Southwest Airlines

[Wonderdis]

SWA fares for last 2 weeks of August for BUF-MCO this year is not as impressive as last year (I got it for $59 each way last year)

For example: 1st flight for August 21: first thing this morning, it started at $149, and bounced several times up to $171 .... tonight, it shows $194 !!!
The only cheaper flight for that day is the last flight which will take almost 5 hours for $69.

I found a flight out on the same date with Air Tran (will take a total of 4.5 hrs with 1 stop) for $69 pp ($90 total with taxes).

Any suggestions ??? Do I just buy this air tran or take a chance and wait for southwest incase thier prices goes down.

Does it ever go down drastically with southwest ?

 

[MagicKingdom05]

SWA fares for last 2 weeks of August for BUF-MCO this year is not as impressive as last year (I got it for $59 each way last year)

For example: 1st flight for August 21: first thing this morning, it started at $149, and bounced several times up to $171 .... tonight, it shows $194 !!!
The only cheaper flight for that day is the last flight which will take almost 5 hours for $69.

I found a flight out on the same date with Air Tran (will take a total of 4.5 hrs with 1 stop) for $69 pp ($90 total with taxes).

Any suggestions ??? Do I just buy this air tran or take a chance and wait for southwest incase thier prices goes down.

Does it ever go down drastically with southwest ?

When we booked our March 6-13 flights back in October we paid about $200 pp. We then noticed they went down $23 pp in November and rebooked and then they went down again by $20 pp after Thanksgiving. All together the flight went down $43 pp.

 

[Wonderdis]

When we booked our March 6-13 flights back in October we paid about $200 pp. We then noticed they went down $23 pp in November and rebooked and then they went down again by $20 pp after Thanksgiving. All together the flight went down $43 pp.

when you say "you rebooked" .... does it mean you have to cancel your original bookings and then re-purchase it at a lower price to get the credit (price difference) ?

 

[skier_pete]

SWA fares for last 2 weeks of August for BUF-MCO this year is not as impressive as last year (I got it for $59 each way last year)

For example: 1st flight for August 21: first thing this morning, it started at $149, and bounced several times up to $171 .... tonight, it shows $194 !!!
The only cheaper flight for that day is the last flight which will take almost 5 hours for $69.

I found a flight out on the same date with Air Tran (will take a total of 4.5 hrs with 1 stop) for $69 pp ($90 total with taxes).

Any suggestions ??? Do I just buy this air tran or take a chance and wait for southwest incase thier prices goes down.

Does it ever go down drastically with southwest ?

Flights do go down out of Buffalo...that's where we fly. I was very disappointed in the flight prices as well. We are flying down in April, and I got those flights for $145 Round Trip on the day the tickets opened. We are going again in October...I was trying to fly down on Friday, October 15th and return on Sunday, October 24th. The 15th I did OK, direct flight fo $114.70 each with tax...but couldn't get anything on the 24th for under $165 each. I ended up booking a return on Monday, Oct 25th, for around $100 each.

Anyways, back to your original question...yes, I have seen flight prices drop significantly. Usually, when you buy on the day tickets open, you can get the best prices, but not always, but usually shortly afterward they DO go down. We have had in the past seen flights drop from $150 down to around $90. However, this doesn't always happen, so you really need to make that call.


The good thing about Southwest is you can make changes to your flights without any service fees...which is why I will usually book their flights even if the price / travel times are not ideal. Often you can change the price or the flights. On the other hand, AirTran's got you good... and with AirTran watch out for hidden fees. They charge you for what seems like everything.

 

[griergirl2]

I have a question: The flight I really want on Southwest is too high in price. If I book another flight that I'd take if I had too and then the other flight goes to the same price, can I switch to that flight and not pay any difference?? Thanks!!

 

[skier_pete]

I have a question: The flight I really want on Southwest is too high in price. If I book another flight that I'd take if I had too and then the other flight goes to the same price, can I switch to that flight and not pay any difference?? Thanks!!

(1) There are two flights, one you prefer (Flight A) and one you can live with (Flight B)
(2) You book Flight B at $X, because Flight A's price is too high.
(3) At some later date, the price of Flight A drops to match the price you paid for Flight B ($X).
(4) Then Yes, You CAN now easily change your reservation so that you are now scheduled on Flight A at $X. This can be done on the SWA web-site under "Air" and select "Change Reservation". They do not charge any extra fees to do this, and you can do it as many times as you want.

The one caveat is that everyone on your reservation # would also have to change flights. Also, if the price is "lower" than the ticket you originally bought, they won't refund any money, you will only get a credit that is only good for purchase of another flight within one year of the date that you purchsed the original flight.

Hope that clears it up.