Southwest anniversary sale

[puffkin]

I didn't book anything today when the schedule opened up. Hoping for something better with the anniversary sale.

I also didn't book today. $2000 for 5 people is just too high for us, and that is for BWI to TPA which still means drive time on both ends of the flight for use. It was $2600 for our preferred route of PHL to MCO. Crazy. And that doesn't even include a rental and airport parking. In 25+ trips to Central Florida (all flying) looks like we are going to be driving for the first time in November

 

[lions1995]

I also didn't book today. $2000 for 5 people is just too high for us, and that is for BWI to TPA which still means drive time on both ends of the flight for use. It was $2600 for our preferred route of PHL to MCO. Crazy. And that doesn't even include a rental and airport parking. In 25+ trips to Central Florida (all flying) looks like we are going to be driving for the first time in November

I got up this morning to take a peak. I have never flown SW and really do not think I would like it. We have 10 people going and the seating issue would just not be good for us. However, I figured if they gave a great rate, I might not be able to say no. Rates from PHL were not any better than the other airlines. Though I see some of those other airlines went down in price. So I get a reserved seat at a good price anyway.

 

[laura428]

I got up this morning to take a peak. I have never flown SW and really do not think I would like it. We have 10 people going and the seating issue would just not be good for us. However, I figured if they gave a great rate, I might not be able to say no. Rates from PHL were not any better than the other airlines. Though I see some of those other airlines went down in price. So I get a reserved seat at a good price anyway.

Seating for 10 might be interesting, for sure. But from a purely quality perspective, I have to say that I prefer SW to most of the bigger airlines. I fly a lot, both on business and for pleasure, and SW is always the easiest. And it's fun! You can tell that their attendants actually like what they do, so in turn, they treat their passengers well and keep the energy up and positive. I've never had a bad experience with them.

 

[jcemom]

Seating for 10 might be interesting, for sure. But from a purely quality perspective, I have to say that I prefer SW to most of the bigger airlines. I fly a lot, both on business and for pleasure, and SW is always the easiest. And it's fun! You can tell that their attendants actually like what they do, so in turn, they treat their passengers well and keep the energy up and positive. I've never had a bad experience with them.

Agreed!

I have had more seating issues with other airlines (with assigned seating) than I have ever had with Southwest, even including the one time I forgot to check us in.

Other airlines constantly change equipment and move the assigned seats I paid to choose. Once they had my DD who was three at the time sitting by herself. We got it fixed but it was a hassle. What's the point in paying to choose seats if they are going to move them anyway.

 

[Minniekins]

We have been flying SW from Pittsburgh the last few Septembers. What I usually do is book 1 way the day the flights are released. I keep my eyes peeled for sales, especially the June sale, when the flights drop, I change my 1 way fare to the lower priced flights to get a credit. Then I use the credit to book the return flight at the current sale price. From PIT, I have paid $79-$109/person, one way.
...

Oh wow, now that's a good idea! I have been lucky enough to be able to use points in the last couple of years, but next year may have to buy my tickets with on my credit card. This is a great idea so that refunded credit will definitely get used! Thanks for sharing that great idea, not something that had occurred to me in thinking about using cash!

I looked up my flights from 2013 and they were all purchased on June 13th. Googling Southwest Anniversary Sale it looks like the dates were June 11-13.

Yep, I booked mine last year on 6/11 (my flights down, and the price was back up in like 10 hours and never that low again! Not sure why I waited, I think I was considering a day longer stay which we ended up doing, but I bought my return tickets on the 3rd and final day of the sale. Luckily, somehow, they were still available then! This year I am stalking SW waiting for that sale and jumping on changing mine to the lower fares asap!!

I'm thinking I gotta be obsessively checking at SW and here(as I'm sure a Disser will post asap!),so I don't miss it, as I don't think they notify you in a timely manner do they? I recall getting SW email a bit late for various sales.

 

[houseofduck]

My husband heard a radio commercial today for Southwest. He said the sale would be from June 10 - 12 and $98 roundtrip (for destinations under 600? miles). He wasn't sure about the 600 mile, but sure about the rest.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

So is it better to try and book online or by phone on June 10th? Should I try at 12:01am?

 

[Disneyplanners]

Does anyone know what travel dates should be included with this sale? It looks like last years anniversary sale was for travel from Aug. 26 - Dec. 8. I'm looking for the beginning of August, and I'm wondering if I should just book our tickets now.

Also, I have a mycokerewards coupon code to use. It will save $20 per round trip ticket purchased. Will I lose this discount if the price drops and I rebook, or if I just want to change our flight time?

 

[Minniekins]

So is it better to try and book online or by phone on June 10th? Should I try at 12:01am?

