Southwest Flights

[Murphman]

Out of curiosity, did anyone else have fewer nonstop flight options than usual? There are usually at least 4 nonstop round trip options for Houston-Orlando (especially on weekend flights), but for April and May there are only 3 flights for each end of the trip.

Yes Ashley! Flying out of Pittsburgh--and back--far fewer nonstop than usual. In fact on our original dates there was only 1 each day. Usually has been 3-4 to choose from at least!

 

[trtl6941]

We were online at 8am (did not know flights were open earlier, duh!) SWA out of MCO to PVD cost us $400/ each. It is non stop but everything else was sold out by the time we got there. We are leaving at 5pm as well.

I was on at 7:00, same issue except I refuse to pay that $400! United has a flight for $235, might go with that instead.

 

[TJDisneymama]

We were online at 8am (did not know flights were open earlier, duh!) SWA out of MCO to PVD cost us $400/ each. It is non stop but everything else was sold out by the time we got there. We are leaving at 5pm as well.

yikes.... one-way?

 

[TJDisneymama]

yes, nonstop flights have gotten fewer and fewer. Esp. since SW bought out AT and seemed to cut out a lot of AT's nonstop flights, but didn't replace them with any SW nonstop flights. I only fly nonstop so sucks for me. I mean, I would consider it on a long flight, say out of country or to the west coast or something, but I'm not getting off and switching planes for a measly 3 hour flight!!

 

[DVC Grammy]

yes, nonstop flights have gotten fewer and fewer. Esp. since SW bought out AT and seemed to cut out a lot of AT's nonstop flights, but didn't replace them with any SW nonstop flights. I only fly nonstop so sucks for me. I mean, I would consider it on a long flight, say out of country or to the west coast or something, but I'm not getting off and switching planes for a measly 3 hour flight!!

This next trip back " home" will be the first time I had to book a non-nonstop ))......silly word) flight unless I wanted to arrive at night . SW has changed their entire schedule.........fooey!

 

[ICF]

Out of curiosity, did anyone else have fewer nonstop flight options than usual? There are usually at least 4 nonstop round trip options for Houston-Orlando (especially on weekend flights), but for April and May there are only 3 flights for each end of the trip.

Not leaving until 6/1, so these were a day to short for me....but I did notice that.

Indy - Orlando there were only 2 flights on the last couple of Saturdays in May. One non-stop and one coneecting. When I was looking before (when only April dates were out), there always 5 or 6 flights down and about half were non-stop.

Coming home, there are only 4/5 flights and only one NS from Orlando - Indy.

Hopefully we have more options in June!!

 

[mlittig]

I was up at 6 to book flights and I am so glad I did because my flight down is now $100 more

 

[Kassidysdad]

I was up at 6 to book flights and I am so glad I did because my flight down is now $100 more

You and me both I had 53000 points that I got from my SW VISA aaaaand I still had to pay some. O well, still a good deal & one less thing to worry about. I wish everyone else good luck who still needs flights.

 

[conniehar90]

Not going to Disney but going to DC over Memorial Day weekend. Fares are $60 higher pp on SW than American and United. I am bummed. I have flights on hold for 24 hours on American but I really want to fly SW. We won't have checked bags but I am freaking out about the $150 change fee should we need to make any changes. I love Southwest's policies but not loving their prices this time around!

 

[cinmouse]

I was shocked at the SW prices for MA vacation week so we are going Air Tran 4 tickets $1190, which is not too bad as it is direct on the way home...southwest wanted $1500 for Tue same dates 4/12 - 4/18

 

[TJDisneymama]

I was shocked at the SW prices for MA vacation week so we are going Air Tran 4 tickets $1190, which is not too bad as it is direct on the way home...southwest wanted $1500 for Tue same dates 4/12 - 4/18

wow that's not bad......$300/pp/ RT?? Must be b/c you're flying home on a Thursday; I needed Sunday and I haven't seen anything under $700-$800/RT/PP. I've only booked my return flight so far (AT) for $215/pp. I'm still holding out for my flights down on the 12th. So far nothing under $350. I'm holding out for $250.

 

[twotoohappy]

I was on at 6am and I got bumped out of the cheap seats. Pvd-Mco 4/12 5:50pm 300- 4/20 2:20 pm 350- both are nonstop. The flight home is already sold out so I'm hoping to get bumped for some free $ and credit

 

[TJDisneymama]

Southwest experts -- so prices went up yesterday morning for some flights I was interested in, and this morning have gone back down to what they originally were. I know Tuesdays is generally when fares drop. Any chance they will drop further some time today or tomorrow? Or is there basically a set low price and this is it?

 

[Jestocost]

Southwest experts -- so prices went up yesterday morning for some flights I was interested in, and this morning have gone back down to what they originally were. I know Tuesdays is generally when fares drop. Any chance they will drop further some time today or tomorrow? Or is there basically a set low price and this is it?

