Southwest Airlines pricing question

[las3888]

Hi all,

I have a question about southwest airlines pricing. I booked tickets for DS and myself to go to Orlando but didn't book DH because when I plugged in quantity 3, the price jumped for all 3 of us by about $30. So I just booked DS and myself and thought I would watch the price for DH. Well, I forgot for the past week or so and now it has gone up yet another $50!!!!

Should I just book it and cut my losses or do their prices fluctuate some? I haven't flown SWA in a long time so I'm just not sure what to think....

DARN!!!!!

 

[HaleyB]

Book now, their prices go up over time.

If you get lucky and there is a sale/webspecial/whatever you can rebook and get a credit good for 1 year (and anyone, not just the person the credit was issued to, can use it so if you will not need it you can 'sell' it to anyone).

I did the exact same thing this Fall.

Edit to add: Make sure you sign up for DING and email alerts (or whatever the email notification thing is called) because those are how you get the best prices and they do not duplicate (DING offers are not the same as the email ones).

 

[minnie1928]

That's the beauty of SWA, you can book and if the price drops you can cancel and re-book at the lower price without a penalty. The only thing is that you will be given credits for the price difference instead of cash back to your credit card. But those credits can be used by anyone within 12 months, so if you don't need them you can sell them.

Go ahead and book it, but also keep an eye out to see if they drop rates in the future.

 

[minnie1928]

Also, if you don't already have it, download their "Ding" application. You can usually find some good deals with that.

 

[design_mom]

I have found that their prices fluctuate quite a bit. Booking early usually gives the best prices, but that doesn't mean that it won't be cheaper next week than it is this week. It's kind of a gamble about when you're going to get the best price.

Like others said, if you book now and find a lower price, you can usually change it and get a credit. If you think you'll use the credit, that might be your best plan because then you'll know he has a seat. Otherwise, keep checking regularly... and when you see a good price, snag it! (Sometimes they change hourly!)

 

[MinnieForMe]

Hi:
We always travel in April and I usually get the best price with a special around mid-February. If I was more of a gambler I'd wait but I'm not. I normally book in January and take a credit.

 

[mlittig]

I have been watching Southwest for months waiting to book our flights for the end of April. All the non-stop flights had been listed as "unavailable" until last Friday morning Since then, I have re-booked three times to save even more money I will keep checking until we take off :

 

[Disney_Freak56]

If the new price is something you can live with, book it. And as others have said, if the price comes down on any or all of your tickets, you can rebook and have a SW credit that can be used within a year of first purchasing your tickets.

I've not had much luck with Ding from my market (location) for a couple of years, but it might be good for your area.

I would suggest checking SW's website frequently -- daily, morning, noon and night, if possible. I lucked upon a great fare last year of $49 each way from KC to Orlando on a Thursday night. Just decided to check out of the blue and was so glad I did. Immediately called a friend and let her in on the great deal as well. There was no e-mail sale announced or anything. The discounted price was just there. The next day, the $49 fare was gone. So it pays to be a little persistent.

Good luck!

 

[verlee]

We have rebooked 2 times now. The prices were good to begin with. Then they dipped for a different (better for us) take off time so we rebooked. Then they went up. We were happy we had seen it. We were not notified. We just checked regularly. But then the prices dipped again. We rebooked again.. Total we have saved about $30. Not a ton but still nice. It is so easy to do and I think it pays to check the web site often. I have seen the prices vary throughout the day. Our flight prices are back up now. One leg of the trip almost doubled in price. We got a nice deal.

 

[deerhart]

Southwest just dumped a sale they were having through mid June. It should come back again.

I started pricing flights for our August trip last year in about April and did not purchase until late June. By that time I had seen the price go on sale at least 6 different times. For where we live to Orlando, anything around $75 each way is about the rock bottom price.

 

[iloveallthingsdisney]

Book now, their prices go up over time.

If you get lucky and there is a sale/webspecial/whatever you can rebook and get a credit good for 1 year (and anyone, not just the person the credit was issued to, can use it so if you will not need it you can 'sell' it to anyone).

I did the exact same thing this Fall.

Edit to add: Make sure you sign up for DING and email alerts (or whatever the email notification thing is called) because those are how you get the best prices and they do not duplicate (DING offers are not the same as the email ones).

Hi! How do you "sell" your unused credit? I'd love to know how to do this since I lost $100 last year because we didn't book another trip before my credit expired.