Well, I'll be checking online then myself, just in case, but I don't really expect it to open up until just after 5 am(6 am eastern), as they did when they opened the Nov and Dec bookings. It was about 5:08 when they were suddenly there as I was stalking, lol. But, you never know for sure I guess, hence the constant stalking, lol! Which I will be doing in June, lol. I think just being ready and online would be fine, acct signed in, credit card (or points!), ready to go.

 

[jcemom]

My husband heard a radio commercial today for Southwest. He said the sale would be from June 10 - 12 and $98 roundtrip (for destinations under 600? miles). He wasn't sure about the 600 mile, but sure about the rest.

Thanks for the info! That's so helpful!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Well, I'll be checking online then myself, just in case, but I don't really expect it to open up until just after 5 am(6 am eastern), as they did when they opened the Nov and Dec bookings. It was about 5:08 when they were suddenly there as I was stalking, lol. But, you never know for sure I guess, hence the constant stalking, lol! Which I will be doing in June, lol. I think just being ready and online would be fine, acct signed in, credit card (or points!), ready to go.

Got it, thank you. I will be setting my alarm like I did to make our adrs.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Following...

I am probably going to bite now for our nov dates but maybe will be able to get a credit when this sale starts.

 

[laura428]

Just saw some great fares leaving just a few days before our trip. We can't take advantage of these, but I thought someone here might be able to.

Sample fare from Chicago to MCO was $129 each way, on numerous Fall dates, even getting close to Christmas. (Eligible travel dates are between 8/17 and 12/17.) For holiday travel out of Chicago, this seems really reasonable.

Hope this helps someone!

 

[rKrispyt]

We are looking to fly from Ohio (we are in Cleveland and a friend from Pittsburgh is joining us) to Orlando Nov 1 and return either the 8th or 9th.

We read a bunch of horror stories for Frontier so were overlooking their nonstop roundtrip flight at $285/person. Yesterday my mother found a flight at SW for $316/person non stop. Gets us into MCO at 3:00pm and back home 1:00pm so not terrible at all.

Today is the last day to buy at that price. None of us ever fly. We travel a lot but always drive. We reeeeeally want to fly but are not 100% sure on what good deals are or times to look.

Does anyone at all know if the current deal we're looking at is good or not much of a deal from what a regular price might be? Does anyone know if the anniversary sales are likely to be better deals and worth the wait?

I'm scared to make this call myself and be wrong Hoping to get some wisdom form people with more experience in all things flight related, lol.

 

[WDWFan06]

We are looking to fly from Ohio (we are in Cleveland and a friend from Pittsburgh is joining us) to Orlando Nov 1 and return either the 8th or 9th. We read a bunch of horror stories for Frontier so were overlooking their nonstop roundtrip flight at $285/person. Yesterday my mother found a flight at SW for $316/person non stop. Gets us into MCO at 3:00pm and back home 1:00pm so not terrible at all. Today is the last day to buy at that price. None of us ever fly. We travel a lot but always drive. We reeeeeally want to fly but are not 100% sure on what good deals are or times to look. Does anyone at all know if the current deal we're looking at is good or not much of a deal from what a regular price might be? Does anyone know if the anniversary sales are likely to be better deals and worth the wait? I'm scared to make this call myself and be wrong Hoping to get some wisdom form people with more experience in all things flight related, lol.

I fly from CLE to MCO multiple times a year. I usually never pay over $300 round trip. The only advice I can give is that if you decide to book you can always get a credit from SW if your flights go down.

 

[Pembo]

We are looking to fly from Ohio (we are in Cleveland and a friend from Pittsburgh is joining us) to Orlando Nov 1 and return either the 8th or 9th.

We read a bunch of horror stories for Frontier so were overlooking their nonstop roundtrip flight at $285/person. Yesterday my mother found a flight at SW for $316/person non stop. Gets us into MCO at 3:00pm and back home 1:00pm so not terrible at all.

Today is the last day to buy at that price. None of us ever fly. We travel a lot but always drive. We reeeeeally want to fly but are not 100% sure on what good deals are or times to look.

Does anyone at all know if the current deal we're looking at is good or not much of a deal from what a regular price might be? Does anyone know if the anniversary sales are likely to be better deals and worth the wait?

I'm scared to make this call myself and be wrong Hoping to get some wisdom form people with more experience in all things flight related, lol.

$316 is pretty good. I've found better fares in Ohio on SW out of Akron or Columbus.

 

[rKrispyt]

I fly from CLE to MCO multiple times a year. I usually never pay over $300 round trip. The only advice I can give is that if you decide to book you can always get a credit from SW if your flights go down.

Thank you so much! Is your price (usually never above $300) based on just continuing to look until you find the best deal? A certain timeframe before the trip that is best? Flying during the week? Or just sheer luck?

