Southwest Experts

[buzzrelly]

Once Southwest's "wanna get away" fares have sold out, do they ever add more? The other two categories are still available. Thanks.

 

[rwdavis2]

Rarely.

 

[ccgirl]

Once Southwest's "wanna get away" fares have sold out, do they ever add more? The other two categories are still available. Thanks.

Sometimes, but not likely. Especially if the flight is soon.

 

[conniehar90]

I have seen this happen many times. We are currently heading down the week before Easter. Since purchasing the tickets I have checked the fares daily. At one point, a few weeks after purchasing our tickets, our flight said it was sold out. It is currently showing sold out, but I would say 2 or 3 times in between, it popped up with an available fare for a few days. I don't know if that means someone changed their reservation and opened up the seats or if SW decided to open up a few more seats at the Wanna Get Away fare.

So, keep checking every day!

 

[buzzrelly]

It's for April 19th. I was just checking. We already bought our tickets but if something opens up I'd consider trying to change. Thanks.

 

[ccgirl]

I have seen this happen many times. We are currently heading down the week before Easter. Since purchasing the tickets I have checked the fares daily. At one point, a few weeks after purchasing our tickets, our flight said it was sold out. It is currently showing sold out, but I would say 2 or 3 times in between, it popped up with an available fare for a few days. I don't know if that means someone changed their reservation and opened up the seats or if SW decided to open up a few more seats at the Wanna Get Away fare.

So, keep checking every day!

Likely, this is due to someone changing their travel plans. Especially given the time of year.

It's for April 19th. I was just checking. We already bought our tickets but if something opens up I'd consider trying to change. Thanks.

As you know, that is during Spring Break up here. It is unlikely but may happen if someone else changes their travel plans.

 

[buzzrelly]

I'm still holding out hope...ya never know! Thanks!

 

[conniehar90]

Likely, this is due to someone changing their travel plans. Especially given the time of year.

To the OP - I posted earlier that I frequently see these fares open up.

At the time I posted that, only 3 out the 10 possible non stop flights on my March 30th flight showed Wanna Get Away availability. Today - 8 out of the 10 show availability. Plus, several weeks ago the available flights were around $350-$400 one way. Today, there are 2 flights under $300 (one at $228). I highly doubt that this many people changed their flight plans. I think SW has a formula and if they haven't sold so many seats by certain time periods they open them up at a lower fare to try to sell them.

Just keep watching and I bet you will find the same thing.

 

[buzzrelly]

Wow...that's great. I keep checking daily so I still have a glimmer of hope. And in any case, I have my back-up-plan, so to speak. Which is actually my ONLY plan right now! Haha! Thanks for the update

 

[DonnaL]

Definitely agree with conniehar90.....many times over the years I've seen the lowest fare sold out and if the higher fares aren't selling, SW has released more seats to the Wanna Get Away fares.....however, be cautioned.....this usually happens during less traveled seasons. You usually will not encounter this scenario over a holiday, spring break, etc. We just traveled from Newark to Phoenix on Sat 1/12 (low travel time) with SWA and had Wanna Get Away fares available the night before our flight.....actually, they were probably available right up to boarding.....since we had 99 people on board a flight which had 143 seats...it was awesome since we all had the middle seat to stretch out for the 5 1/2 hr flight. However, on our return trip 1/18 every seat was booked.....so it really it the luck of the draw.

 

[magsmum]

Definitely agree with conniehar90.....many times over the years I've seen the lowest fare sold out and if the higher fares aren't selling, SW has released more seats to the Wanna Get Away fares.....however, be cautioned.....this usually happens during less traveled seasons. You usually will not encounter this scenario over a holiday, spring break, etc. We just traveled from Newark to Phoenix on Sat 1/12 (low travel time) with SWA and had Wanna Get Away fares available the night before our flight.....actually, they were probably available right up to boarding.....since we had 99 people on board a flight which had 143 seats...it was awesome since we all had the middle seat to stretch out for the 5 1/2 hr flight. However, on our return trip 1/18 every seat was booked.....so it really it the luck of the draw.

We are travelling President's Week from New England and I have seen those fares be unavailable then available then unavailable repeatedly- on some of the most desired flights. I rarely see changes once the flight is listed as sold out in all 3 fare categories.

 

[DonnaL]

Agreed, magsmum.....once all categories are sold out the only way is usually if several people cancel and open up those seats. However, if the only category sold out is Wanna Get Away fare...you will usually see a price drop on the other two categories...since ultimately the airline wants to fill those seats.....some dollars are better than none. I have always found my best fares come about 7 to 8 weeks out....the exception being holiday or spring break travel.

 

[buzzrelly]

Here's another question....if you book an anytime fare and then a wanna get away opens up, can you switch it and get a refund?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Here's another question....if you book an anytime fare and then a wanna get away opens up, can you switch it and get a refund?

No, but you can rebook and get a travel credit, to be used within one year of the original purchase.

 

[wdwfan1]

For our upcoming March trip fares opened at a very, very high $285 each way. When 180 each way popped up I booked our trip. Since then I am down to $140 going down and $110 coming back (and still checking) Not as cheap as in the past but lower fares do suddenly appear. Good luck.