Southwest JACKS fares up!!!

[boomhauer]

I was just checking online to see if I could change my SW flights for July. I paid $59 each way per person. Now, all the $59 fares aren't even being shown. They're all up to at least $109. I had heard SW was raising their fares, but $50 a ticket??? Wow - Am I ever glad I booked when they came out. Saved me $300.

 

[dtuleya]

Make sure you check tomorrow...they are having a birthday sale! Here's the link to the email I got today.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1042414

 

[wdwstar]

samething happened to me, the first day that SW opened their flights to aug. i was looking at flights to PHL for july, they were $69 each way, not bad. Well, i had to wait because my neice is flying here the beginning of july and then we are all flying back with her, so i had to wait until i got a hold of her to plan the right dates to book. the next day the flights went up to $109.

I do have a question with ding though, do you think for "Dings" forsy birthday they will open the dates until aug. instead of the month of march?

or do you think they will be great deals for march only?

 

[boomhauer]

I'm surprised. That's a HUGE increase. It isn't a case of the lower fares being unavailable. They just raised their fares by that much.

Yikes. Makes me very worried about my future trips.

 

[Sleepy]

I just checked for our July date out of Norfolk and it is the same rate as last week. The cheapest $69 was and still is unavailable for my date (which is a Fri).

Interesting thing is when I made this reservation, I checked with Delta first and was blown away with the fact that their rate was $320 after taxes for RT. A week before it was $200RT after taxes. This is the reason we went with SWA. Yesterday i checked with Delta and the RT rate for same dates was $177 after taxes. I don't regret going with SWA, but these rates are making me nuts.

 

[TDC Nala]

I did hear a radio news story about Southwest raising prices to cover fuel costs. I didn't hear all of it clearly. They mentioned their fuel deal that I've read about here, but apparently the costs have even outstripped that.

 

[boomhauer]

I did hear a radio news story about Southwest raising prices to cover fuel costs. I didn't hear all of it clearly. They mentioned their fuel deal that I've read about here, but apparently the costs have even outstripped that.

A SW rep said, they expected ticket costs precisely for what you just said - Maybe about $5 a ticket.

I mean, they literally, doubled from just this past Thursday.

Again, I already have mine, so it doesn't affect me, but I feel really bad for people that didn't jump right on the fares.

 

[markey]

I just checked, same fare page as last week, nothing has canged. $79 still the lowest fare.

 

[CPer'sMom]

I don't believe that SW dramatically raised their prices across the board. Airfares change daily on all airlines. In fact sometimes fares change minute to minute and / or depending upon which agent you talk with. I have noticed sometimes that I can go to an airline web-site, check a price & go back 10 minutes later and see that the price has changed. It's nothing unusual.

SWA changes fares on a regular basis just as they all do. That's why when you see a good price, you can't hesitate because it may be gone quickly.
At least with SW you have the option of booking a flight and then changing without penalty if the price goes down. Not true with other airlines.

BTW, I just checked some of the flights that I regularly book on SW ~ very little increase in fares today.

 

[Fonzy13]

Not in Albany, fares, at least to Orlando have been raised significantly. Last August I flew down originally at $79/way, and later got a ding for $59. We're not leaving this year until the 24th, but the lowest late July/early August fares are $128. That's siginificant alright.

Hmmm...

 

[deltachi8]

Supply, meet demand.

 

[boomhauer]

Supply, meet demand.

This doesn't apply here. SW is ALWAYS in demand. Just think of all the SW threads on this board over the past 2 years.

This was an increase, according to SW, as a necessary one due to increased fuel costs. Now, I don't know - Maybe they're justifed, maybe they're not. I'm simply stating - The fares have gone up significantly. Not sure about anyone else, but I consider a doubling in price, more than a slight increase.

 

[boomhauer]

BTW, I just checked some of the flights that I regularly book on SW ~ very little increase in fares today.

I don't know about all markets. Can't comment since I didn't check. However, in my market (Providence), the fares that were at one time $59 each way, are now $109 each way. Not a question of the $59 fares being unavailable - They're gone.

That's a big increase.

 

[deltachi8]

The $59 fares are a fare class which will have fluctuations in price due to several factors, chief among them supply and demand and time. A certain class fare may list at $59 for July when it comes out, sells a set percentage, then jumps to $89. (Just throwing darts here to demonstrate). Then, a slae may come along to sell the remianing seats on a flight and the fare class may drop to $49.

