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

[2princesses3princes]

can SW gift cards be used to pay fees and EBCI? I am going to book the flights with points and was thinking about getting a GC from Target (to get the 5% rebate + 2% rebate from ebates.com). but I won't do it if I can't use it for those things. Thanks!

 

[kimj88]

can SW gift cards be used to pay fees and EBCI? I am going to book the flights with points and was thinking about getting a GC from Target (to get the 5% rebate + 2% rebate from ebates.com). but I won't do it if I can't use it for those things. Thanks!

I was able to use them for my flight but not for the EBCI portion

 

[jenseib]

can SW gift cards be used to pay fees and EBCI? I am going to book the flights with points and was thinking about getting a GC from Target (to get the 5% rebate + 2% rebate from ebates.com). but I won't do it if I can't use it for those things. Thanks!

Yes for fees/taxes but not for EBCI

 

[2princesses3princes]

thank you!

 

[inky dinky doo]

Well, here's a crazy question. What time on Thursday would you expect Southwest to release the schedule through January 4 -- midnight? 6 a.m.? Some other time?

 

[DisDadDVC]

Well, here's a crazy question. What time on Thursday would you expect Southwest to release the schedule through January 4 -- midnight? 6 a.m.? Some other time?

Between 6:15 and 6:30am EST. The extension page gets updated right at 6am, but flights aren't loaded for 15-30 min. Wouldn't hurt to start trying at 6am though just in case.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Between 6:15 and 6:30am EST. The extension page gets updated right at 6am, but flights aren't loaded for 15-30 min. Wouldn't hurt to start trying at 6am though just in case.

Do prices change quickly on release day? I remember checking in the later morning/early afternoon on previous release days and I wasn't at all impressed with the flight prices. They came down a few weeks later. Did I perhaps miss better prices at 6 AM or does my experience sound typical?

 

[DisDadDVC]

Do prices change quickly on release day? I remember checking in the later morning/early afternoon on previous release days and I wasn't at all impressed with the flight prices. They came down a few weeks later. Did I perhaps miss better prices at 6 AM or does my experience sound typical?

Yes, they change quickly. The cheap flights (when they are available at all) are gone in the first few minutes. On the other hand, there are some travel days where there are no cheap flights released (ie, the sunday after thanksgiving). They usually don't release any WGA fares on day 1 for that day. However, they do over the course of the next few months.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Yes, they change quickly. The cheap flights (when they are available at all) are gone in the first few minutes. On the other hand, there are some travel days where there are no cheap flights released (ie, the sunday after thanksgiving). They usually don't release any WGA fares on day 1 for that day. However, they do over the course of the next few months.

Well, if there are no WGA fares I guess that'll make my decision easier! lol We're looking at the Monday after Thanksgiving so perhaps we'll make out just a bit better than if we were traveling a day earlier. I can hope anyway.

 

[DisDadDVC]

Well, if there are no WGA fares I guess that'll make my decision easier! lol We're looking at the Monday after Thanksgiving so perhaps we'll make out just a bit better than if we were traveling a day earlier. I can hope anyway.

Yes, Monday after Thanksgiving is WAY cheaper. Sunday is usually ~$350 for me, and Monday is usually ~$150.

 

[inky dinky doo]

Thanks for all the great info!

 

[inky dinky doo]

Oh, one more question. What is a WGA fare?

 

[Iowamomof4]

Oh, one more question. What is a WGA fare?

Wanna Get Away

 

[PerfessorZ]

I'm looking to fly on Thanksgiving. Does anyone know if SW flies the same schedule on Thanksgiving as they do any other Thursday?

 

[DisDadDVC]

I'm looking to fly on Thanksgiving. Does anyone know if SW flies the same schedule on Thanksgiving as they do any other Thursday?

I believe it should be the same. Also, travel ON thanksgiving day is often cheap.

 

[mom2elle]

On Thursday I am hoping to book flights for my family of 6 from Philly to Orlando for either Dec 31 or Dec 30. I have just over 30,000 SW points, which hopefully will get me 4 of the flights, but maybe only 3, depending on cost.
Does anyone have advice for how I should manage the booking? Do I do this in 2 transactions - one for the flights purchsed w point, and a second for the flights I have to pay for?
I welcome any advice!

 

[disneyeveryyear]

On Thursday I am hoping to book flights for my family of 6 from Philly to Orlando for either Dec 31 or Dec 30. I have just over 30,000 SW points, which hopefully will get me 4 of the flights, but maybe only 3, depending on cost.
Does anyone have advice for how I should manage the booking? Do I do this in 2 transactions - one for the flights purchsed w point, and a second for the flights I have to pay for?
I welcome any advice!

You will have to book your points transaction separate from your cash transaction. SWA doesn't allow you to pay part in points and part in cash on one booking.

 

[LeslieF]

Does anyone think SW with have their birthday sale like they did last year? Is this an annual thing? I was able to score $49 flights last June for a September trip and I'm hoping to be able to do that again!

 

[jerseygal]

Does anyone think SW with have their birthday sale like they did last year? Is this an annual thing? I was able to score $49 flights last June for a September trip and I'm hoping to be able to do that again!

WOW, $49, Fabulous! Let's hope! Still looking for our October trip!

 

[missycakes99]

New question: We are looking to book a flight the Monday after Thanksgiving. Normally, when SW releases new fares, the first day is NOT the best price for our airport (DSM - Des Moines). I've noticed the prices begin to drop a few weeks later. Will that be different though, since we're traveling during more of a holiday period? Should I plan to book the first day because it's more in demand? Or will things follow the pattern I've been seeing over the last few months? I know you can get credit if the price of your flight drops, but we are NOT frequent flyers (this will be our first flight since 2003 or so) so the credit really wouldn't do us any good.

Thank you! It's okay if my question just doesn't have a good answer. I understand it may be impossible to predict what will happen.

I'm so glad you asked this as I am in a similar boat. We're flying to MCO on the 26th of Nov and I don't know if I should buy right away since it's Thanksgiving time (and we thought maybe the Saturday flight would be cheaper since it's Thanksgiving weekend) or just wait. But I think I like the idea of just buying right away so I have it and then price adjusting later. I just hate having to check the website constantly to monitor the fares.

QUESTION: Has anyone found a good way to monitor Southwest fares? Even after you buy? I've typically checked every so often and gotten lucky, but anyone found a good rhythm/rhyme of when to check SWA site to see if fares have decreased so they can ask for a price adjustment? I still can't believe SWA does this, but it's part of the reason they are the ONLY airline I will fly!

Thanks for insight, friends!