Question on booking airline tickets

[ski_mom]

I need to book flights for 6 for our trip. Right now Southwest has the cheapest flights. When I was pricing, I wasn't putting in the number in our group (I just put one passenger). The flight down came up at $89 and return flight at $109 (plus taxes, etc).

Anyway, when I put in for 6 people, it shows the flight as being $109 for the way down. If I change it to 5 people, it drops back to the $89 price.

So, my question is: Can I book the flight for 5 of us at the $89 and then book the final one for the $109 price. Is there any risk of doing it this way?

Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[Thumper_Man]

There's no risk in doing it this way. The only difference is you will get 2 different confirmation #'s. One for the group of 5 and 1 for the single person. If you don't buy the early bird check-in, and check-in at the 24 hour mark, I would check-in the group of 5 first. Then check-in the single person. This way you can save the single person a seat, as the single person will more than likely get a boarding pass further back in the line.

 

[tlenzendorf]

So, my question is: Can I book the flight for 5 of us at the $89 and then book the final one for the $109 price. Is there any risk of doing it this way?

Hopefully that makes sense.

Yes, you can do this. No risk other than the price for the final one going up after booking the first 5. Have 2 browsers open, one with the 5 tickets and one with the 1 ticket all ready for purchase.

Also if it's for the 5 of you, make sure the single ticket is for someone over 18 so that you don't pay the minor fee.

 

[ski_mom]

Thanks! I couldn't think of a downside to this, but wanted to make sure!

Thanks again for the quick replies!

 

[Thumper_Man]

Have 2 browsers open

Funny you should mention this. I actually did this when I checked us in online. DW and I were on one confirmation # and D'Sis was on another. Doing it this way, D'Sis landed up about 3 people behind us. Had I tried to check just DW and I in, then tried D'Sis on the same tab, who knows how far back she would've landed up.

Thanks! I couldn't think of a downside to this, but wanted to make sure!

Thanks again for the quick replies!

Always happy to help out where we can. Have a good trip.

 

[bpesch]

Something no one seems to have considered is that the 6th ticket just may not be available for the lower price. Low price fares are often limited to a certain number of seats. Maybe here the number of seats is 5 and you won't be able to get that 6th ticket for the discounted price.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[tlenzendorf]

Something no one seems to have considered is that the 6th ticket just may not be available for the lower price. Low price fares are often limited to a certain number of seats. Maybe here the number of seats is 5 and you won't be able to get that 6th ticket for the discounted price.

Let us know how it turns out.

That's exactly what we are considering. Which is why we are saying book the 5 and then the 1 separately.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Something no one seems to have considered is that the 6th ticket just may not be available for the lower price. Low price fares are often limited to a certain number of seats. Maybe here the number of seats is 5 and you won't be able to get that 6th ticket for the discounted price.

Let us know how it turns out.

SW is always doing funny things with their fares IMO. Last year DW, DM, D'Sis and I went to Vegas. When I looked at the one way price for one person, it was higher than the one way price for 2 people; but for 4 people, it was the same price as it was for one person. I was able to make 2 separate bookings, for 2 people on each booking, at the lower rate. Don't make sense I know, but we had no troubles when it came time to take our flight.

 

[ski_mom]

Just to follow up on what I ended up doing...I booked 4 at the lower price and immediately went back and booked the last 2 at the higher price. We all ended up on the same flight so everything should be fine.

I did it 4 and 2 instead of getting 5 at the lower price just incase the 6th ticket wouldn't be available on the same flight for some reason - at least that way no one would be flying alone.

Thanks again for your help!