Southwest Flights

[northerngirl]

Hi everyone,

Just looking for a few pearls of wisdom from the 'veterans'. DB, DSIL, and their two children are looking at possibly flying out of Buffalo to MCO to join us at SSR in mid-November. SWA fares are out now through Dec. 12 (I believe that's the date). In your experience, is it better for them to wait to book in order to get possibly a better rate for Mid-November or should they go ahead and book it now??

Please advise.

You guys are the greatest!!

Thanks in advance.

 

[atigeg]

I would say to book it now, since SW has special fares available right now.

but when I looked at Buf to MCO pricing Ouch!!

Sidestep had an AirTran for $172 rt, but the times were terrible.

In comparison. I got $115 rt from Chicago, that seems to be the one-way price from Buffalo. Those flights are early nov, and early dec (late nov includes a flight on 11/18 and that one was $175)

If you are traveling around Thanksgiving (11/18 to 11/28) you should book now since those dates are filling and there wont be any sale seats for those days.

Good Luck!!

 

[princess aurora]

We are travelling to Disney Oct 3 - Oct 11. We have not yet booked our flights as I've been waiting for fare sales (too bad we weren't flying in Sept.)
Prices seem to be hovering and now getting closer to our travel dates flights are booking up. My question is do I now book SWA to get the times I want and pay the higher price or still hope for a seat sale and risk crappier times or stop-overs? I have heard you can get a credit on the sales and inturn get the credit added to your credit card???? Anyone else experience this????

I think I'm planning to stay with SWA b/c they have decent times and are the only non-stop flights I can find.

Any suggestions??????!!!!!!!

 

[DonnaL]

Princess Aurora,
I would book your early Oct. flights now and keep watching for sales. SW
usually posts systemwide sales or any sale for that matter early on Tuesday morning. You can provide your email address to them on their website and you will be notified by email of sales. You could also subscribe to DING which
would give you immediate popups of sales from your market. I can't use DING because we're a MAC family and DING isn't compatible with MAC. If a sale does indeed come up for your dates and flights you can simply go into the system to change your tickets and get a credit from SW. As to whether they will give you a credit on your credit card or simply credit for a future flight is
debatable(?). Some people have had luck calling customer service and getting their card credited ......others have not. I have never tried since I always take the credit for future flights since we travel the same route at least twice a year and I would rather have a credit toward the next trip. I did notice the current systemwide sale is through the end of schedule for most markets, but, only end of Sept. for Florida currently. That may change as the
schedule opens up. We're traveling in mid December and I was able to get the flights we wanted one way on 12/10 but need to wait on schedule for return on 12/17. Currently that price is $356 for 4 of us, but, I'm hoping it will go down before I need to book the return and then I'll use the credit for that portion of trip. If not and it goes down after I book I'll just use the credit for
our May trip.

 

[princess aurora]

Thanks for the reply. I'll guess I'll take my chances on the credit card getting credited but book my Oct flights soon. I already have DING! and notified by email of sales I just feel like I'm missing something or will lose the flight availability if I wait.

Cheers!