Southwest Air question

[imatoad]

Can anyone explain the different fair defiinitons for Southwest Airlines? I know that some seats are not guaranteed, that it's first come first serve, but is that for all reservations, as they list different prices for the samne flight. I don't want to buy a ticket and run the risk of not getting on the flight.

 

[jjan]

Just buy the cheapest one you need. Pretty much (as far as I understand) as the ticket cost increases, more of the cost of the ticket is refundable in the form of cash back to your credit card if you cancel the reservation, but you can cancel ANY reservation and get a full credit to use within 1 year on any other flight with SW. As far as I understand, the $200 ticket is no better than getting the $74 dollar one. You are guaranteed a seat, just not an assigned one. HTH

 

[Disney_1derland]

I have never NOT gotten on a southwest flight, though I have been on flights where they asked for volunteers to wait for a later flight. No seats are assigned on southwest. You check in online and depending on how early you check in (after midnight the day of your departure) you will get an A, B or C card. You get in those lines at the gates. A's are boarded first and so on.

The different fare prices don't really mean anything. They sell a small amount at the lowest price and when they are gone they move up to the next price range.

 

[C.Ann]

Choose the lowest fair, print out your boarding pass just after midnight of the day you're flying, get to the airport and check in well before your flight leaves and there should be no problem getting on the plane..

On the rare occasion that people get bumped off a SW flight it's because they arrive at the airport 20 minutes before departure and then try to fault the airline because they can't make it through check-in and security..

 

[Michael623]

The above posters are dead on. I fly SW frequently and always buy the cheapest seat and have never been bumped. Just buy the cheapest flight and print out your boarding pass before you leave for the airport.

 

[atigeg]

If you're seriously thinking about flying SW, download their Ding program and you might find an even cheaper fare than the levels on their website. The fares have nothing to do with getting on the plane or being bumped. Think of it as a big Greyhound bus in the sky...no assigned seats, so make sure you're not the last on and you'll be fine. As others have said, we print out our boarding pass at midnight in order to be in the A (first) group. But as much as we fly SW, I have yet to see anyone bumped. It can happen, but it's not too likely.
Barb

 

[Michael623]

Before they bump anyone they ask for volunteers who will take a flight voucher for a future flight and a later flight. There always seem to be retirees with plenty of time that will take the voluntary bump. Having even to ask for volunteers is rare, SW flights are rarely oversold. Watch out for the Ding fares, they can become quite addictive.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

The difference in cost (e.g. Fun Fare versus Internet Fare versus Refundable Anytime) repends on several things, including days of the week you plan to travel (some require Tuesday, Wed. or Friday travel). Some fares are dependent on Round-trip travel. That was the kicker for my October trip -- I booked a DING! fare one way because we weren't sure when we wanted to come back. The cheapest one-way return fare was sold out (BUT NOT THE PLANE -- JUST THE TICKET AT THAT COST) and we only had the refundable anytime option available. I canceled the whole confirmation and rebooked with a second DING! fare about a month later.

 

[Lewisc]

SW, like most airlines, overbook most of their flights. Enough people volunteer in advance, usually I'll overhear someone ask if they're taking a list of volunteers, so you won't normally even hear an announcement looking for volunteers let alone see them bumping passengers.

SW bases bumping on the time you checkin. Checkin on line at midnight you'll get an "A" BP and won't be bumped unless you get to the gate too late.

 

[imatoad]

Great, thanks for the info.

 

[DebbieB]

How does SW choose who to bump? The last people to get boarding passes? Or is it based on who paid the lowest fare? I was just wondering because I was watching "Airline" this weekend and a family of six was bumped because there were only 4 seats left and no one would volunteer. They complained that they bought the tickets 6 months before, which made me think it was the cheapest fare class since SW doesn't book very far ahead.

 

[C.Ann]

How does SW choose who to bump? The last people to get boarding passes? Or is it based on who paid the lowest fare? I was just wondering because I was watching "Airline" this weekend and a family of six was bumped because there were only 4 seats left and no one would volunteer. They complained that they bought the tickets 6 months before, which made me think it was the cheapest fare class since SW doesn't book very far ahead.

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It goes by who checked in first - then boarding pass.. I saw a show where someone bought their tickets 6 months in advance and then flipped out because they got bumped - BUT they never even arrived at the airport until 20 minutes before the flight was supposed to leave.. It was clearly their own fault, not that of SW..

 

[riu girl]

If a person volunteers their family to get bumped, what exactly will they get from SWA due to being bumped to a later flight????
Suzy V.

 

[C.Ann]

If a person volunteers their family to get bumped, what exactly will they get from SWA due to being bumped to a later flight????
Suzy V.

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I think it varies - depending on how desperate they are.. I know my neighbors once got vouchers for round-trip airfare to anywhere that SW flies, with a one-year expiration date.. The really funny part is they only got home ONE HOUR later than they would have otherwise..