It's all going to depend on demand. If you are planning to travel at a peak time and/or on weekends from an area where you don't have many other airlines flying to MCO, then the chances that prices will come down are slim and none. For every one of those factors that does not apply, you increase the possibility that fares will be discounted further in the future.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Southwest experts -- so prices went up yesterday morning for some flights I was interested in, and this morning have gone back down to what they originally were. I know Tuesdays is generally when fares drop. Any chance they will drop further some time today or tomorrow? Or is there basically a set low price and this is it?

I booked our return flight yesterday because I knew it wouldn't go down (Sunday at the end of school vacation week). But I held off on the flight down because we usually fly down on a Thursday but could also do Wednesday. Plus we have the option of flying into Tampa.

Unfortunately, the prices didn't drop on those flights today so I'm guessing the demand is high enough to keep the prices up. I went ahead and booked because I was afraid to wait. I also compared the prices to what is currently out there for February vacation week & it didn't look like those flights were on sale today either.

I got yesterday's flights on points at the equivalent of $212 for two and $247 for two. Today I was able to get $212 for three tickets and $247 for one. That's WAY higher than I had hoped. I should have snagged the $179 flights yesterday but we were on the fence about pulling the kids out another day to fly Wednesday. I still ended up booking Wednesday today, but the afternoon flight so they'll only miss about 90 minutes of school. Our hotel won't cost any extra because it's a timeshare exchange that is a full week. I guess, using fuzzy disney math, we are saving money by using one of the timeshare nights that the room was going to sit empty.

Good luck to those still trying to figure out what to do for April!

 

[TJDisneymama]

I have a question about booking reward flights, when I'm ready to book (new to reward flights). I'm booking 4 flights, I will have enough points for 2. Can I do it all in one transaction? Purchase the 4 flights and when it comes to payment say to use points for 2 and then pay $$ for the other 2? Or do I have to do 2 separate transactions?

 

[TJDisneymama]

I booked our return flight yesterday because I knew it wouldn't go down (Sunday at the end of school vacation week). But I held off on the flight down because we usually fly down on a Thursday but could also do Wednesday. Plus we have the option of flying into Tampa.

Unfortunately, the prices didn't drop on those flights today so I'm guessing the demand is high enough to keep the prices up. I went ahead and booked because I was afraid to wait. I also compared the prices to what is currently out there for February vacation week & it didn't look like those flights were on sale today either.

I got yesterday's flights on points at the equivalent of $212 for two and $247 for two. Today I was able to get $212 for three tickets and $247 for one. That's WAY higher than I had hoped. I should have snagged the $179 flights yesterday but we were on the fence about pulling the kids out another day to fly Wednesday. I still ended up booking Wednesday today, but the afternoon flight so they'll only miss about 90 minutes of school. Our hotel won't cost any extra because it's a timeshare exchange that is a full week. I guess, using fuzzy disney math, we are saving money by using one of the timeshare nights that the room was going to sit empty.

Good luck to those still trying to figure out what to do for April!

yeah, I have more options for flying down (various times, various days) then I did flying back so I was lucky to get our flight back for $210/pp (on AT). But there is one flight in particular I want for the way down and it's "down to" $318. That's no deal so I'm holding out.

 

[DisMomAmy]

I have a question about booking reward flights, when I'm ready to book (new to reward flights). I'm booking 4 flights, I will have enough points for 2. Can I do it all in one transaction? Purchase the 4 flights and when it comes to payment say to use points for 2 and then pay $$ for the other 2? Or do I have to do 2 separate transactions?

I'm not really sure but I think you need to buy them separately. It seems to make you choose points OR cash, not a combination of the two. In order to book the two rewards flights I booked today, I had to buy additional points for each of the two passengers (my DH & DS11) to give them each enough. Also watch the prices - if you are buying for 4 and are getting one price, change the passengers to 1 or 2 and see if the price goes down. That worked for me and I got 3 at 212 and only 1 at 247. When I searched for 4, they all cost 247.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Also watch the prices - if you are buying for 4 and are getting one price, change the passengers to 1 or 2 and see if the price goes down. That worked for me and I got 3 at 212 and only 1 at 247. When I searched for 4, they all cost 247.

Oh, good point! I only need to pay for 2 flights so I'll just search for 2. Ugh, I don't like the thought of having to do them separately. I'm so paranoid I will buy 2 and then go back to buy the other 2 and they're suddenly sold out or something.

 

[tinkermommyof3]

Oh, good point! I only need to pay for 2 flights so I'll just search for 2. Ugh, I don't like the thought of having to do them separately. I'm so paranoid I will buy 2 and then go back to buy the other 2 and they're suddenly sold out or something.

Keep in mind that you will also have three separate confirmation numbers. 2 for each of the flights booked with points and 1 for the 2 flights that you pay for out of pocket. It helps to have them all close by when doing 24 hour check-in if you are not paying for EBCI. It took me a bit to get used to booking points. I booked 5 flights with points and I had 5 different confirmation #'s. I was used to having one for the entire family. It is actually not so bad considering you are getting free flights. Just need to stay organized. Have a great trip!