? Southwest from Hartford

[pooch]

Good for you if you end up with rates like that again. For last Oct, I think I got as low as $91, for early Feb the lowest was $99, and for Mar it was $114. (all SWA - BDL) I told DH the days of three trips to FL/year are probably gone.

Delta would have to be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper, because I just love SWA change/refund policy.

Actually those rates were for very late Sept & I booked in June so I still have hope. And Delta's significantly better flight times trumps SW's change/refund policy for us this time. Can't believe they've dropped the early morning outbound and late evening return non-stops. Who wants to get to Disney at 4pm?!?!?

 

[gris gris]

Just inquired about the HPN parking situation, and a helpful DISer pointed me to LaQuinta at Armonk. I called them, and you dont have to stay overnight to get in on their $10 per day parking with the shuttle included which runs pretty much round the clock. I will be choosing that option for a stay in OCT. I usually always take BDL, but seems their flight options have become poorer, planes have become smaller, and their terminals have become filthier. I actually switched to Newark for overseas flights. This will be my first shot at HPN.

I was going to say the same thing! We fly out of BDL because we have family up there so we don't pay for parking. On the other hand we like to fly out of PVD because it is easy to get in and out of. However this year for our November trip I think we'll be going Jet Blue out of HPN. It is about a 20 minute longer drive for us but we will park at the LaQuinta. It's all about figuring out parking, gas, baggage, etc...but I like the early Jet Blue nonstop flights!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Just inquired about the HPN parking situation, and a helpful DISer pointed me to LaQuinta at Armonk. I called them, and you dont have to stay overnight to get in on their $10 per day parking with the shuttle included which runs pretty much round the clock. I will be choosing that option for a stay in OCT. I usually always take BDL, but seems their flight options have become poorer, planes have become smaller, and their terminals have become filthier. I actually switched to Newark for overseas flights. This will be my first shot at HPN.

If you have an early morning flight out of HPN you shouldn't have to worry about the terminal being too crowded. I usually am on the first flight to Orlando on Jet Blue in the morning, and have had no problem getting a seat.

My last flight out of there was a 3:30pm flight, and the terminal was packed. The airport had closed the day before due to a snowstorm, and every flight was leaving 100% full. They would only letting so many flights through TSA at a time. We had no problem finding a comfortable seat up on the second level before they called our flight to pass through TSA.

 

[disneygal55]

We used to fly SW all the time because it was usually cheaper. We tried to use a reward certificate this last January and weren't able to so we flew Delta. Now we tried to book for October and the times were horrible for direct flights, especially for the flight home so again we booked Delta. With SW charging fees for early bird boarding it just isn't the bargain it used to be for us.

 

[pooch]

We used to fly SW all the time because it was usually cheaper. We tried to use a reward certificate this last January and weren't able to so we flew Delta. Now we tried to book for October and the times were horrible for direct flights, especially for the flight home so again we booked Delta. With SW charging fees for early bird boarding it just isn't the bargain it used to be for us.

We flew Delta outbound last year (comp first class upgrade!) and I'm seriously looking at Delta again this year. SWA times are just awful and I think the baggage fees (we only check 1 bag) will be worth it to get more play time!!!

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I also looked at the flight times when the schedule opened for SWA and was hoping for the 6am flight for our October trip . . .

We have a 7:40 am flight going out in May and a 6:00 am flight going out in July. Seems like the October flights are going out for 8:00 am which isn't that bad considering . . . But the $114 one way going and the $146 coming back is what is stopping me from booking. I'm gonna hold off a little . . .I know we'll end up with flight credit again from our July trip if a DING comes out for July . . .we did the $97 DINGS for May and we had a $316 flight credit. I did book July at $114 each way, but I'm hoping to get that down and have more credit for October . . .

 

[Jcricket Fan]

The flight changes for SW out of BDL were talked about yesterday in the Hartford Courant:

"Southwest Airlines will reduce service between Bradley International Airport and Florida beginning in late August.

The number of nonstops between Bradley and Orlando will drop from three a day to two, and nonstops between Bradley and Tampa will drop from two a day to one"

 

[pooch]

The flight changes for SW out of BDL were talked about yesterday in the Hartford Courant:

"Southwest Airlines will reduce service between Bradley International Airport and Florida beginning in late August.

The number of nonstops between Bradley and Orlando will drop from three a day to two, and nonstops between Bradley and Tampa will drop from two a day to one"

But I wish they hadn't cancelled the early morning non-stop. You would think that would be the most popular, hence most likely to be profitable. Getting to Florida at 2:30 in the afternoon is ridiculous! Delta is beginning to look pretty good.

 

[tinkerdee]

I am still hoping for some SW Dings, the $106 down is doable, but the $197 return is not!! I can't find it any cheaper even through Delta for beginning of August. Here's hoping for all us us!

 

[cg1200]

The flight changes for SW out of BDL were talked about yesterday in the Hartford Courant:

"Southwest Airlines will reduce service between Bradley International Airport and Florida beginning in late August.

