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

[digiMom]

I didn't read through everything. Sorry if this has been asked already...

OK, so on March 31st the reward bookings go from 60/$ to 70/$. Does anyone know what will happen if you book a flight before the 31st and then change it after the 31st (either to a different date or a different flight where the price has dropped)? Will you still keep the 60/$ exchange or will it change to 70?

I'm traveling in August, and the rates won't be available until March 3. With that being around Easter/Spring Break I'm hoping the rates in general aren't inflated.

 

[buckeev]

I didn't read through everything. Sorry if this has been asked already...

OK, so on March 31st the reward bookings go from 60/$ to 70/$. Does anyone know what will happen if you book a flight before the 31st and then change it after the 31st (either to a different date or a different flight where the price has dropped)? Will you still keep the 60/$ exchange or will it change to 70?

I'm traveling in August, and the rates won't be available until March 3. With that being around Easter/Spring Break I'm hoping the rates in general aren't inflated.

Im thinking you'll hafta book changes at newest rate once they are changed. SWA sure is taking a bit of the shine off of the Rapid Rewards program. Higher exchange rate...fewer flights plus many shopping partners are starting to drop and/or lessen their reward points.

 

[travelinggnomes]

How do you get the best deals through Southwest? They have the best schedule and free baggage, so it seems like a great deal already...but I just want to make sure I am not missing anything.

 

[KaLyn]

How do you get the best deals through Southwest? They have the best schedule and free baggage, so it seems like a great deal already...but I just want to make sure I am not missing anything.

You can sign up for their emails. But I found there's no need to search all over for the for the best deal. Just book and then if the flight price drops later call in and they will credit your account the difference.

 

[travelinggnomes]

You can sign up for their emails. But I found there's no need to search all over for the for the best deal. Just book and then if the flight price drops later call in and they will credit your account the difference.

Thanks! Do you have any idea when the flights normally hit their lowest? Right now, our April 26th to May 3rd flight is at $239. When might we see it lower?

 

[KaLyn]

Thanks! Do you have any idea when the flights normally hit their lowest? Right now, our April 26th to May 3rd flight is at $239. When might we see it lower?

No I don't. When they drop fares all varies based on dates, days if the week and airports. I'm not sure where you are, but if that $239 is round trip per person I'd snag it.

We are out of PIT and I'm paying $314 round trip per person right now, that's $157 each way (which is average, I watched the averages for fares for months so I knew what price I should book for). I booked in October for our May trip and I have yet to see them drop more than $8.

Good luck to you!

 

[travelinggnomes]

No I don't. When they drop fares all varies based on dates, days if the week and airports. I'm not sure where you are, but if that $239 is round trip per person I'd snag it.

We are out of PIT and I'm paying $314 round trip per person right now, that's $157 each way (which is average, I watched the averages for fares for months so I knew what price I should book for). I booked in October for our May trip and I have yet to see them drop more than $8.

Good luck to you!

Thanks again--- We can get it as low as $230 RT, but I chose a more expensive flight home. (I HATE getting up at 6am on our last day of vacation!!!)

 

[KaLyn]

Thanks again--- We can get it as low as $230 RT, but I chose a more expensive flight home. (I HATE getting up at 6am on our last day of vacation!!!)

No problem, I'm happy to help. I don't blame you at all for not wanting to leave at 6am. Our flight to Orlando departs from PIT at 6:00am and we leave Orlando at 9:00pm, gotta squeeze in as much time as you can!

 

[MamaBear58]

Hello everyone. We are just looking into booking our first Disney trip for Nov 2014. Does anyone have a sense of what a good rate is from Phila to Orlando mid-Nov (11th to 22nd) and when Southwest might release its Nov flights? As of yesterday I could use credit card rewards (CapitalOne) to book my family of 4 on the days that we want--but the flight is US Airways and says it would otherwise be $418. Sounds high to me, plus the deal I saw yesterday is now gone (can get it but need more miles than I have). I've heard that SW has good rates, and often runs specials in February, but its site says that OCT flights will be released 3/3 and provides no info on Nov flghts.

