Remember $49 Southwest Flights? The good 'ol days.

[SandraGloverClarke]

Fewer Florida trips with prices of flights!

 

[dsneygirl]

Fewer Florida trips with prices of flights!

Yep! Sure do. My DS went 5 or 6 times before he was 2. We paid $49 or $59 and he was free.

 

[SandraGloverClarke]

With $49 SW flights, we went 2 - 3 times a year. Prices went up, then we went once a year, then every 2 years.

 

[pigletto]

When we took our first big trip in 2008, I was thrilled to get the four of us roundtrip from Buffalo for 800.

I'd say now I'd be *thrilled* with doing it for 1000, and usually end up paying around 1200 for the four of us. And I seriously scout for deals and the best prices. So in 5 years it's gone up 100 a person. Certainly not great but not horrendous. There used to be more to choose from as well. You used to be relatively assured of getting a DING fare. I stopped watching for those, and don't even know if they do them anymore.
I never did get a $49 fare but I suspect these fares would hurt more if I had.

 

[alohamom]

OMGoodness, do I ever miss those days! The first time we flew Southwest was with a $29 OW fare!!! (mind you, the exchange rate was something crazy like 72 cents on the dollar) How can you not book a $29 fare, honestly! I think the whole trip cost us something like 900 bucks total including the MVMCP tix, Sea World tix and dinner at Chef Mickeys! Lol, bring those fares back Southwest, bring em back!!!

 

[DutchsMommy]

I'm with Alohamom - we snagged $29 so for 3 of us round trip was about $220...my best score ever

 

[dsneygirl]

When we took our first big trip in 2008, I was thrilled to get the four of us roundtrip from Buffalo for 800.

I'd say now I'd be *thrilled* with doing it for 1000, and usually end up paying around 1200 for the four of us. And I seriously scout for deals and the best prices. So in 5 years it's gone up 100 a person. Certainly not great but not horrendous. There used to be more to choose from as well. You used to be relatively assured of getting a DING fare. I stopped watching for those, and don't even know if they do them anymore.
I never did get a $49 fare but I suspect these fares would hurt more if I had.

We're going in Sept for $188pp roundtrip.

 

[pigletto]

We're going in Sept for $188pp roundtrip.

That's awesome! No such luck for August and February this year.

 

[mamabear0222]

We're going in Sept for $188pp roundtrip.

Wow awesome

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[piraterunner]

We went March break for $253pp, flight was delayed on the way home so we each got $100 voucher which I will be using in January for the Dopey Challenge

 

[dsneygirl]

We went March break for $253pp, flight was delayed on the way home so we each got $100 voucher which I will be using in January for the Dopey Challenge

DH and I once volunteered to be bumped on the way to Vegas took a voucher and they refunded the cost of the flight off to WDW we went

 

[pigletto]

DH and I once volunteered to be bumped on the way to Vegas took a voucher and they refunded the cost of the flight off to WDW we went

I've always said we'll volunteer if they ever make an offer to bump. We always fly in late Friday night so we wouldn't really be missing a vacation day. But in 8 trips there has never been an offer. It would be great to have the flights for the next trip covered

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I've always said we'll volunteer if they ever make an offer to bump. We always fly in late Friday night so we wouldn't really be missing a vacation day. But in 8 trips there has never been an offer. It would be great to have the flights for the next trip covered

Do you think its because Jetblue rarely overbooks their flights? (you normally fly Jetblue, right?)

We flew Sunwing in 2009 and I honestly can't remember if they asked for volunteers to be bumped or not.

Our last three trips have all been Jetblue except for one, and I know that not once have they asked for someone to agree to be bumped on any of those flights. The sole other flight in the mix was Airtran, and sure enough.....the announcement was made as we waited at the gate. If we hadn't already paid to be upgraded to business class, we would have jumped at the chance as they were specifically looking for a group of 3 and the flight we would have been bumped to was a non-stop Jetblue flight which left later that morning. Let me say....it was tempting!

 

[MaMudduck]

Yep! Sure do. My DS went 5 or 6 times before he was 2. We paid $49 or $59 and he was free.

Yup, me too $59 & $79OW, then the best I could get was $105 o/w.

The only time I was "voluntarily" bumped was AirTran Buf to Aruba, I have to transfer at Newark & they asked for volunteers there, I got $600 flight coupons (cost me $400 to Aruba) hotel & dinner vouchers and here's the best part, BUSINESS class to Aruba & back....best vacation score ever!!!!

 

[Debbie]

Cheap flights, cheap rooms! $49 at ASMu with an AP a few times. Funny, we always ended up way out on the backside of Country! Couldn't complain, though!

My favourite room was the Courtyard by Marriott in DTD for $20.02 in 2002. Went up to $20.03 in 2003. Free popcorn during happy hour.

♫ Those were the days, my friend.... ♫

 

[piraterunner]

DH and I once volunteered to be bumped on the way to Vegas took a voucher and they refunded the cost of the flight off to WDW we went

Our flight on the way there was over booked. They offered the price you payed for your ticket plus $300 towards anywhere SW travels. We would have taken it but we were meeting friends at Be Our Guest for dinner. That ressie was too hard to get to take the chance of missing lol

 

[Cottager]

For the past 10 years, we've been flexible with our vacation dates, booking last minute with Southwest seat sales and Ding specials out of Buffalo. With an Annual Disney Park Pass and a Tables in Wonderland card, we would travel 4 times a year, sometimes just over the weekends to celebrate a birthday party. Discounted Southwest flights have been $34, $49, $59, and $69. We even tried Spirit Air out of Detroit for $25 when there were no carry on bag charges!

Over the past 2 years, we've waited for Southwest's heavily discounted dates were they only offered 5 days to choose from. Also, we've used the one day only discount codes they emailed us. More recently, we're taking advantage of Southwest's Rapid Rewards program by accumulating points in various ways and topping up the lack of points with cash. Being flexible has it's advantages. I feel so bad for my friends who are Teachers...

 

[pigletto]

It sure does pay to be flexible. Unfortunately we're now in a place where we have very set vacation weeks to choose from and need to start the vacation on Friday or Saturday to maximize our time. We used to be able to fly out midweek and that makes a huge difference in price. If you need to leave on a Saturday and come back on a Sunday it really jumps the prices.

 

[hockey mom]

I really miss those days

I remember also getting one way to Vegas for $42