The number of nonstops between Bradley and Orlando will drop from three a day to two, and nonstops between Bradley and Tampa will drop from two a day to one"

Man, no love at all for BDL. Such a pity. I guess there just isn't enough population nearby to justify the other airlines putting more routes. Maybe Providence, Boston and the NY airports limit BDL's growth.

 

[DebbieB]

But I wish they hadn't cancelled the early morning non-stop. You would think that would be the most popular, hence most likely to be profitable. Getting to Florida at 2:30 in the afternoon is ridiculous! Delta is beginning to look pretty good.

They position their planes countrywide where they can be the most profitable. Business flyers want the early morning flights and are willing to pay more for them. Flights to MCO or TPA are usually not heavy business routes. Southwest has stopped non-stops completely from several cities to MCO, Washington Dulles was one dropped from the fall schedule.

 

[kritter]

The flight changes for SW out of BDL were talked about yesterday in the Hartford Courant:

"Southwest Airlines will reduce service between Bradley International Airport and Florida beginning in late August.

The number of nonstops between Bradley and Orlando will drop from three a day to two, and nonstops between Bradley and Tampa will drop from two a day to one"

I did not see this. This is such a bummer!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Either Lewisc or bicker explains that occasionally. Until/unless one or the other arrives at this thread , my poor imitation of that explanation is: flights to tourist attraction locations are generally among the LEAST profitable routes an airline flies. That can be seen in threads like this one, where people are repeatedly seeking the absolute lowest fare possible (side note: there's another current thread with numerous threads about Southwest's current 'high' fares and how cheap the fares used to be).

Low fares aren't profitable for an airline.

 

[cormmac3]

Last October we flew out of PVD for the first time, cheaper and easier. We stayed at a hotel nearby and parked the car. Our flight left at 7am and we were in MCO at 9:30, I would definitely do this again,I don't think I would fly out of BDL again. LOVED PVD!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

But now Boston's cheaper (on some of its flights) than the other New England airports are on ANY of theirs! Example: someone on another thread wants to go to WDW at the end of August. Manchester is all $149 each way; Providence is all $139 each way; I don't recall Hartford exactly, but in that range; Boston has some flights as low as $109. Problem? No nonstop flights from Boston So it's not just about the cost; it's also about the value. How much is it worth to save two or three hours and not have to change planes - in both directions....?

 

[cg1200]

Last October we flew out of PVD for the first time, cheaper and easier. We stayed at a hotel nearby and parked the car. Our flight left at 7am and we were in MCO at 9:30, I would definitely do this again,I don't think I would fly out of BDL again. LOVED PVD!!

PVD is way too far for someone like me. I'm in the Danbury area so HPN, SWF and BDL are the closest airports. JFK and LGA are about 75 minutes but traffice could add 30-60 minutes to that drive.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I know that seems far/long, cg1200 - but for the right fare... I've seen posts from DISers, especially in the midwest, willing to (or at least considering) driving up to four hours to save money on airfare.

Of course, I'm spoiled. I live twenty miles from Logan

 

[cg1200]

I know that seems far/long, cg1200 - but for the right fare... I've seen posts from DISers, especially in the midwest, willing to (or at least considering) driving up to four hours to save money on airfare.

Of course, I'm spoiled. I live twenty miles from Logan

Yeah I know. I just don't think I would do that. Like I said all the NYC airports are less than 2 hours from my house in CT so I have many, many options for airports. I just try and avoid the NYC ones because they are always very crowded and tend to have more delays going/coming. Plus parking is expensive. The regional airports are much simpler to use in every way and usually have better pricing.

 

[pooch]

Either Lewisc or bicker explains that occasionally. Until/unless one or the other arrives at this thread , my poor imitation of that explanation is: flights to tourist attraction locations are generally among the LEAST profitable routes an airline flies. That can be seen in threads like this one, where people are repeatedly seeking the absolute lowest fare possible (side note: there's another current thread with numerous threads about Southwest's current 'high' fares and how cheap the fares used to be).

Low fares aren't profitable for an airline.

was not thinking in those terms and this WOULD BE Bicker's argument! And I'm pretty sure I posted on the "SWA is too high - got way better fares in past years" thread!! One thing I did notice this year, though, was that Delta is currently matching SWA fares out of BDL - never saw that before.

 

[Bay Hill]

>>The flight changes for SW out of BDL were talked about yesterday in the Hartford Courant:

"Southwest Airlines will reduce service between Bradley International Airport and Florida beginning in late August.

The number of nonstops between Bradley and Orlando will drop from three a day to two, and nonstops between Bradley and Tampa will drop from two a day to one"<<

No more early morning flights? It looks like Delta on our next trip.

Speaking of parking at BDL, If you stay at the Doubletree on RT 75, they have a stay,fly and park rate of 109.00. You can park your car free for 2 weeks.