Southwest Is Open!

[terribm]

OK, I am little disappointed. I was hoping for $49 one ways from Raleigh end of Jan. Maybe that was a tad to much to ask for but $109 each way? Expert opinions.....do you think that will go down any?

 

[roadtripper]

Funny you posted that; because we decided to change our dates to accomodate airfare rates - imagine that.
We now depart a day earlier 2/16 at 6pm ($99 nonstop) and return day earlier on 2/25 at 7pm - so we'll see you on Southwest ! We'll be the ones they have to drag on the plane refusing to leave Florida.

Yeah--that will be us, too-- we like to get home Friday night, though, to get ready for school, etc. Can't leave earlier (2 teachers) so we're stuck with the high prices. Glad the post helped you-- we'll see you on the flight home. Good think Southwest gives out drink tickets to drown our sorrows at having to leave!

 

[Brian Noble]

but $109 each way? Expert opinions.....do you think that will go down any?

That puts you at what, $260 round trip? That's not a half-bad price to avoid a day's drive each way. Could it go down? It might. But, that's a fair price.

 

[quagmire0]

Any bets on when the next set will be released? Looking for a flight the first week of June.

 

[txsoccermom]

I could only book one-way right now (looking for 3/11 - 3/18 or so) from DAL - MCO. $$ are VERY HIGH It would be $233+ for each of us! If I was to buy those now, and the prices went down, would I get $$ back from SWA? And once the rest of March schedule gets released, does anyone know if I could call SWA and add the return trip as a "roundtrip" and get better pricing? I could get rt on AA for all 4 of us, out of DFW (which is MUCH closer to our house), for about $360 + taxes/fees/pp.

Any advice/insight would be helpful! TIA

 

[mzozzietj]

Any bets on when the next set will be released? Looking for a flight the first week of June.

Their FAQ list is not yet updated but it should be here once they do: http://www.southwest.com/help/faq.html#advance

 

[mzozzietj]

I could only book one-way right now (looking for 3/11 - 3/18 or so) from DAL - MCO. $$ are VERY HIGH It would be $233+ for each of us! If I was to buy those now, and the prices went down, would I get $$ back from SWA? And once the rest of March schedule gets released, does anyone know if I could call SWA and add the return trip as a "roundtrip" and get better pricing? I could get rt on AA for all 4 of us, out of DFW (which is MUCH closer to our house), for about $360 + taxes/fees/pp.

Any advice/insight would be helpful! TIA

In my experience I haven't found any financial advantage to booking the round trip all at once. If you book at the high rates and they come down in price later, you will get a credit you can apply to future travel but that has to occur less than a year from your date of purchase. IIRC, after January 1 it has to be used by the person it was originally purchased for.

HTH

 

[quagmire0]

Their FAQ list is not yet updated but it should be here once they do: http://www.southwest.com/help/faq.html#advance

Thanks, I did have that link already but they hadn't updated yet - UNTIL TODAY. But the next window ONLY GOES THROUGH THE DAY *BEFORE* WE WOULD LEAVE.

I'm guessing that they'll probably open up the rest of June in December sometime, which kind of blows because then I'm dropping $1000+ in a month with my son's 1st birthday and Christmas.

So my options are: A. Go with Continental at $219pp now, or wait to see what Southwest comes out with. I really like Southwest though...

 

[JasonDVC]

Their FAQ list is not yet updated but it should be here once they do: http://www.southwest.com/help/faq.html#advance

19. How far in advance may I purchase Southwest Airlines travel?

You may now purchase Southwest Airlines travel through March 11, 2011. On October 5, we will open our schedule for sale through June 3, 2011.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Couldn't believe that when I checked this morning they were already open.
I did pretty well with flights around February school vacation week, flying from Providence to Orlando, using Southwest rapid rewards. I got all 5 of us going down late Thursday afternoon, 2/17 and just one so far coming home on Monday 2/28. I should be getting another free ticket when my statement closes tomorrow so I will do the rest tomorrow. Good luck!

So Bowen, any luck on that last RR ticket?

In our case, this'll be our first time flying SWA as a family, now that they're flying out of Boston Logan. I booked at 6:30 on Tuesday, somewhat surprised to see them open already. We are going one-way, BOS-MCO the Friday before school vacation, missing only one day of school. We nabbed the morning flight with a plane change in PHL for $234 for the 4 of us. This morning, a bit more than 24 hours later, the fare still shows for 2 ppl, but goes up to $274 for 4 ppl, so that fare is going to disappear.