The fare increase due to fuel cost by SW is between $1-$5. The rest of the changes are because of market factors. While SW may always be in demand, others are as well now too...more people are flying and available seats have been cut overall.

 

[emmabelle]

I don't know about all markets. Can't comment since I didn't check. However, in my market (Providence), the fares that were at one time $59 each way, are now $109 each way. Not a question of the $59 fares being unavailable - They're gone.

That's a big increase.

Same thing for MHT (Manchester, NH) to MCO. I'm actually waiting for August 20-27. I'm going to have to jump on the fares as soon as I see them I guess.

 

[boomhauer]

The $59 fares are a fare class which will have fluctuations in price due to several factors, chief among them supply and demand and time.

That's not accurate.

The way SW works is, they have (at least for my market), about 6 different classes of fares. There (for the past 2 years, anyways) always been either a $49 or $59 one way internet fare from Providence to Orlando. Now, granted, these prices DO sell out, but the fare is simply listed as "unavailable", but DOES still show up on their website. When it gets closer to the flight date, those may not show up anymore.

However, the flights I'm referring to aren't until July, and last week, were listed on there as per usual under internet fare of $59. As of today, the internet fare is $109.

We all know SW has different pricing categories and that certain prices become unavailable, but again, they still show up online. Never, once, have I seen the internet fares for Providence to Orlando at $109. Never. Available or unavailable.

 

[CPer'sMom]

Right -

In other words, the $59 flights in my market (Providence) as of this very moment, are gone.

as of this very moment ~ those are the key words. Just because they are 'gone' now doesn't mean that price (or one within a few $$) won't be back.

 

[deltachi8]

That's not accurate.

The way SW works is, they have (at least for my market), about 6 different classes of fares. There (for the past 2 years, anyways) always been either a $49 or $59 one way internet fare from Providence to Orlando. Now, granted, these prices DO sell out, but the fare is simply listed as "unavailable", but DOES still show up on their website. When it gets closer to the flight date, those may not show up anymore.

However, the flights I'm referring to aren't until July, and last week, were listed on there as per usual under internet fare of $59. As of today, the internet fare is $109.

We all know SW has different pricing categories and that certain prices become unavailable, but again, they still show up online. Never, once, have I seen the internet fares for Providence to Orlando at $109. Never. Available or unavailable.

Fare classes are not ties to a number, just a class. I understand that the fare has gone up, all I am saying is that it is not from the fule price increase but because of other factors.

The price is at $109 right now because thats waht they feel they can sell it at. If, over some time, ther can't and wich to see the seats, the fare will come down.

Because flight capacity, overall, is up, the need for a carrier to lower prices is less than before as more peole are flying on fewer seats. Some markets will be hit "harder" than others and perhapps that is what happened there.

That said, July is still a ways away and things can change between now and then.

 

[boomhauer]

as of this very moment ~ those are the key words. Just because they are 'gone' now doesn't mean that price (or one within a few $$) won't be back.

Well, I guess it's possible.

Maybe I'm not conveying this very well. I don't know. Hard to explain. OK, here's another way of saying it:

BEFORE, whether the $59 fare was available, sold out, not being offered, whatever, it was stilll listed under INTERNET FARE on SW's website.

NOW, the INTERNET FARE is listed as $109.

This is the first time, in 2 years, I have EVER NOT seen the $59 category from Providence to Orlando on SW's website - Regardless if it was sold out, unavailable, whatever.

Does that make a bit more sense?

 

[HelloChum]

We currently have RT airfare PVD to MCO for the first week of June...was lucky enough to get $59/each way....originally felt bad about not jumping on the $44-$49 DING fares b/c we were unsure of our exact travel dates (would have been an extra $150 savings for the 5 of us!) The very next day after paying $59, the rates jumped to $109...WOW!!

Question...with the birthday sale tomorrow...if by any remote chance the DING rates dropped again to $44-$49...will SW still give a credit for the difference...How do you get a credit if a lower DING fare shows up? Is it best to call one of the customer reps or can you rebook the flight online for the new price? Do you have to book the new flight and cancel the old??

I know i'm putting the cart in front of the horse, just being hopeful and optimistic!! I'm guessing it's a SLIM chance they will go back down to $44!!!

Thanks!!