Southwest now flying NONSTOP from MSP to MCO

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

Happy news for anyone flying out of MSP to Orlando - I've been waiting (im)patiently for Southwest to open their flights from MSP to Orlando for our trip in Nov/Dec, expecting the usual unavoidable layover, but grateful for the lack of baggage fees. Well, today was the day the flights opened, I went to see what was available and found NONSTOP flights from MSP to MCO! This is the first time since SWA came to MN that they’ve had direct service to Orlando! Very exciting stuff (for me anyhow)!

That is all; carry on.

 

[Inkmahm]

Interesting. I just booked my sister and niece on SW for our trip in Nov/Dec. They will be flying msp to mco nonstop. I had checked Airtran first and there were NO nonstop flights on Airtran for msp to mco at all. I almost booked them on Delta before I remembered to check SW. I didn't know that these were the first nonstop flights. They are at great times and are cheaper than Airtran.

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

Interesting. I just booked my sister and niece on SW for our trip in Nov/Dec. They will be flying msp to mco nonstop. I had checked Airtran first and there were NO nonstop flights on Airtran for msp to mco at all. I almost booked them on Delta before I remembered to check SW. I didn't know that these were the first nonstop flights. They are at great times and are cheaper than Airtran.

With Southwest Buying out Airtran, I think they are gradually taking over some of the flights - I also noticed that Airtran no longer had the direct flights that they used to. It's gotten VERY expensive to fly out of MSP - For our flights, SW still came in $30-$70 cheaper than any other airline, per person, just for the flight alone - when you factor in what we saved in bag fees

I've been watching flight prices from MSP to MCO for the last several months, for ALL times of the year - it's gotten ridiculous! I've never paid more than $250 for a RT flight before this year. We were happy to get $370 without bag fees this time

 

[dudspizza]

It is great to see SW with NONSTOP flights to MCO. I hope the prices make it worth it.

FYI for anyone reading along, the terms "direct" and "nonstop" are being used in this thread as if they are the same. Be aware that a "direct" flight may have a stop along the way, but you don't have to change planes. "Nonstop" is truly a straight flight to your destination for no stops......

Happy Monday!

Duds

 

[Minnesota!]

Awesome news!!! I don't mind layovers at all...actually enjoy them....but a non stop is always better!

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I booked my DD airfare on Airtran last night. I looked today and the flights are gone. I called, Airtran cancelled the direct flights. I looked at SW and I may at least book the return flight with them. Maybe, this will bring more competition to Sun Country.

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

Awesome news!!! I don't mind layovers at all...actually enjoy them....but a non stop is always better!

I don't mind some layovers, but it depends of the time of year I'm flying - we do a lot of our travel in the winter, and worrying whether or not MN will have weather related delays is hard enough - having a layover in Chicago or Millwauke could easily mean that even if we get out of MSP ok, we could still get stuck in the layover city which, IMO, would be worse - (not in Disney AND not warm and safe at home - LOL) Even if THAT didn't happen, if the first leg of my flight is delayed in MN, and I in turn miss my connecting flight at my layover airport, I'm stuck, again, and not at Disney!


For me, it's a winter travel peace of mind thing

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

I booked my DD airfare on Airtran last night. I looked today and the flights are gone. I called, Airtran cancelled the direct flights. I looked at SW and I may at least book the return flight with them. Maybe, this will bring more competition to Sun Country.

I used to LOVE Sun Country - Used to... Not only do they have the bag fees (inudustry standard, I know) they also have the seat fee, each leg of the flight. That means, if my husband and I want to sit NEXT to each other, we're paying an extra $10-$15 each leg of the flight just to sit next to each other. With 2 bags per person (we're going on a longer cruise and will need them) and the luxury of not sitting in middle seats, wtih strangers on both sides, in a different rown than my husband, we're looking at an extra $270 on top of the standard fare, which is currently $70 more per person than I paid for SWA this morning. And the flight times are almost identical between the flights.

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

To further illustrate my last point, this is the difference in costs based on the CURRENT prices for SWA and Sun Country, and the following assumptions:
We will each be bringing 2 pieces of checked luggage for our trip
We would like to sit next to each other on the plane:

Sun Country:
RT fare per person: $448.40
Baggage per person: $25 first and $35 second for a total of $60 per person each way, or $120.00 round trip or, if prepaid, then $20 and $30, so I’ll even use this as my estimate and say $100 per person for luggage, RT
Middle seat selection: Free
Window seat selection: $10 per flight ($15 for aisle seat)
Total cost for the two of us, $1,116.80 for a round trip flight to Orlando with our bags, on Sun Country.

Southwest:
RT fare per person: $369.90
Seats: First come, first served: Free
Total cost for the two of us, $739.80 for a round trip flight to Orlando with our bags, on Southwest. That’s a total difference of $377.00 just for TWO of us to fly to Orlando! – That’s the FULL cost of a 3rd RT ticket on SWA! I just can’t wrap my head around it. Sun Country is just NOT affordable for us anymore

*Full disclosure, we did opt for Early Bird Check-in just so we don't have to worry about checking in at the 24 hour mark while we're in Florida, and that was $10 per person, but that was an OPTIONAL charge for us that we elected to do for convenience, not necessity.

I don't know how families with kids (who I would assume would like to sit WITH their kids on the flight, not scattered throughout the plane) are able to do it any more

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

My DD liked the earlier option available on Airtran, so we kept that with Airtran. Then the rep asked me, if I looked at another airline. I came clean and said I was looking at sister airline Southwest. She told me I was available to book something on Southwest with her. I discussed it, but it was cheaper to refund me the Airtran fare and book with Southwest. She was very accomodating. She also mentioned that this option was made available only about a hour before I called. Perhaps this option came in to play, since they cancelled the direct flights on Airtran.

 

[elgerber]

Wow, I have yet to be able to find a single non stop on SWA from MSP to MCO, no matter when. What dates did you book? That has always make SW not an option for us to MCO, as we really prefer non stop.

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

Wow, I have yet to be able to find a single non stop on SWA from MSP to MCO, no matter when. What dates did you book? That has always make SW not an option for us to MCO, as we really prefer non stop.

We are flying Nov 30 down and Dec 8 back. Did not notice the direct flights until this most recent release of dates, (nov - jan)

 

[dudspizza]

I did a search yesterday for nonstop flights and couldn't find them in October, but when I searched over Christmas Break, they were there.....

Duds

 

[elgerber]

I did a search yesterday for nonstop flights and couldn't find them in October, but when I searched over Christmas Break, they were there.....

Duds

Very interesting!
I was looking in October.