Southwest Airlines --- Need help!!!

[ms.ojo]

Just went to book my flights for late Nov/Dec and my flight from CT-Orlando I can get the super internet fare...but my return date (which is a Sunday) they blocked out the internet fare and I can only book at a FUN fare which is $40pp higher!!

My question is this: Has ANYONE had experience where they later open up cheaper rates in Dec?????? I know when we booked our April trip this year at the $79 internet rate...I was able to later reduce it to $49 for each of us!! Apparently those flights weren't full and they decided to reduce the internet rate about a month before our trip to entice more flyers. So I'm just wondering....should I book now and just be thankful to have it!??? Or do I only book for going TO Fl....and play a waiting game on the return flight?

I'm a little ticked too that FlySong has INCREASED their rates for Sun the 11th as of today! I was checking w/ them earlier as they allow earlier booking and our flight from Hartford to Orlando was going to be $254+ taxes pp while the return trip it was $79pp. I thought oh, I'll just wait for Southwest and book roundtrip w/ one airline. When I discovered today that I couldn't do the return trip on Southwest at $79...I thought I'll grab it on Flysong...and it had now increased from $79pp to $149pp!!

Just had a thought. Maybe I book my trip at the $79pp returning a day earlier (I can grab it for then) and if/when the Sunday opens up...I take it! Of course that means I'm gambling 1 less day at a park!! For our family the higher airfare eans $160+taxes. In the scheme of things, I suppose it's not that much...but it IS...if you know what I mean.

Well, thanks for letting me vent. Hope to hear some good ideas!!!

 

[stacieps]

I'm pretty much in the same boat. I need to go from MHT (Manchester, NH) to Tampa 11/4-11/13. Going down $79 is available, coming home best fare is "Advance Purchase" $149-$164, so I'd be looking at $246.90 pp (there are 4 of us). I recently booked for August (to MCO) and got a great deal $115, so I'm having a real hard time justifying the $246. We aren't flexible on our dates (we're going on a cruise Sun-Sun and alreay have hotel thru Priceline for Fri and Sat). I think I'll wait a bit longer and see if we either get a Ding or a sale. I also check Song and JetBlue and their fares for my return have increased, can still get to FL for $79 on all of them. I'm also watching MCO, because the drive to/from Tampa isn't bad if the price is better.

 

[ms.ojo]

Yep, sounds like we're in the same boat. Non flexible dates and no good rates! When we know they exist. Very tough to swallow. I booked the 4 of us 1way internet for going TO MCO. Figured I'd at least lock that rate in...and now I'm waiting. I've heard from others (not on Southwest but other airlines) sometimes lower rates appear late in the evening. Worth a shot. I'll check it out the next few nights anyway.