Southwest opened their Spring schedule this morning, any stories good or bad?

[Checkers]

Booked 2 rt tickets out of BWI to MCO on 3/11-3/19 for a little over $600 (this includes assigned seats). It is more than we have ever paid but decided to grab it because it was really reasonable and the flights were nonstop and at good times. Oh, we are flying AirTran because they were less expensive than SW. I realize we will have to pay for checked luggage but I'm hoping to only check one bag for the 2 of us (thanks, Owner's Locker). I'm also hoping that the flight times don't vary too much. I think that is one thing that will change with the merger with SW -- very little changing of flight times not to mention not paying for checked luggage.

My daughter booked 5 rt tickets out of Phila. to MCO (AirTran) for about $1200 without assigned seats for the same dates as ours. We will be arriving within minutes of each other so hopefully our flight times won't change.

Good luck to all of you who are looking for reasonable fares.

 

[quirty30]

For those of us who booked Airtran for next spring, what do you think our chances are for the merger to be complete and our checked bags to be free? A girl can dream, can't she?

I kind of found my own answer, guess we'll just have to see how long the merger takes:

Q: What about Bag Fees?

A: As you know, Southwest does not charge a bag fee for the 1st or 2nd checked bag. AirTran charges $20 for the 1st checked bag, $25 for the 2nd, and $50 for additional bags. Upon full integration, it is our intent to have a consistent product offering. It is our intent that the bag fees would not be part of that product.

 

[Inkmahm]

For those of us who booked Airtran for next spring, what do you think our chances are for the merger to be complete and our checked bags to be free? A girl can dream, can't she?

I kind of found my own answer, guess we'll just have to see how long the merger takes:

Q: What about Bag Fees?

A: As you know, Southwest does not charge a bag fee for the 1st or 2nd checked bag. AirTran charges $20 for the 1st checked bag, $25 for the 2nd, and $50 for additional bags. Upon full integration, it is our intent to have a consistent product offering. It is our intent that the bag fees would not be part of that product.

No chance for the merger to be complete by spring. More like 2012, thank God.

The fares mentioned in this thread as being good buys are scary. I fly Airtran out of MKE to MCO and usually end up with a fare that is $79 one way, on average. It's higher than that right now for my March flights but I"m hoping for a sale between now and then so that I get closer to my normal $79. I am NOT looking forward to those kind of fares being impossible when the SW deal closes.

 

[GrumpyPOTFH]

For those of us who booked Airtran for next spring, what do you think our chances are for the merger to be complete and our checked bags to be free? A girl can dream, can't she?

Just my quess, but I expect merger to clsoe the end of 2nd quarter or beginning 3 quarter. So June or july 2011. Again just my guess.

 

[GrumpyPOTFH]

Air Tran people, do not be afraid of Southwest, Been Flying them now over seven years. More in the last four because of DW job. I have had nothing but great flights, always been treated very nice even when there has been delays. We have taken avantage of being bumped and collected over $1000 for future flights. Last week DW was in Orlando on work, I flew down to stay the weekend with her. On the way back on Monday got to airport early and they moved me up to a early flight and did not pay a dime for it, I was flying on a award ticket. We fly out of Midway in Chicago. We have it down and enjoy going to Midway. When we have to fly out of ORD , Ohare, we hate it. Southwest is the LUV airline. I have also purchased Southwest stock and have done will with it. So as you can see a strong backer of Southwest.

 

[quirty30]

No chance for the merger to be complete by spring. More like 2012, thank God.

The fares mentioned in this thread as being good buys are scary. I fly Airtran out of MKE to MCO and usually end up with a fare that is $79 one way, on average. It's higher than that right now for my March flights but I"m hoping for a sale between now and then so that I get closer to my normal $79. I am NOT looking forward to those kind of fares being impossible when the SW deal closes.

I actually looked at MKE flights as well, on SW and Airtran. I could have gotten it for a little cheaper, but the outbound flight at 6:21PM would have been pretty much impossible for us to make it without taking off work early. Now I'm second guessing myself - it's probably a lot easier to drive to MKE than MDW. I wonder if Airtran would allow me a one-time change seeing as though I just booked a few hours ago. I hate booking airfare - it's such a racket. And I totally agree that there weren't many good buys posted in this thread.

Edited to add - I decided to check this option out....and I was able to change online with no fee...I just can't figure out if my credit is to my card or a credit with Airtran. It was $97.50 less and parking will be much cheaper at Mitchell AND I'd much rather drive to MKE than to MDW. So I have to cut out of work an hour early - I can just work thru my lunch. So grand total for 3 of us MKE/MCO for spring break was $671.70. Thanks for posting, Inkmahm, and giving me a good idea. Much appreciated!!!!

 

[TinklednPants]

Flying from Long Island on Southwest April 16th and returning the 22nd for 3 people 1060.00 and I booked as soon as they opened

Wow! My cousin got ISP to MCO from the 9th to 19th for 3 people for $800.
Quite a difference

 

[wildernessDad]

Wow! I've been waiting for this as we wanted to fly April 21 or 22, and the fare was $109 each way. Well, today's fare was over $200 one way. Hopefully, this merger or buyout with Airtran will ultimately help us.

