Southwest December Fare Question

[mdhkitten]

I fly Southwest all of the time, but never have in November or December. I'm planning on going to WDW December 4-6, and was wondering if anyone knows whether or not during this time period that they run good deals closer to that date. I was contemplating just doing a package through them, but if you think that I should wait because the fares will likely be cheaper later on then please let me know! I subscribe to Ding already, so I watch those fares, but know that they typically don't come out until the month before. Thanks for your help!

 

[Tigger By The Tail]

I am also planning on going 12/4 - 12/8 and booked with southwest last week for $59. I'm hoping the price goes down lower but i think those fares don't get posted until October or so.

Did you sign up for their email sales? Thats how I got the $59 notificaltion.

 

[mdhkitten]

Yes, I do get their email sales as well, but just realized that we were going a couple of days ago, so I no longer have my email. If anyone still has one, I would appreciate it!

 

[loveswdw]

SW still hasn't had any good deals for our area (KY) yet so they may not have run anything for AL either. I've been watching for months now, checking at least twice a day if not more. It hasn't dropped below $135 OW at all. I keep hoping that they'll offer a sale soon. We paid $69 OW last trip and I was hoping for at least something close to that. I get the e-mail sales and I have DING downloaded. Still nothing yet. Just keep your fingers crossed.

We are going to WDW Dec. 2nd-8th.

 

[mdhkitten]

SW still hasn't had any good deals for our area (KY) yet so they may not have run anything for AL either. I've been watching for months now, checking at least twice a day if not more. It hasn't dropped below $135 OW at all. I keep hoping that they'll offer a sale soon. We paid $69 OW last trip and I was hoping for at least something close to that. I get the e-mail sales and I have DING downloaded. Still nothing yet. Just keep your fingers crossed.

We are going to WDW Dec. 2nd-8th.

You should look at www.swavacations.com if you haven't already.............I can get a pretty good deal on there, the only thing is I have to pay it all at once, which I was wasn't wanting to do. I wanted to book one night hotel now, and then in a month book the air, etc. I thihk that I figured out that the air would be about $130 r/t, as opposed to over $200 r/t not booking the package.

 

[loveswdw]

Thanks but we don't book a package. We're DVC members so we already have our room reservation. Just hoping for CHEAP airfare!

And I just got DINGed for $59 OW but its only through Sept. 30th!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'd hold out for the good deals that are sure to come. Unless you're flying over Thanksgiving or Christmas that is. Early Dec. is one of the least crowded times of the year in WDW.
I always book the flights that I want then as the price drops or a Ding is offered, I re-book and snag the credit. If you know for sure you won't be flying in the next year then this probably won't work for you.
Between Dings and sales we have $39 PHL-MCO and $49 MCO-PHL. I have $453 in credits to use toward our next trip.
That's why we love Southwest!

 

[clombardi]

I am also planning on going 12/4 - 12/8 and booked with southwest last week for $59. I'm hoping the price goes down lower but i think those fares don't get posted until October or so.

Did you sign up for their email sales? Thats how I got the $59 notificaltion.

I also booked the $59 fare for Decemeber 7th. Are you saying that if the fare goes lower, you will get it for the lower price? How will you go about doing that? Thanks for any info

 

[clombardi]

I always book the flights that I want then as the price drops or a Ding is offered, I re-book and snag the credit.

Can you explain how to do this? I had no idea you could. I guess I just figured non refundable meant you were stuck with the price you paid.

 

[mdhkitten]

Can you explain how to do this? I had no idea you could. I guess I just figured non refundable meant you were stuck with the price you paid.

I believe what they're saying is the price that you pay is non-refundable. What they're doing is going ahead and booking at the lowest price at the time, and then if something lower comes along later, they book with the credit from the flight that they originally purchased and use the rest of the credit for sometime within the next year. The credits are good for a year, so if you know you're flying again within that time it can be a good deal.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I also booked the $59 fare for Decemeber 7th. Are you saying that if the fare goes lower, you will get it for the lower price? How will you go about doing that? Thanks for any info

YES!!!
Go to southwest.com and click on "travel center" (top right of screen) Then click on "Change Air Reservation." Just enter your conf. # and name. It will ask you what flight you want to change it to. You can still choose the same date and time but it will rebook at the lower price and give you a credit that you have to use 1 yr. from the original date of purchase. You can get a 6 mo extension but then you can't use the credit online like money. To use an extended credit during the 6 mo. extension, you fly, save your itinerary/conf. # and mail it with your credit and they will give you a refund. Just a little more effort and wait if you go past the 1 yr. mark.

As for Ding fares, you can't follow the above steps and just clink on Change Air Reservation. You have to cancel the first ressie and quickly rebook using Ding. SWA reps. recommend that you cancel by phone, not online, to make the original funds immediately available. It all sounds complicated but it's really not that bad once you do it. The 1st time I rebooked with a Ding, the SWA rep. stayed on the phone w/me and walked me thru each step.
Once again, this is why we LOVE Southwest.