Southwest online booking time?

[papertraveller]

Not that I know of, but on the page where you completed booking, there should be the confirmation number-you can use that. Took about 2 minutes for my email to come through

Thanks -- the emails did finally show. Lesson learned - I didn't write down the confirmation number at the time because I wanted to quickly book the next flight. I also tend to put in the RR number at a later time for the same reason. Of course, that would have also helped me confirm that it went through! Too groggy at 6 a.m.!

Huh? There's only 5 tickets available on my flight in late August and when I choose 6 seats, it says Sold Out. Hopefully this is just an opening glitch. They couldn't have filled up the plane in the first 20 minutes!

I hope you got through -- I think I read somewhere that you could try by buying the five, and then one?

End of August is so busy that that is why I booked our outbound flights as one-way from MCO first.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Anybody else noticing the total cost in points is being rounded up? I selected flights that are listed as 5,469 points each way. When I go to the next screen, it lists the total cost as 10,940 points instead of 10,938 so they are charging me an extra two points.

If I paid in dollars it shows that I would earn 546 points. That indicates that the cost of each flight before fees is $91. Therefore the points cost should be 5460 not 5469.

Yes they announced months ago that the price per point would increase from 60 to 70 points per dollar. SO maybe that is causing the glitch But keep an eye on the point price. I noticed last month the price of my flight did not change but the number of points decreased!!! So I rebooked and got 500 miles refunded each way.

 

[keishashadow]

the website is having issues processing credit card paymentsironic since I was using a brand new rapid rewards one. Called the issuer, no problem with my card (yea!) so I got to sit on hold for 20 minutes (boo!) before I could speak to a reservationist to book. At least the call-in rate was the same as the online one.

 

[Sunday]

I booked my flights! While I was dithering with deciding on the particular flight, one of my tickets dropped $25! So being indecisive gained me $75, ha.

 

[mcd2745]

Anybody else noticing the total cost in points is being rounded up? I selected flights that are listed as 5,469 points each way. When I go to the next screen, it lists the total cost as 10,940 points instead of 10,938 so they are charging me an extra two points.

If I paid in dollars it shows that I would earn 546 points. That indicates that the cost of each flight before fees is $91. Therefore the points cost should be 5460 not 5469.

Yes they announced months ago that the price per point would increase from 60 to 70 points per dollar. SO maybe that is causing the glitch But keep an eye on the point price. I noticed last month the price of my flight did not change but the number of points decreased!!! So I rebooked and got 500 miles refunded each way.

The change is supposed to take effect on Apr 1. So that shouldn't be an issue yet. I noticed too that the points don't quite add up. I thought it was supposed to 60 points per dollar, but that never adds up correctly. The dollar proce per flight and the points required always seem have different multipliers (none of which are 60).

ETA: In fact, I was just looking at the SW site and the fdate we booked. There are separate flights with different dollar prices ($130 vs. $141) that require the same number of points. Very strange. Any SW experts out there know why this is?

 

[juliehoey]

I booked my flights! While I was dithering with deciding on the particular flight, one of my tickets dropped $25! So being indecisive gained me $75, ha.

My flight went up since I booked this morning at 6:30am EST. There was only ONE direct flight from MCO to PHL and USAir had it over $300 this morning. SW had it for $194 and I booked at that. I am hoping they add one more later flight. Too much competition with USAir for that last flight time. It may sell out quick!

 

[juliehoey]

It is open!!!! Flights are much higher than I expected!! Oh well. I booked and I will keep an eye out for drops in prices. Ugh!

I agree. My heart sunk when I saw the prices. I expected lower. Most flights in June and July from PHL to MCO were $138 each way. THese started at $141. My rt ended up at $320 per person. But luggage is free and we need a lot this trip!

 

[emilymad]

Our flights were $302 from PHL. US Air had a nonstop with similar times for $365 for our dates so I guess I feel good at the $300. We paid with points but I will keep watching to see if the prices drop.

 

[LisaS]

Yes they announced months ago that the price per point would increase from 60 to 70 points per dollar. SO maybe that is causing the glitch

That is scheduled to happen at the end of this month so I wouldn't think that would be causing price glitches quite yet.