On the return, DS and I fly back Delta from Orlando, while DW and DD will join Grandma and cousin in DC, so they're flying back from BWI (on SWA) on the Sunday. DC in the Snow would not be much fun with DS's wheelchair; we'll go back in more temperate weather with him while DW and grandma show our foreign cousin the sights in DC late in vacation week.

 

[rsschneck]

Got a great price both ways out of Austin............$89 each way!
SW becomes an even better deal when you have (free) checked bags!!
And, for the "icing" on my cake...........I used one of my credit cards that's giving a 5% cashback reward on airlines!

What are your dates of travel for that rate?

I was looking on March 11th and did not see anything like that. We are actually flying out March 12th so I have to wait for another round of flights to be released. I did get GREAT fares on Delta for our return on March 19th. I paid $110.40 per ticket ($89 plus taxes). The flight times are not the best but with Delta I figure they will change a few times prior to March and maybe we can get later flights home than what we have now.

So far all flights on March 12th seem to be pretty high and I am hoping Southwest comes through for us.

 

[Vijoge]

anyone know what the 'magical time' of release actually was?

I don't know the exact time but they sent me an email at 8:15 saying they were open for those dates.

 

[emmabelle]

I was suprised to see that they were open already...anyone know what the 'magical time' of release actually was?

I know on the East Coast I went online at 7am and the dates were loaded. I was so surprised and very happy since I had to work at 9am! I had so many travel funds to deal with too, that it took me like 40 minutes to get everything right. Then I had to redo the flights because I realized that I had spelt my first name wrong!

 

[Vijoge]

OK, I am little disappointed. I was hoping for $49 one ways from Raleigh end of Jan. Maybe that was a tad to much to ask for but $109 each way? Expert opinions.....do you think that will go down any?

Frankly, I doubt it. I haven't seen much in the way of deals in a long time. We booked MDW-MCO for Feb 6 and return on the 11th at $99 each way and I'm not expecting to get anything lower. Now $49 to Buffalo? yeah, I see that a lot. But nothing to Orlando, at least not from here.

 

[Bowen9475]

So Bowen, any luck on that last RR ticket?

The last RR ticket did not come through today. My account closes today so now I think the RR credit will post tomorrow (I hope). I have been watching and the flight my husband is on for Monday afternoon is no longer available for RR. The flights on Tuesday are wide open so I will book myself and the three kids for then (Tuesday is a half day at school). I will probably just switch my husband from Monday to Tuesday so we are all travelling together.

 

[solfan68]

Marathon Weekend 2011 will be my first flight in the post-911 world. I was looking at two flights on Tuesday morning. Both $100. When I pulled the trigger that afternoon, they were $118. Today the flight I chose is at $121. And I see where some afternoon flights from MCO to Philly are now $154 at the best rate. Suddenly the $118 isn't looking too bad.

 

[Bowen9475]

Just finished with booking our return trip. We are all flying home together on Tuesday March 1. I was able to change my husband's return flight, book two of us on the last RR ticket and paid for the last two tickets. Grand total of $339.40 for 5 of us to fly roundtrip PVD-MCO for President's week!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Thanks for the update Bowen9475. That's a pretty decent price for this time period; Good to have all those RR points to use so you don;t have to shell out for all of those vacation week fares tho.

 

[Goofygirl17]

I'm waiting for Southwest to open fares for April vacation. I actually might take the day off in order to book them because last year they went up $30 a ticket before I got home from work!

So, I've been checking rates for Feb vacation in case we want to add an extra trip and the prices from the CT area are crazy!

Guess we'll stick to April.

GL everyone!

 

[AllesonWonderland]

I'm waiting for Southwest to open fares for April vacation. I actually might take the day off in order to book them because last year they went up $30 a ticket before I got home from work!

So, I've been checking rates for Feb vacation in case we want to add an extra trip and the prices from the CT area are crazy!

Guess we'll stick to April.

GL everyone!

I remember your posts from last year, we were both waiting for that release. LOL Who knows, maybe you won't need to take the day off...maybe you'll just need to stay up all night if they open as early as they did this time!