Southwest is not always cheaper

[sam_gordon]

I booked RT on Delta for a trip in June (Memorial Day weekend actually). $134/pp + taxes & fees... $182 total RT pp. I'll sign up for the AmEx Delta card so baggage fees will be $0, but even if they weren't... an extra $50/pp RT... $232.

I checked on SW today and RT is $265 pp. PLUS, the airport SW serves is ~90minutes away.

I know many people save money on SW. I'm just saying they're not ALWAYS cheaper... even when you add bag fees.

 

[dudspizza]

I booked RT on Delta for a trip in June (Memorial Day weekend actually). $134/pp + taxes & fees... $182 total RT pp. I'll sign up for the AmEx Delta card so baggage fees will be $0, but even if they weren't... an extra $50/pp RT... $232.

I checked on SW today and RT is $265 pp. PLUS, the airport SW serves is ~90minutes away.

I know many people save money on SW. I'm just saying they're not ALWAYS cheaper... even when you add bag fees.

95% of the time the are not cheaper out of MSP.

duds

 

[Brian Noble]

I don't know if it is 95%, but more often than not Delta or AirTran beats them out of DTW as well. (Spirit does too, but I wouldn't fly Spirit on a bet.)

 

[SueM in MN]

95% of the time the are not cheaper out of MSP.

duds

I agree.
Even with all the other fees added in, the other airlines in MSP usually beat Southwest by quite a lot.

 

[Tara]

Southwest is rarely cheaper out of ALB but they're the only carrier that flies nonstop to Orlando, so I'll happily pay more.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And there again we have it, Tara - it's not always the cost, but the value

 

[Tara]

And there again we have it, Tara - it's not always the cost, but the value

Exactly, my dear kaytieeldr!

 

[DVC-Don]

Southwest is rarely cheaper out of ALB but they're the only carrier that flies nonstop to Orlando, so I'll happily pay more.

That and they never* change the flight times once they are posted. Leaving for ALB in 35 minutes for a free Rapids Reward flight.

*cept for weather or mechanical issues.

 

[sam_gordon]

Southwest is rarely cheaper out of ALB but they're the only carrier that flies nonstop to Orlando, so I'll happily pay more.

Out of curiosity, how much more would you pay? $50/ticket? $100? Especially when you're traveling with a group... the extra adds up.

Yes, I'd rather fly NS. But an extra $80/ticket (family of 5), PLUS a 90 minute drive before & after, PLUS having to wait to book my flight? Nope. No thank you.

 

[katallo]

We are SW fans, however this year we are checking out other options. Flights from Baltimore/DC to Florida for the Spring are almost double from this time last year. Add that to the higher costs of a rental car and you really have to rethink things! We keep hoping, but fares are 139 each way the entire month.

 

[uva185]

I absolutely hate Southwest and quite frankly you could not pay me to fly them.... That said they have an amazing marketing division, they have most successfully convinced a majority of the leisure flyers in this country that they are the cheapest even though they are not!

 

[Tisha_PA]

I booked RT on Delta for a trip in June (Memorial Day weekend actually). $134/pp + taxes & fees... $182 total RT pp. I'll sign up for the AmEx Delta card so baggage fees will be $0, but even if they weren't... an extra $50/pp RT... $232.

I checked on SW today and RT is $265 pp. PLUS, the airport SW serves is ~90minutes away.

I know many people save money on SW. I'm just saying they're not ALWAYS cheaper... even when you add bag fees.

We're flying on Delta for our March trip due to the cheap prices as well $138/RT from DCA. I also has the Delta Amex for the free bags. We've never flown SW bacause we've always found other airlines that were cheaper. Usually we fly on Airtran out of BWI but the prices were pretty high this year for the spring.

 

[Brian Noble]

Out of curiosity, how much more would you pay? $50/ticket? $100?

We have three non-stop carriers out of DTW: Spirit, AirTran, and Delta. Southwest currently only connects. I need to save about $75pp to fly SW connecting rather than AT or DL non-stop.