I am still confused about how Southwest does math. 5,469 multiplied by 2 does not equal 10,940. Did anyone else experience this?

But keep an eye on the point price. I noticed last month the price of my flight did not change but the number of points decreased!!! So I rebooked and got 500 miles refunded each way.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[LisaS]

The change is supposed to take effect on Apr 1. So that shouldn't be an issue yet. I noticed too that the points don't quite add up. I thought it was supposed to 60 points per dollar, but that never adds up correctly. The dollar proce per flight and the points required always seem have different multipliers (none of which are 60).

ETA: In fact, I was just looking at the SW site and the fdate we booked. There are separate flights with different dollar prices ($130 vs. $141) that require the same number of points. Very strange. Any SW experts out there know why this is?

They now include fees in the displayed price. To determine the base price of the flight, move your mouse pointer over the price and look at the number displayed in the "earn xxx points" text that appears. Divide that number by 6 and that's the base price. Multiply that number by 10 and that should be the point cost of that flight but I'm finding the numbers are off a bit.

For example, a $109 flight earns 546 points. Divide 546 by 6 and you get a base price (before fees, taxes) of $91. Multiple 546 by 10 to get the equivalent price in points: 5460. However I'm finding the price in points is coming up as 5469 instead. With a conversion of 60 points per dollar, the price in points should always end in a zero and the point price should be a multiple of 60. A $109 flight that is $91 before fees should be 5460 points (91 * 60) not 5469.

ETA: I think I have figured it out. The base price of my two flights is actually $91.16 each. Multiply that by 60 and you get a point price of 5469.6. Multiply that by two (round trip) and you get 10,939.2. I guess since they can't charge me a fraction of a point they charged me an extra .8 of a point, 10,940 total. I don't remember them doing that in the past.

Re: your issue with flights with two different prices but the same number of points, that can happen if one is a non-stop and the other is not. You pay a Segment Fee ($4), Passenger Facility Charge ($4.50) and Security fee ($2.50) per segment. On a non-stop flight you pay $11, on a one-stop flight you pay $22, etc. Since the flight prices you posted differ by $11, I assume one is a non-stop and the other makes one stop so the one-stop has $11 more in fees than the non-stop but both flights have the same base price and therefore cost the same number of points.

 

[mcd2745]

Makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[The Mayor]

The number of Non-Stops out of MHT have really been cut. Not thrilled with the amount of points I had to use but I know I'll get them back when the prices drop. I just wanted to get them booked and get my EBCI.

 

[mcd2745]

The number of Non-Stops out of MHT have really been cut. Not thrilled with the amount of points I had to use but I know I'll get them back when the prices drop. I just wanted to get them booked and get my EBCI.

Seems like they have cut the number of non-stops to/from MCO at numerous airports (I've noticed it at ISP). Where are they re-routing all these flights to? Where is there stronger demand than MCO? Very strange.

 

[kristenrice]

We couldn't get a nonstop out of Grand Rapids or Detroit so we are going to try Flint. We were able to book all 4 of us on points and I still have over 8,000 leftover. It was $111 each way out of Flint vs. $248 each way out of GR with layovers. I'll keep an eye out for changes, but I'm guessing that they aren't going to add flights any time soon.

 

[3happydancers]

Seems like they have cut the number of non-stops to/from MCO at numerous airports (I've noticed it at ISP). Where are they re-routing all these flights to? Where is there stronger demand than MCO? Very strange.

Very True! Couldn't book SIL's flight out of Islip. She wants to leave on a Sunday but SWA only offered 2 non stop which was not open to book at the Wanna Get Away price. The rest were all connecting I don't understand why, when these flights are always completely full.

 

[mcd2745]

Very True! Couldn't book SIL's flight out of Islip. She wants to leave on a Sunday but SWA only offered 2 non stop which was not open to book at the Wanna Get Away price. The rest were all connecting I don't understand why, when these flights are always completely full.

There always used to be 4-5 nonstops daily between ISP & MCO. Now it is only 2 or 3. You're right, they would fill all 5 flights...easily. Flights out of ISP were NEVER included whenever SW would run any of their sales. Never needed to be. Seems odd they would remove those flights.