Southwest question

[suzydisney971]

Do folks schedule their fares as soon as they come out or do you wait until the ding fares? We are going to Disney at the end of September (I know that fares are not out yet), however, we were thinking of doing another trip to Las Vegas (I know it's blasphemous that we would think to go any where else , doing Vegas for my husband so that we can do Disney for me ) and the dates are very flexible for February through April. We don't have a hotel booked yet for that trip, just been looking to see if I get any decent deals on the room. Just wondering what you experienced travelers would do. I figured if I booked the airfare now for Vegas and got a Ding then I could apply the credit to Disney trip. Thanks for any help that you may give.

 

[PlutosFriend]

I usually wait til a couple months out from my trip then book when I see a sale or a good DING.

 

[suzydisney971]

Thanks Plutosfriend. Anyone else with words of wisdom?

 

[iluvflorida8]

I always book my trips when the dates are released. And about 99% of the time I usually end up getting DINGS for $39-$49 each way from Pittsburgh to MCO, as long as it isn't around a holiday week.

 

[Rpsemont]

A few months ago, I might have said wait for a DING, but for our tickets this Nov, the DING I was waiting for never came. I had some flexibility to my dates, so I could afford to wait but from now on, I'll probably book when they open up and hope for a DING. It was very nervewracking to not have flights done 2-3 weeks before travel. In reality, there did turn out be a DING, but it only saved about $10 over what I booked, not the $50 I had hoped for.

 

[dgaston]

Here in NEngland, I book when the dates come out, and then adjust as rates get lower, or Ding! fares apply. But I almost always have another SWA trip planned, or can use the credit without difficultly. HTH

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I always book ASAP either when flights open or as soon as I have dates .

I have over $400 in TTV credits right now because of the great deals I got on our last and this upcoming trip.But they will be used up as soon as our June dates are opened or a quick trip in the spring late winter.

 

[tjmw2727]

I book as soon as I know my dates or as soon as the dates become available at the lowest fare possible. I also book them one way to make taking advantage of dings easier. Then I just wait an watch for dings and re-book as necessary.

TJ

 

[DonnaL]

I usually book as soon as the dates open up and then as prices go down accumulate the TTF credit for our next trip. Our trip coming up in mid January (six of us) was paid almost entirely with TTF credits. Our out of pocket was only about $140. However, that being said, we usually pretty much know in advance how frequently we will be travelling in any given year and be sure we will use any TTF's accumulated before they expire.

 

[CherCrazy]

Wow! Didn't really know that you could book then save the credit when the fares go down. I just waited for weeks for my Ding to come up for MLK weekend. Finally got it!

We used our credit from a trip we had to cancel last May. Boy, was it EASY to apply the credit to the new trip.

 

[suzydisney971]

Thank you everyone. I don't think I can wait for dings to book my flights. I like having all my ducks in order as soon as possible so I'll probably book my flights as soon as they come out and cross my fingers for dings. I'll have an excuse to go back to Disney

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

SW has never failed me yet!! We finally got a DING for our December trip at the beg of NOV! That was the longest I have ever waited!! Was a little worried, but it turned out fine.

We plan to go in September too and after Labor day it is always cheap to fly to Orlando...So I will just wait till toward the end of Summer when they run a sale or send a DING my way...

Good luck! The nice thing about grabbing the flights early is that you can use the credit you get for another vacation when they do lower the fares.

It is truly a waiting game!!

 

[cf0423]

I booked the date my flights came out. Unfortunately BFLO was over 300 per person, so I ended up going out of Pitt for 177 per person. About a month later they lowered the rates from BFLO (not a ding) and I switched flights I ended up w/$156.00 SW credit, which my friend used for her trip to AZ and gave me the $$. So worked out great, still hoping for a ding but I am happy w/$145 per person.