Southwest for President's week

[elaine and the boys]

Does anyone have any experience with Southwest flights during President's week in February? I'm sure the $$$$ will be up as that is Winter Break for many schools. I'll be flying out of Providence, RI....or maybe Boston.

I guess I'm just trying to budget an approximate amount of money for air travel. Any advice?

 

[bob_bldr]

We have flown SW from Providence to Orlando on President's Week in '07, '09 and '10. We paid $2336 in '07, $2845 in '09 and $3326 in '10 for 5 R/T non-stop tix. The only choice for tix on the day they went on sale for Feb '10 was $600/RT or $660/RT for Business Select seats. If we added the cost of Early Bird Checkin to the $600/RT, the $40 difference wasn't worth it to us, so we booked the BS seats. Every flight we have flown on President's Week has been sold out and we have experienced several small delays (30 to 60 mins) in the last 2 years. I have never seen the prices go down for PVD to MCO for President's week.

I looked into flying out of Boston but I don't think that SW has non-stop flights from Boston to Orlando.

We already have tix for President's week 2011 but we are flying Worcester to Sanford for only $1282 for 5 R/T non-stop tix. Even with an extra $500 for a rental car, we're still paying less than we have for the last 3 trips.

 

[elaine and the boys]

Thanks...your info is rather enlightening. It certainly is costly to fly during that particular week in February. We have always driven from Cape Cod to Orlando, but now that both our sons will be in college, my husband and I figured we could afford to fly as this trip will be "just the two of us". Maybe we should rethink the flying option and just drive as we always have. $300 to drive (I always book free hotels with points coming and going) sounds alot better than $1200 or more to fly. Well, I've got until the summer to think about it. Thanks again!

 

[drewc]

Just curious, as I know I'll need to be on there the moment it opens. I have a couple rewards that I'd like to use, although I've heard that can be extremely difficult to get done in time, before the flights are blocked.

 

[Lewisc]

There is no guarantee SW will have any standard reward tickets available. There is no guarantee SW will have any deeply discounted fares available, no matter when you book.

Those flights will sell out. Peak flights may sell out at close to full fare. Some people have limited vacation schedules. People who need a specific flight to catch a cruise, or start a one week vacation, will pay.

You might trade in 2 regular RR tickets for one freedoom. Check black out dates first. It may make sense to use the RR for the expensive leg and pay for the other direction. You can use one RR ticket for 2 passengers, one way.

 

[ccgirl]

ELAINEANDTHEBOYS - I see you drive from the Cape. Thinking of doing this next year as my DD is getting older and I don't want to pull her out of school nor do I want to pay $600 pp to fly. How long does it take you to drive and where do you stop? Thanks!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Just curious, as I know I'll need to be on there the moment it opens. I have a couple rewards that I'd like to use, although I've heard that can be extremely difficult to get done in time, before the flights are blocked.

From SWA website.

On June 10, we will open our schedule for sale through January 7, 2011. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

I'm thinking September/October before they open up for February 2011.

 

[Sherrkel]

I want to fly Southwest, BUT they've just been too darn expensive for flights from Manchester (NH) during the last two weeks of February (I say last two weeks, because NH vacations are usually the last week of February and they've always been too expensive ($400 plus PP RT) for our vacations).

For Feb 2011, NH will also be on vacation during Pres Week - the school districts have changed schedule for most of NH next year.

I'll try to book JetBlue from Boston again first. Hopefully will get good pricing as I have in the past.
We're right on the border, so we can go either airport.

Good luck to anyone traveling during those weeks in Feb 2011 - the airlines want to make a nice profit from us!

 

[elaine and the boys]

ELAINEANDTHEBOYS - I see you drive from the Cape. Thinking of doing this next year as my DD is getting older and I don't want to pull her out of school nor do I want to pay $600 pp to fly. How long does it take you to drive and where do you stop? Thanks!

Well, we've made the trek in 2 days (1 overnight stay) and 2 1/2 days (2 overnights).

When we've traveled using the 2 day plan, we leave by 5 am on a Saturday, driving to Wilson, NC. Then up and out by 6:30 am on Sunday morning and onward to Orlando. On the way back home, we leave Orlando by 6:30 am and drive to Frederickburg, VA on the Saturday, then up early again on Sunday morning to head home.

We have always done the ride home in 2 full days, but sometimes we'll use 2 1/2 days to get to Orlando. In this case, we leave Friday afternoon at 3 pm (as soon as I get out of school!), drive to East Rutheford, NJ. On Saturday morning, we leave early and head to Savannah, GA. Then Sunday morning, we'll drive to St. Augustine, go to church, then finish the ride to Orlando.

Because we go to Catholic Mass each weekend, our travel plans are timed to arrive at our Saturday night destinations in time for evening Mass. The St. Augustine stop is always cool for Sunday Mass, though, as the basilica there is home to the oldest Catholic parish in America!

I believe it takes between 22-24 hours to make the trip. It all depends on traffic.....and how fast your willing to driving in South Carolina/Georgia to keep up with the flow of traffic!

Our overnight stays on travel days are booked for free on points at Hilton brand hotel/motels. We like to stay at Hampton Inns, as there is a free breakfast.