Southwest just opened up booking for 11/5 - 1/4!

[Marionnette]

I was also hoping to book Christmas week and expected high fares. But $500 each way to FL is ridiculous. For five of us to fly round trip would be $5000! That ain't happening!

Can you shift your dates by a day or two? I know that the day after Christmas is over $500 one-way for me, but the two days later it's $150. And while Jan. 2 is almost $500, Jan. 4 has fares for $125. It's all about demand pricing. People who can only travel on specific days over the holidays are going to pay a premium price. That applies to all air travel and not just Disney. Check the "flexible dates" button to see their low fare calendar.

 

[disfanforlife]

I was also hoping to book Christmas week and expected high fares. But $500 each way to FL is ridiculous. For five of us to fly round trip would be $5000! That ain't happening!

I wouldnt pay that much either. Fortunately for us, we are able to travel during non peak times.

 

[disfanforlife]

We also are planning to go down the second week of March. I am hoping the price won't be excessive then. Last year when I looked it was so much higher than I expected that we switched our trip to January instead. But, I much prefer going in March. I plan to check as soon as the booking window opens for those dates otherwise I might be trying to shift our trip again.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I was booking around thanksgiving week BNA to FLL for the beach. Was on at 6am. The best I could do was about 13k points round trip Monday thru Friday. That only gives us 3 full days. Coming home even Monday was crazy. We came home Monday after thanksgiving before for cheap. Annoying. Kids can't miss 2 days of school to come home Tuesday.

 

[disfanforlife]

I was booking around thanksgiving week BNA to FLL for the beach. Was on at 6am. The best I could do was about 13k points round trip Monday thru Friday. That only gives us 3 full days. Coming home even Monday was crazy. We came home Monday after thanksgiving before for cheap. Annoying. Kids can't miss 2 days of school to come home Tuesday.

That stinks. I guess it depends on where you live and what school you go too. I have not had a problem with my kids missing school to go, but they rarely miss any other days throughout the year.

 

[Marionnette]

Just an FYI - some flights have dropped in price. My return flight in December went down $23 from what it was when they first came out. Unfortunately, I had already added my Companion Pass to the reservation and I had to call Southwest to make the change (I also decided to change the flight time because my husband wants to get home earlier). It all worked out but I spent more time waiting to speak to a customer service rep than it took to actually change my flight.

Lesson learned - don't add your companion to the reservation until you're sure that you won't be changing your reservation or re-booking for a lower fare.

 

[disfanforlife]

Just an FYI - some flights have dropped in price. My return flight in December went down $23 from what it was when they first came out. Unfortunately, I had already added my Companion Pass to the reservation and I had to call Southwest to make the change (I also decided to change the flight time because my husband wants to get home earlier). It all worked out but I spent more time waiting to speak to a customer service rep than it took to actually change my flight.

Lesson learned - don't add your companion to the reservation until you're sure that you won't be changing your reservation or re-booking for a lower fare.

That happened to me last year. But, my only hesitation on waiting is : is there a chance that you wouldn't be able to add your companion? Like if the flight was sold out? What I did for ours this time was to book two separate one way flights. That way if we did need to change one leg it wouldn't affect the other.

 

[Marionnette]

That happened to me last year. But, my only hesitation on waiting is : is there a chance that you wouldn't be able to add your companion? Like if the flight was sold out? What I did for ours this time was to book two separate one way flights. That way if we did need to change one leg it wouldn't affect the other.

I booked as one-way flights as well. I believe that as long as there is 1 seat available on the plane, you can add your companion. Obviously, if there are no seats (totally sold out flight), then you cannot add them.

It was just a little frustrating to have to make a phone call for something I should be able to accomplish online. But it all worked out. I don't think that I'll see that leg go lower in price. The dollar value was $102. However, the flight to MCO could also go down and then I would have to call again.

 

[disfanforlife]

I booked as one-way flights as well. I believe that as long as there is 1 seat available on the plane, you can add your companion. Obviously, if there are no seats (totally sold out flight), then you cannot add them.

It was just a little frustrating to have to make a phone call for something I should be able to accomplish online. But it all worked out. I don't think that I'll see that leg go lower in price. The dollar value was $102. However, the flight to MCO could also go down and then I would have to call again.

I agree. I learned the hard way last year when I had to call to change one of our flights too. I doubt ours will go down either. One of ours was $98. I looked today because we have friends that want to travel the same time of us who haven't booked yet and both legs have gone up a LOT since last week.

 

[Angie789]

Ouch! No WGA flights available out of MCO on the weekend after Thanksgiving. Thankful we have enough AA points to fly home on American - Southwest priced us out on those dates.

 

[Lynne G]

Eek, my route must be so popular, my flights that I booked opening day are not even being shown as available and the 3 flights each way only have business rates, no lower fares. I guess I am resigned to get up at 5am to come home from vacation. Oh well. I will learn to be late for work and book at 6:30am.

 

[ah10is]

Our December flights back dropped $45 today! So now we are paying $130 instead of $175 for Orlando back to Portland, ME! Now hoping our flights down will do the same!!!

 

[kathy884]

If you are like us and have a trip planned after 1/4 -- We are planning to fly to Disneyland on 1/9/2017, SW opens up with more dates again on July 7th at around 8 a.m. or so. I marked it on my calendar. // Always check other airlines too. SW is great and is usually our best bet for places that they have direct flight to from our airport, but for some destinations other airlines even with baggage fees will be cheaper and have better flight times.

 

[kathy884]

I feel for those trying to book good deals over Christmas. It's so hard to find good fares and I hate flying over the holidays for that reason. We've done that a few times for parties of 10, and the planning and looking is really tough, and we have almost always had to up the budget too. We've often flown on Christmas day or New Year's day (sometimes flying on the holiday you get prices that are similar to spring break prices instead of prices that are so jacked up if you fly on Dec. 24 or Jan 1 for example) // Just something to check if that's a possibility for you.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Was pricing $400 round trip Phx to Orlando. I think we are driving. LOL Four of us(two adult drivers planning straight). Gas calculations for round trip are price of one person.