 

[mom2knk]

We have rebooked 2 times now. The prices were good to begin with. Then they dipped for a different (better for us) take off time so we rebooked. Then they went up. We were happy we had seen it. We were not notified. We just checked regularly. But then the prices dipped again. We rebooked again.. Total we have saved about $30. Not a ton but still nice. It is so easy to do and I think it pays to check the web site often. I have seen the prices vary throughout the day. Our flight prices are back up now. One leg of the trip almost doubled in price. We got a nice deal.

How do you go about rebooking? I can save another $40, but I don't want to screw anything up and end up with 2 sets of non-refundable tickets. I'd appreciate it if anyone wants to run through the process. Thanks!

 

[AllesonWonderland]

I would suggest checking SW's website frequently -- daily, morning, noon and night, if possible. I lucked upon a great fare last year of $49 each way from KC to Orlando on a Thursday night.

I read your post too quickly the first time and got all excited...til I finally saw the 'last year.' LOL I've been keeping an eye on March flights to/from KC hoping to move our Saturday am flight to Sunday (or at least Saturday as late as possible.) No luck so far!

 

[phred52]

How do you go about rebooking? I can save another $40, but I don't want to screw anything up and end up with 2 sets of non-refundable tickets. I'd appreciate it if anyone wants to run through the process. Thanks!

Its very easy to do.

On southwests website, click on 'travel tools' which is in a blue bar across the top.

Then click on 'change air reservation' which is listed under travel tools. Fill in your confirmation #, and name. Only need one name even if more are on that confirmation #....

Then it brings up your reservation. You click on it to mark that you want to change it, hit continue...

Next screen looks likes a normal reservation screen, you select the flight you wish to change to... 'continue' again .... don't worry, NOTHING is canceled at this point....

a payment screen will appear showing the difference in price between what you already have reserved and what you just selected. If there is a credit due you, it shows up here. If you owe more $, it shows up here. You get to see and compare your 2 choices. If you do indeed want to change, THEN you confirm and continue onto the next screen

I do this frequently to capture a drop in price. Very easy.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

I read your post too quickly the first time and got all excited...til I finally saw the 'last year.' LOL I've been keeping an eye on March flights to/from KC hoping to move our Saturday am flight to Sunday (or at least Saturday as late as possible.) No luck so far!

By last year, I did mean my Sept. 09 trip. I do have a trip booked for this March and didn't get $49 each way tickets, but did get $77 each way. I did get this fare right after Thanksgiving. If you're looking for deeply discounted tickets for this March, you get lucky, but you may not. It's almost too close as far as March goes because of Spring Breaks.

I also have to add that I rarely see the great discounted fares for Sunday travel. Not sure why that is, but that's been my experience coming out of KC.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

By last year, I did mean my Sept. 09 trip. I do have a trip booked for this March and didn't get $49 each way tickets, but did get $77 each way. I did get this fare right after Thanksgiving. If you're looking for deeply discounted tickets for this March, you get lucky, but you may not. It's almost too close as far as March goes because of Spring Breaks.

I also have to add that I rarely see the great discounted fares for Sunday travel. Not sure why that is, but that's been my experience coming out of KC.

We booked right when the dates opened and got $59 each way. But, there weren't any of those rates for Sunday so I booked a Saturday return. I've pretty much given up hope, but an extra day in Disney sure would be nice!

 

[mom2knk]

Its very easy to do.

On southwests website, click on 'travel tools' which is in a blue bar across the top.

Then click on 'change air reservation' which is listed under travel tools. Fill in your confirmation #, and name. Only need one name even if more are on that confirmation #....

Then it brings up your reservation. You click on it to mark that you want to change it, hit continue...

Next screen looks likes a normal reservation screen, you select the flight you wish to change to... 'continue' again .... don't worry, NOTHING is canceled at this point....

a payment screen will appear showing the difference in price between what you already have reserved and what you just selected. If there is a credit due you, it shows up here. If you owe more $, it shows up here. You get to see and compare your 2 choices. If you do indeed want to change, THEN you confirm and continue onto the next screen

I do this frequently to capture a drop in price. Very easy.

Thank you so much for getting back to me! Unfortunately, the price went waaay up (from $74 to $109) in a matter of minutes. But thanks to your help, I'll be ready to pounce the next time I see a drop.

 

[Lisha1979]

If you get a credit, can you use it for Early Check in? I have a credit of $75 and that would work out Perfect! =)
TIA!

 

[leahjade]

is there a rebooking fee?

 

[mom2knk]

If you get a credit, can you use it for Early Check in? I have a credit of $75 and that would work out Perfect! =)
TIA!

Don't have first hand experience, but I have read elsewhere on the boards that they do not accept the credits for the early check in.
I know...Bummer!