Worried about booking a room and then not being able to get a flight. On the other hand, buying this early seems like I'm paying too much (both in terms of cash and/or rewards points) for the flight.

Thanks in advance. New to this and feeling a bit overwhelmed.

 

[MommyTaraLee]

Hello everyone. We are just looking into booking our first Disney trip for Nov 2014. Does anyone have a sense of what a good rate is from Phila to Orlando mid-Nov (11th to 22nd) and when Southwest might release its Nov flights? As of yesterday I could use credit card rewards (CapitalOne) to book my family of 4 on the days that we want--but the flight is US Airways and says it would otherwise be $418. Sounds high to me, plus the deal I saw yesterday is now gone (can get it but need more miles than I have). I've heard that SW has good rates, and often runs specials in February, but its site says that OCT flights will be released 3/3 and provides no info on Nov flghts.

Worried about booking a room and then not being able to get a flight. On the other hand, buying this early seems like I'm paying too much (both in terms of cash and/or rewards points) for the flight.

Thanks in advance. New to this and feeling a bit overwhelmed.

We just booked our flights for June/July from PHL. The best price I found was $138/ticket one way. We ended up paying $158 to get more convenient times....

Also, I don't think they release their dates/times earlier than 6 months out.... but I'm new to this, too, so I may be wrong....

 

[TeachTink]

Is there a way to look online to see how full your plane will be?

 

[KaLyn]

Is there a way to look online to see how full your plane will be?

Not that I know of, but I'm interested to see if someone else knows something I don't.

 

[bjscheel]

Is there a way to look online to see how full your plane will be?

The only thing I can think of is to go online and see if you can price your flight for 8 people (the max allowed) or not. And if not, try fewer people.

I think all of our flights have been full.

 

[Rash]

Wow - Southwest fares are MUCH higher this year than past years. We've been going March/April for the last 6-7 years, and I've always been able to get roundtrip fares of about $150-$200 non-stop from Raleigh, usually around two months out. We're less than two months out now, and the fares are for non-stop are over $400, and even 1 stop is over $300. What's up? I'm getting nervous.

 

[djmeredith]

Wow - Southwest fares are MUCH higher this year than past years. We've been going March/April for the last 6-7 years, and I've always been able to get roundtrip fares of about $150-$200 non-stop from Raleigh, usually around two months out. We're less than two months out now, and the fares are for non-stop are over $400, and even 1 stop is over $300. What's up? I'm getting nervous.

I know what you mean! I came to this board today after realizing how much the flights have jumped since last fall when I was pricing them. I'm trying to get from KY to southern CA and the points required/prices have increased significantly since I started casually looking last fall. I haven't heard anything in the media recently regarding an increase in flight prices, but maybe I missed it.

 

[KaLyn]

I know what you mean! I came to this board today after realizing how much the flights have jumped since last fall when I was pricing them. I'm trying to get from KY to southern CA and the points required/prices have increased significantly since I started casually looking last fall. I haven't heard anything in the media recently regarding an increase in flight prices, but maybe I missed it.

I could be wayyyyyy off with dates and time frames here so don't bash me....A while ago I heard that Southwest had bought a ton of fuel at super low prices, hence the super low fares. Well, apparently that gas surplus has run out and they had to buy more fuel which means higher fares.

 

[katriscari]

What does paying the extra $10 a seat do for you? Does that actually let you reserve a designated seat?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you sign up for a SWA credit card right now they are offering 50,000 miles and you can get flights for $10 using the miles. The total of our May trip is $40.


Also keep an eye out for their annual birthday sale in June. good on flights from mid Aug to mid Dec

 

[KaLyn]

What does paying the extra $10 a seat do for you? Does that actually let you reserve a designated seat?

It's $12.50 now (per person, one way) and it automatically gets you checked in at 36 hours before your flight. It basically gives you a better chance (not a guarantee, though) of getting boarding group A. It also reduces the worry about checking in yourself at exactly T-24, which is when everyone else can check in.

 

[katriscari]

Is that worth it in your opinion? I haven't flown in roughly 6 years, and I've never flown SW. Ill have a first time flyer 5 yr old and a husband with me!!