I fly out of BWI, which is a major hub for Southwest and is also serviced by AirTran. Once the buyout happens, competition will drop significantly, so I expect that my airfare will increase.

 

[Inkmahm]

I actually looked at MKE flights as well, on SW and Airtran. I could have gotten it for a little cheaper, but the outbound flight at 6:21PM would have been pretty much impossible for us to make it without taking off work early. Now I'm second guessing myself - it's probably a lot easier to drive to MKE than MDW. I wonder if Airtran would allow me a one-time change seeing as though I just booked a few hours ago. I hate booking airfare - it's such a racket. And I totally agree that there weren't many good buys posted in this thread.

Edited to add - I decided to check this option out....and I was able to change online with no fee...I just can't figure out if my credit is to my card or a credit with Airtran. It was $97.50 less and parking will be much cheaper at Mitchell AND I'd much rather drive to MKE than to MDW. So I have to cut out of work an hour early - I can just work thru my lunch. So grand total for 3 of us MKE/MCO for spring break was $671.70. Thanks for posting, Inkmahm, and giving me a good idea. Much appreciated!!!!

You're welcome! I love Airtran out of Milwaukee. They have a beautiful concourse at the airport. Their flights are always on time and traveling is relaxing because we upgrade to business class! I am really going to miss Airtran when SW takes over.

We like to fly out early in the morning and return at night so the Airtran flight schedule works great for us. I get to MCO about 11:30 am and usually leave around 6 pm (flight times are different depending on time of year.) SW has nothing to touch those times out of MKE.

As for the credit, check your itinerary and look at the payment section. Does it say a credit to credit card or a credit to your Airtran A+ rewards number? I"m guessing it is the A+ account but since you made the change so quickly, it may actually be a credit to your credit card.

 

[aan1701]

Hello. I am posting this because i work for SWA. First let me point out I do not have anything, nor infulance on our pricing so I can't answer those questions. I just work on the ground at LAX. I just wanted to correct one thing. This is not a merger. We are buying them. If there workers want to work for us they will have to interview. Once the buy out is complete, and we have fully taken over, there will be no sign of Air Tran at all. Well I suspect we will keep a Air Tran paint job on a aircraft. I just wanted to clear that up.

 

[arthur06]

I think the buyout of AirTran sucks bad for us! Not sure how it will play out as of yet, but I can ALWAYS find great prices on AirTran.

We are going down this December, and for 7 of us we paid a grand total of $1,320.

I can almost find $79 or $89 One Way fares on AT out of Des Moines, and almost always nonstop!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We need airfare for next June. American is the only one with their schedule out for June, but I do like to look at AirTran and SW for the months they have published.

Right now all 3 have flights going to MCO for $113 each in April. Which is a decent fare.

Coming home it gets a little tricky. American is $178. Airtran and SW are lower, but those are NOT non-stop flights. SW has one that is $113 for the return but it stops twice.

I have no clue what the June fares/routes will look like. I know American DID have the flight to MCO for $100, but until DH knows for sure that he can go those dates I refuse to ticket our air. The change fees would outpace any increase in fares if we had to change dates.

As far as the take-over, it is BAAAAD for us. SW has weird restrictions on their flights until 2014 when those are repealed. AirTran flies out of DFW, where SW is not allowed to have gates. So AirTran will disappear, along with a non-stop option. SW is not allowed to fly non-stop to MCO.

Today we have 3 options - American non-stop, AirTran non-stop or with stops, and SW with stops. Once things are complete we will have American or SW. And the fares will be scary. SW fares for this year were higher than American. No need to lower them once they swallow AirTran. We flew AirTran this year because the fares were MUCH lower.

 

[papertraveller]

I took a gamble in mid-August when I saw JetBlue out for March and bought tickets for the three of us. Held my breath when the SW dates were released, and doncha know that I am paying $150 less than SW would charge? And the Wanna Getaway fares are still available!

 

[Goofy DVC]

Just booked flights to visit our DD next March in Phoenix. I couldn't believe the prices so I ended up using two award tickets. I hope this isn't the trend for future airfare but I understand that they gotta survive. As for SW airlines they are by far the best. I will only fly SW, unless they don't have service to my destination.

 

[stitchineeyore]

Thanks Jason! Found out southwest had pushed out the window from your post. Bought around 10 a.m. and got the lowest rates out of Islip for daughter's spring break.

 

[nolanboys]

I think the buyout of AirTran sucks bad for us! Not sure how it will play out as of yet, but I can ALWAYS find great prices on AirTran.

We are going down this December, and for 7 of us we paid a grand total of $1,320.

I can almost find $79 or $89 One Way fares on AT out of Des Moines, and almost always nonstop!

I completely agree! We're flying AirTran this weekend at $318 for 2 of us to fly to Orlando from Milwaukee. I think those prices will be harder to come by after the merger happens. We're still lucky enough to have Frontier that flies directly to Orlando. I hope they don't get bought out!

 

[Psychodisney]

I checked my fares for spring break and saved $120!

 

[photobob]

Boy am I glad we are within driving distance!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Boy am I glad we are within driving distance!

The #1 reason for me why moving to Alabama is so appealing. I hate the flying these days.