes that we could switch to that flight later? The evening flight (arrives after 11 in Orlando) would cost $1031 but the morning flight (arrives before noon) would be over $1400. Prices are only beginning to drop today, but I would really like to get something booked soon if possible.

 

[DisDadDVC]

SW just released some WGA fares for 11/28! The evening flight is well within my price range. Here's my question: Can I book us on the evening flight and then monitor the price of the morning flight with the hopes that we could switch to that flight later? The evening flight (arrives after 11 in Orlando) would cost $1031 but the morning flight (arrives before noon) would be over $1400. Prices are only beginning to drop today, but I would really like to get something booked soon if possible.

Glad to hear it. Yes, you can do that. In the event the morning flight is CHEAPER than $1031, you would receive travel funds in the different in price tied to each travelers name. There is no fee to change. So if it went down $200 total and you had 4 people, each would have $50 travel credit. Diff people can NOT combine their travel credits.

I would go ahead and book that night flight now, and monitor the AM one. Bird in hand....

ETA: Make sure you check the AM flight for just 1 person. All people get booked at the HIGHEST fare. So if there are 3 tix at $150 and 1 tix at $200, EVERYONE gets charged $200 if you book all 4 at once. So, you might want to book the 3 at lower price, then book 1 at higher price.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Glad to hear it. Yes, you can do that. In the event the morning flight is CHEAPER than $1031, you would receive travel funds in the different in price tied to each travelers name. There is no fee to change. So if it went down $200 total and you had 4 people, each would have $50 travel credit. Diff people can NOT combine their travel credits.

I would go ahead and book that night flight now, and monitor the AM one. Bird in hand....

If I book EBCI with that night flight, can that transfer to the morning flight if we switch?

 

[DisDadDVC]

If I book EBCI with that night flight, can that transfer to the morning flight if we switch?

Only if you do it as a CHANGE. If you cancel/re-book you will lose it.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Only if you do it as a CHANGE. If you cancel/re-book you will lose it.

So would you recommend I hold off on EBCI for now? Or how do I do it as a change vs. cancel/re-book?

EDIT: And thank you so much for your prompt responses! I'm hoping to grab this before it slips through my fingers.

 

[DisDadDVC]

So would you recommend I hold off on EBCI for now? Or how do I do it as a change vs. cancel/re-book?

EDIT: And thank you so much for your prompt responses! I'm hoping to grab this before it slips through my fingers.

I would get EBCI now. It is first come first serve. The earlier you buy, the better number you will get.

Change vs Cancel: After you have your flight booked, you will see 2 different options. One is change. One is cancel. If you cancel, you will get the entire cost of the flight as a travel credit. You could then use that travel credit to book another flight. You will lose EBCI if you do this. If you click change, it will bring you into flight search. You can change it to ANYTHING. Different dates. Different airports. etc. If you go through the change process, you should not lose EBCI.

If you are concerned about it, you can always do change over the phone. They will ensure you do not lose it.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Done! Thank you so much for all of your help and for sharing your knowledge with all of us, @DisDadDVC !

 

[DisDadDVC]

FYI, Southwest has released a number of WGA fares for the 11/27 flights from MCO. Get 'em while they're hot! They have also cut prices on a number of flights TO MCO earlier in the week.

Check your fares.

 

[scard192]

FYI, Southwest has released a number of WGA fares for the 11/27 flights from MCO. Get 'em while they're hot! They have also cut prices on a number of flights TO MCO earlier in the week.

Check your fares.

our flights from PVD 11/12 to 11/19 went down by $18! not a ton but I will take it. $336RT + $30 EBCI = $366.

we paid ~ $450 RT on JetBlue in October 2013. did not expect to pay LESS than last trip

** was curious so looked up my credit card statement from 2013, we paid $469 pp rt. even happier with my SW fare**

 

[toocherie]

Dumb question: what is EBCI?

 

[mom2rtk]

Dumb question: what is EBCI?

Early Bird Check-in.

 

[toocherie]

Thank you!

 

[KNJWDW]

I would love some opinions on EBCI. We are going to WDW towards the end of July. We had planned on driving, but now I see some pretty good SW fares out of Chicago. Since we are so late to book the flights, does it make sense to book EBCI? From what I have read, those who book first, get seat assignments first through EBCI. My concern about seats is that our two kids are nervous fliers, so I want us to sit together.