 

[aubriee]

They are never cheaper flying to Orlando from Dallas. Air Tran and American have both always beat their prices by a mile (even with the bag fees), plus Air Tran and American can fly direct, nonstop from DFW to MCO, whereas thanks to the Wright Ammendment Southwest doesn't. We are really dreading Southwest taking over Air Tran. It means we'll be paying higher prices, would have to fly out of Dallas Lovefied , lose our ability to pay for our preferred seats and lose all of our nonstop flights. Looks like American will be our only choice from now on, and with them being the only option, you know their prices will be increasing.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I guess it all depends on your airport, but I find SW is usually cheaper than US Air and others out of Phoenix and offers better times and non-stop flights to Orlando.

 

[Tara]

Out of curiosity, how much more would you pay? $50/ticket? $100? Especially when you're traveling with a group... the extra adds up.

Yes, I'd rather fly NS. But an extra $80/ticket (family of 5), PLUS a 90 minute drive before & after, PLUS having to wait to book my flight? Nope. No thank you.

In the winter time? $100 per ticket easily.The beautiful thing about it is that I only make decisions for me and my family. And factor in that Southwest doesn't charge for baggage, that $100 per ticket is already reduced in comparison to the other carriers.

ETA: $100 easily. $150 even when I factor in luggage. I have 3 people I'm usually buying for, and 4 on occasion now that our childcare person sometimes travels with us.

 

[DCbride]

Last year friend flew SW out of DC for $59 each way, I was so jealous. This year they can't go for under $135 each way so they are using Airtran. Even with baggage fees it is still much cheaper.

We are flying SW out of Philly, still got a great rate early. Now hoping summer rates come down.

 

[sam_gordon]

In the winter time? $100 per ticket easily.The beautiful thing about it is that I only make decisions for me and my family. And factor in that Southwest doesn't charge for baggage, that $100 per ticket is already reduced in comparison to the other carriers.

ETA: $100 easily. $150 even when I factor in luggage. I have 3 people I'm usually buying for, and 4 on occasion now that our childcare person sometimes travels with us.

WOW! You'd pay over $500 (for your party) extra for the NS? That pays for at least one (if not multiple) nights at a Disney resort. Not me!

To each their own.

 

[keishashadow]

I booked RT on Delta for a trip in June (Memorial Day weekend actually). $134/pp + taxes & fees... $182 total RT pp. I'll sign up for the AmEx Delta card so baggage fees will be $0, but even if they weren't... an extra $50/pp RT... $232.

I checked on SW today and RT is $265 pp. PLUS, the airport SW serves is ~90minutes away.

I know many people save money on SW. I'm just saying they're not ALWAYS cheaper... even when you add bag fees.

as long as you're happy you've gotten a bargin

im sure you have most excellent credit, or you wouldn't be discussing an AMEX card, but i'll point out that anytime you do apply for a credit card it is a 'hard pull' on your credit & it will take a DING (pun intended).

again, i am not personally referring to your situation or passing judgement on your strategy, just mentioning it as im a realtor & have seen people denied mortgages for taking out new lines of credit before closing.

 

[AKL LOVER]

We're flying on Delta for our March trip due to the cheap prices as well $138/RT from DCA. I also has the Delta Amex for the free bags. We've never flown SW bacause we've always found other airlines that were cheaper. Usually we fly on Airtran out of BWI but the prices were pretty high this year for the spring.

We are also flying out of DCA for our May trip. We usually fly Airtran out of Richmond, VA, but the prices were quite high. I got my DCA Delta flights for $165 each! I was happy about that.

But Delta has changed my flights twice. I am NOT happy about that.

And I had no idea that if you have a Delta Amex card that our bags would be free. I am looking into that ASAP! Is it a perk for anyone with a card or do you have to book it through a special promo? And do you get one bag free per ticket or is just a certain number of bags per account??

Thanks in advanced!! So gald I headed over here to the transportation boards...