Southwest for March?

[westjones]

When should I start watching for the March dates for Southwest to open? I don't want to miss booking early because right now, the prices I am seeing will mean we have to drive! And I don't want to if I can get a good price for flying.
Thanks!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Don't know when in March you need, but this is off SWA's site:

We are currently accepting air reservations through January 7, 2011. On August 17, we will open our schedule for sale through March 11, 2011. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

 

[stefanospops]

Thanks for the update! I'm debating if I should just take the Air Tran price for my return flight of $89 (orlando to Buffalo) or wait until Southwest and Jetblue open their schedules. $15 extra per suitcase on Air Tran so Southwest and Jetblue would need to be $104 to even out. Anyone care to weigh in on my dilemma?

 

[KerriMc]

I bought March tickets for SW last year and that was on October 13th! I remember because I was sick that day , so I was able to be online right on time!!

 

[GrammyJudy]

Thanks for the update! I'm debating if I should just take the Air Tran price for my return flight of $89 (orlando to Buffalo) or wait until Southwest and Jetblue open their schedules. $15 extra per suitcase on Air Tran so Southwest and Jetblue would need to be $104 to even out. Anyone care to weigh in on my dilemma?

jet blue has opened up jan & feb. where do you fly from?

 

[stefanospops]

Flying out of Buffalo. Already booked my flight to Orlando through Jetblue. Will take my chances and book my return through them or Southwest. I realized that the $89 Air Tran fare also needs $20 to pick my seats (have three very young kids so I need to make sure we sit together. Then add the $15 per suitcase and I am now looking at paying more than I paid on Jetblue for the same things.

 

[westjones]

Thanks for the update! I will be so glad when we get our airfare settled. It is always the most stressful part of our trip.
Thanks again.

 

[mkarizona]

In my experience the best prices are at about 3 months out. We prefer to fly Southwest, and always book 3 months or less ahead.

 

[txsoccermom]

SO glad to find this thread!!! I would much rather fly than drive from Dallas Would rather fly AA too b/c that airport is closer to us, but the thought of paying the checked baggage rate for 4 of us each way doesn't thrill me. If I can find a decent rate on SWA, I'm all for it! Question is, it said for travel thru March 11, 2011. What if we start travel that day, and come back the following week? Would we still get the discounted rates now, or need to wait more? Also, if we were to book something and the rate went down, does SWA credit you, as someone else was mentioning?

Thanks for all the info and the heads up!

 

[westjones]

Prices can change, so if you wait, you may not get the same price a week later. You could always buy a ticket one way and then later buy the return ticket when the dates are released. Of course there is no knowing what prices will be like then.

Last year we bought our ticket to WDW on SWA and our return on Airtran because the prices were better that way. So you can always use a different airline to return.