Southwest November

[HatboxHaint]

How long do you guys think I should wait to see if Southwest will offer any discounts on thanksgiving week? I am flying from Nashville, hopefully.

 

[shoreward]

I would monitor the fares, daily. If you are talking about flying to/from MCO Thanksgiving week, I would not wait too long, as fares have been consistently going up in cost. Some WGA fares (lowest fare category) are even sold out.
You could wait until tomorrow (Tuesday), as they often post new sales on Tuesdays. Keep in mind that if your booked fare goes down in cost, you get a credit to be used for travel completed within one year, from original booking date, if it's a paid ticket. Travel booked with points are completely refundable, including any fare reduction.

Again, I would not wait too much longer, as flights around holidays get snapped up very quickly. Also, keep in mind that Southwest has not been operating as many flights, as in the past, since the MAX8 aircraft in their fleet have been grounded. So, fewer flights=fewer available seats.

 

[_19disnA]

Holiday flights typically sell out due to those traveling to visit relatives, such as Thanksgiving. People buy those flights up to 1 year in advance. Once they sell out the lowest price seats, they jump to the next higher fare. Around any major holiday, I would book air travel as soon as you know your plans. You are unlikely to find airlines having sales around holidays where planes are typically full. The most popular times and non-stop flights sell our first. You may get stuck traveling at a time of day that isn't convenient if you wait.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I would monitor the fares, daily. If you are talking about flying to/from MCO Thanksgiving week, I would not wait too long, as fares have been consistently going up in cost. Some WGA fares (lowest fare category) are even sold out.
You could wait until tomorrow (Tuesday), as they often post new sales on Tuesdays. Keep in mind that if your booked fare goes down in cost, you get a credit to be used for travel completed within one year, from original booking date, if it's a paid ticket. Travel booked with points are completely refundable, including any fare reduction.

Again, I would not wait too much longer, as flights around holidays get snapped up very quickly. Also, keep in mind that Southwest has not been operating as many flights, as in the past, since the MAX8 aircraft in their fleet have been grounded. So, fewer flights=fewer available seats.

Yes, I agree with Thanksgiving week and Southwest. We're flying to Charleston (going to HHI) that week, and snapped up the WGA fares the first day. Since then, there have been sales, but for Thanksgiving week, there's nothing cheaper than the WGA fares available.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

We booked early for the the day after Thanksgiving on SW. Since then our flights have only gone up in price and many are sold out.

 

[georgina]

Yep, we flew last year Thanksgiving week. Booked the day they released, prices never decreased. Our Sunday evening flight to MCO stayed at a low rate for a long time, but never went down.

 

[KerryCM]

I fly out of Nashville too. We are flying down to Disney the Tuesday after Thanksgiving . I bought my tickets when they first came out and the have only dropped going down by about 70 points . Nothing coming home. They are the highest I have paid in a while. I would grab them now!

 

[Christine]

I've been checking every day. We are going the first week of November and I haven't seen them change at all. I still think it may be too early. I was happy to see Southwest drop prices on some of their late August flights. They did that last week, so I'm hoping there will be a window as we get closer to the trip where they will do a drop. There seems to be a lot of good prices here and there up to November. Once you hit November, there's nothing really. I'm flying DC to MCO.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

I've been checking every day. We are going the first week of November and I haven't seen them change at all. I still think it may be too early. I was happy to see Southwest drop prices on some of their late August flights. They did that last week, so I'm hoping there will be a window as we get closer to the trip where they will do a drop. There seems to be a lot of good prices here and there up to November. Once you hit November, there's nothing really. I'm flying DC to MCO.

We gave up and finally booked on United out of IAD. For the times we need and/or wanted SWA wanted just over $1K for 2 people. The United flight is direct and hits our window plus IAD is a more convenient airport for us.

 

[Christine]

We gave up and finally booked on United out of IAD. For the times we need and/or wanted SWA wanted just over $1K for 2 people. The United flight is direct and hits our window plus IAD is a more convenient airport for us.

I used to always fly United out of IAD because WAY back in the day, they did a wonderful job with peanut allergies and, in general, were a great airline. Now, it's like they've turned into some low service carrier. I'd still fly them if the price is right though! My concern is I'm going to need to take a good amount of luggage. I've got a food ankle problem and I need to bring 3 different shoes that I can shift around, plus some of my braces. I just feel like I might need two checked bags this year. If you add that in, I'm getting close to SW's pricing. DCA is the most convenient for me based on where I live. It can be a 35 minute ride on a good day (or a 1 hour ride), but IAD is always 45-60 minutes for me.

 

[godisney14]

As everyone says, I would buy holiday travel tickets as soon as your dates are confirmed.

Plus, with Southwest, as long as you don’t mind holding onto credits (and not receive a cash refund), you can book a flight and then call back any time to get a credit if you see lower prices for your specific flight. Or you can change flights without penalty, and either pay a difference or get credit for a difference.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why would any airline offer discounts on one of their busiest travel times?

 

[Christine]

Why would any airline offer discounts on one of their busiest travel times?

I don't consider the first week of November a traditional "busiest" travel time. Thanksgiving week? Yes, for sure.

 

[Sandiz08]

We flew week before thanksgiving last year, flights went down about a month out but not much, mostly the early a.m. flights. I would book at what your comfortable with, no guarantee the flights will even be around. With Southwest it’s best to book ASAP and watch for price adjustments.

 

[Lothlórien]

I don't consider the first week of November a traditional "busiest" travel time. Thanksgiving week? Yes, for sure.

The OP specifically asked about Thanksgiving week. Looks like he was replying to the initial post, not you specifically.

 

[jscunningham699]

While I like flying Southwest, they are often not that much cheaper than the legacy airlines. Yes they give you a free checked bag, but sometimes I just want to a more direct flight rather than having to take connections. The other problem with SW is that they don't have their schedule up a year out from travel dates, especially if you want to travel during the holidays. Your best bet is to book as soon as you can and if the cost goes down, do like the others have mentioned and call for a credit on the fare.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I don't consider the first week of November a traditional "busiest" travel time. Thanksgiving week? Yes, for sure.

First week is busy. Its the annual Food and Wine race the first weekend of Nov and Disney rooms have been sold out for months. Food and Wine is almost over so the weekend is packed and the Christmas Decorations start appearing. We were there last year when they decorated BLT on Nov 3. The Halloween party ends Nov 1

And to the OP Thanksgiving week is a major holiday so I would not expect to see the fares to drop. So if you are really wanting to go I would book now and get a credit if they come down.

 

[Christine]

This morning I saw some good price reductions on Southwest. They advertised a $59 fares for fall out of DCA. Took a look and the fares only seem to be through October (I actually saw a $48 one way fare on the flight I want, unfortunately 1 month early). So it's looking like I can just wait it out and I might start seeing some November reductions soon.

I know I could book now and get the prices reductions as a credit; unfortunatey, I don't travel/fly enough to say for sure I could use them within a year.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

But as we have mentioned Thanksgiving is a holiday so the airlines will not reduce those flights. we have gone many time during that time period and the flights are always high. So if you want to risk it you can do that but I would not expect Thanksgiving fares to go down. If anything they will go up. I would not wait if I truely want to go