I'm really tempted to tell my group we should wait until the 6/10 deal but I'm going to feel absolutely terrible if we miss it somehow or it's got stops and takes forever, gets in at a bad time etc. I know we get a credit but none of us will use it tbh.

ETA: I should have specified, the flight we are looking at is out of Akron/Canton, not Cleveland.

 

[WDWFan06]

Thank you so much! Is your price (usually never above $300) based on just continuing to look until you find the best deal? A certain timeframe before the trip that is best? Flying during the week? Or just sheer luck?

I'm really tempted to tell my group we should wait until the 6/10 deal but I'm going to fee absolutely terrible if we miss it somehow or it's got stops and takes forever, gets in at a bad time etc. I know we get a credit but none of us will use it tbh.

ETA: I should have specified, the flight we are looking at is out of Akron/Canton, not Cleveland.

Thats okay because I fly out of both airports all the time. Flights are so unpredictable though so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. I would not pay above $300. Its just too much for me to justify because of the great deals I am able to fly. I am flying out of CLE on June 4 and I only paid $285 round trip. No sale just normal SW fare. I only booked that flight probably three weeks ago.

Now they say the best time to book a flight is around 6 weeks ahead of time. (I believe) It really varies when I fly, on what day, ect. It is no surprise though that flying during the week is often cheaper. Hence while I am flying on a Wed-Wed this June. If you were a family member of mine I would tell you to wait, but like I said...take that with a grain of salt because flights are crazy unpredictable.

As for the SW anniversary sale. I have booked some great deals with that sale but not in the past few years. I remember when I used to wait for this sale and I would find a $79 each way! Now it seems every year I can never find a deal...at least for the times that I usually fly. I hope this helps and I hope your flight goes down!

 

[greenclan67]

Hi there, anybody happen to know what the sale price was last year from Buf to BWI? I thought I remember seeing $49 each way. We are planning on driving from Northern Ontario for a ball game then onto Williamsburg Va for a week. But if I can get a cheap flight....this is July 11th.

 

[focusondisney]

We are looking to fly from Ohio (we are in Cleveland and a friend from Pittsburgh is joining us) to Orlando Nov 1 and return either the 8th or 9th.

We read a bunch of horror stories for Frontier so were overlooking their nonstop roundtrip flight at $285/person. Yesterday my mother found a flight at SW for $316/person non stop. Gets us into MCO at 3:00pm and back home 1:00pm so not terrible at all.

Today is the last day to buy at that price. None of us ever fly. We travel a lot but always drive. We reeeeeally want to fly but are not 100% sure on what good deals are or times to look.

Does anyone at all know if the current deal we're looking at is good or not much of a deal from what a regular price might be? Does anyone know if the anniversary sales are likely to be better deals and worth the wait?

I'm scared to make this call myself and be wrong Hoping to get some wisdom form people with more experience in all things flight related, lol.

Thats okay because I fly out of both airports all the time. Flights are so unpredictable though so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. I would not pay above $300. Its just too much for me to justify because of the great deals I am able to fly. I am flying out of CLE on June 4 and I only paid $285 round trip. No sale just normal SW fare. I only booked that flight probably three weeks ago.

Now they say the best time to book a flight is around 6 weeks ahead of time. (I believe) It really varies when I fly, on what day, ect. It is no surprise though that flying during the week is often cheaper. Hence while I am flying on a Wed-Wed this June. If you were a family member of mine I would tell you to wait, but like I said...take that with a grain of salt because flights are crazy unpredictable.

As for the SW anniversary sale. I have booked some great deals with that sale but not in the past few years. I remember when I used to wait for this sale and I would find a $79 each way! Now it seems every year I can never find a deal...at least for the times that I usually fly. I hope this helps and I hope your flight goes down!

rKrispty, I wanted to comment on the bolded paragraph. Please note that poster is paying less than $300 but flying Wed to Wed. Prices are typically higher Fri, Sun & Mon. Saturdays are iffy. Also direct flights are sometimes higher than connecting flights. we have flown Buffalo to Orlando 2-3 times a year for several years. Prices this year have been pretty high. We have paid about $300 rt twice this year. If you need to fly on a certain day, I'd suggest deciding on an amount you are comfortable paying. Then when you see a flight for that, just book it. I understand needing to be careful with the budget, but I am as concerned with getting a direct flight on the date I need at decent times. I would rather pay a few dollars more for a flight that suites my needs better. It does you no good to know that there is a cheap flight on Tuesday if you have to fly on Sunday.

As for when to book, there are no rules. Southwest sometimes starts a little high, goes down for awhile then builds again. Again, this year, they seem to just keep going up from our airport. The sales are hit & miss. We booked our May trip in Dec I think. The price never went down after I booked. Flights sell out all the time now. So if you see a flight you want at a price you can live with, best advice is just book it.