Southwest Fares - Get 'em while you can!

[CindyAnn]

Southwest just updated their website for flights up to December 11th today. Four people can fly out of Buffalo to Orlando for $700.80 USD during November (and no doubt other dates). That price includes all taxes, but the best fares are usually sold out quickly. Just a heads up for all the fall vacationers!

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

Would have only saved $70.00 and would have had to stay over in Buffalo overnight or leave here in the wee hours of the morning.

 

[CindyAnn]

Okay, instead of $700.80 USD, make that $540.80 USD for 4 people to fly roundtrip to Orlando in November out of Buffalo.

Even if you booked at $79 per person per leg (or higher), you can rebook at the lower price (the $59 internet special which seemed to appear sometime today or yesterday) with Southwest, by calling and cancelling the original flight and using your original confirmation number to apply the funds to your new flight. Pretty amazing! The difference in funds ($160.00 in this case) is kept on account with Southwest, and can be used any time for up to 1 year after the original booking. Wow!

 

[hockey mom]

Thanks for the heads up. I just paid $980 Canadian for 5 of us. Can't beat that. This will be our third time flying southwest- we love it.

 

[CindyAnn]

Hockey mom - I'm glad you got that great deal! Can you recommend one of the airport hotels in Buffalo (where you can leave your car during your vacation)?

Thanks,

 

[hockey mom]

Both times we have stayed at the Holiday inn on Buell (sp)? ave. It was great. It opened about a year ago and the rooms are very fresh, clean, and comfy beds. Shuttle service has always been around 5 mins to be picked up.

 

[disneywithkids]

Thank you CindyAnn!!

I also originally booked at $79 and was able to get the new $59 special!

I never thought they would come out with cheaper rates so quickly and only planned on checking the Southwest site weekly for now on! I probably would have missed it!

Thanks again!!

 

[CindyAnn]

Disneywithkids - You're welcome!

Hockeymom - Thanks for your tip about the Holiday Inn on Buell. I checked the website and it looks just fine for us.

 

[Alysa]

I don't understand - I can never find this on their site - I only see $95 one way and booking 14 days out. Where am I going wrong - could someone send me a link?

 

[CindyAnn]

Alysa - The website is www.southwest.com. The internet rates and other special rates tend to book up quickly and I know the lowest two rates have now sold out for our dates. Hope you can find something!

 

[Alysa]

Thank you for your help CindyAnn - I can only find $94 - does this mean that the special is gone? Is there a way to sign up for future alerts or anything or do you just check every few days? Am I looking in the right spot? When it says 14 or 21 day advance booking, does this mean that you can only book 14 or 21 days out? If so, how did you get November flights? Again, many thanks!

 

[CindyAnn]

Alysa - I think when you're seeing the 14 or 21 days out comment, that's the MINIMUM number of days in advance that you have to purchase the airfare. I randomly tried some dates a few minutes ago (e.g. December 3 - December 10; October 22 - 29: November 12 - 19) and could still get 4 seats on any of them at a total price of $540.80 USD per round trip for all of the seats. Even in $CDN, that's around $180 per person or maybe a bit higher. Those are all non-stop (N/S on the Southwest website) flights. I think I chose Fridays for the most part, since weekends generally book up earlier.

Are you scrolling all the way over to the right where the cheapest fares are?

What dates are you trying for, and can you be flexible with them at all? Especially to avoid weekend travel?

GOOD LUCK!