Southwest question

[Linda T.]

I booked our holiday flights, and I thought they were pricey too. But I wanted nonstop first flight out and close to the last flight out going home. After I booked our 6 seats and I went back and checked prices, both prices had increased by also $50 per seat.

Good luck everyone!

 

[jgraney106]

Yes, the fares around the holidays are higher than I hoped, but I bit the bullet and purchased our arrival on December 23rd. I'm going to gamble and wait until they maybe have an anniversary sale at Southwest in June to book a return trip. Will add on EB then also, just in case the arrival flight drops in price. We currently are paying $708.00 for 3 people , one way from Rochester, NY to Tampa on December 23rd non-stop.

 

[Disneylover99]

My flights (over the holidays) that I wanted are $2440 rt for my family of four. It's too much for me.

 

[pinstripe princess]

We just booked for 11/4 to 11/11 from Long Island to Orlando and it was a 100 in total then I budgeted for but still happy with the cost. For 4 tickets round trip it cost us $1000. Glad to have to flights finally booked

 

[mrsstats]

I never got a ding.

 

[chris4disney]

I'm so disappointed. Looked this morning real quick and saw that our 11/2 flight back home had opened up and the "wanna get away" price was $158. I was at work and couldn't book it right then. Went back just a few hours later and the "wanna get away" price is now sold out already. The "anytime" price is $433!! Had no idea it would sell out that fast for a non-holiday flight. What's my chances that if I wait awhile that more "wanna get away" prices will come back for this particular flight?

 

[MYD714]

I am devastated.

The flights for 12/26 are all sold out except two...and the price is $310 one way.

I don't know what to do. Do I book it? I'm worried that it will just continue to go up.

Does anyone know if additional flights or seats will eventually open?

This is the first time I've ever been able to go during Christmas, and now the price of flights might keep me from going.

I don't know what to do.

 

[Minniekins]

I don't know anything for sure, of course, but I would expect that prices would fluctuate over the next few months. I'd be more shocked if prices didn't go down at times in the coming months. But, I would just keep stalking SW, checking prices often through out the day. I usually hit the window when prices are low as they will get this way, a little luck and some serious stalking, lol! I've found my best prices early in the wee or early morning hours usually. Sometimes they only last a few hours at that low price. But I would expect various sales over the next months. So, although I'd be upset with current prices, I'd be cautiously optimistic that I may still find something I'm happy with with. Especially with the anniversary sale they have been having in early-mid June. That's what I'm hoping for. Last year I got both ways for under 100 each, I think like $89 maybe, not sure(or about 5500 pts, which is how I paid then and this trip as well). I'd hold off on booking anything if the price is way more than I wanted to spend, especially spending cash. If prices go lower, I can get a credit back, but unless I travel in that allowed window, it probably wouldn't do me much good. Not so bad if you fly more than once a year, though. That's why I like using points, they just go back in your account right away.

My flight down finally did go up $23 by mid afternoon, the flight home is still the same, so far tonight. I will be stalking SW indefinitely now, lol, hoping to snatch the lowest price possible! I have to say I'm very surprised, and sorry for those who experienced this, that flights that far out are already sold out. Hopefully more will open up, so good luck!

 

[Disneylover99]

What's my chances that if I wait awhile that more "wanna get away" prices will come back for this particular flight?

The wanna get away prices may come back, but the price probably won't be as low as yesterday morning's price.

 

[chris4disney]

The wanna get away prices may come back, but the price probably won't be as low as yesterday morning's price.

Thanks! I actually booked a different flight with SW last night. Not the one I originally wanted. This new one has a layover, my first choice was direct. Then this morning the "direct" flight that was sold out yesterday came back as available!!! Since SW doesn't charge to switch flights, I quickly snagged it! This direct flight was $30 more dollars today than it was yesterday morning. But It's $33 less per person than what I booked last night. Luckily SW is issuing me a $165 refund for the difference for a party of 5!

 

[got2sammies]

Any chance some of these will go down? Nov 11-15 from Norfolk to Orlando $112/ each way not bad but always hoping for cheaper. Last time we flew in Nov 2010 I got airfare for $70/each way but that was airtran out of newport news

 

[Disneylover99]

Any chance some of these will go down? Nov 11-15 from Norfolk to Orlando $112/ each way not bad but always hoping for cheaper. Last time we flew in Nov 2010 I got airfare for $70/each way but that was airtran out of newport news

Doubtful. But you never know.

 

[The Mayor]

If you booked today check your flights next Tuesday. I booked mine on the last release with RR points and the next week they went down 1,000 points each way. Ever since then they've gone up and up and up.

 

[Minniekins]

Good advice! I will say, as soon as I book, I begin stalking, lol, checking, just in case, for lower prices that may pop up at any time!

 

[chris4disney]

Good advice! I will say, as soon as I book, I begin stalking, lol, checking, just in case, for lower prices that may pop up at any time!

I recently booked with Southwest for the first time. Usually flew on Airtran. Just curious, if after I book my flight I notice that the price of my flight drops lower than what I paid, does SW ever give you a refund on the difference? I know they don't charge you to change to a different flight (which I did) and they refunded me the difference in lower fare.

 

[amomma23]

I recently booked with Southwest for the first time. Usually flew on Airtran. Just curious, if after I book my flight I notice that the price of my flight drops lower than what I paid, does SW ever give you a refund on the difference? I know they don't charge you to change to a different flight (which I did) and they refunded me the difference in lower fare.

SW won't give you a refund, but they will credit your account with the difference in price. You would need you use the credit (actually fly somewhere, not just purchase airfare) within one year of the date you originally booked.

 

[AndreaDM]

For those of you who booked during last year's anniversary sale, do you remember what you paid? Or how much less it was than the "normal" flight? I'm just trying to see if I want to wait until then to book.

 

[Minniekins]

I recently booked with Southwest for the first time. Usually flew on Airtran. Just curious, if after I book my flight I notice that the price of my flight drops lower than what I paid, does SW ever give you a refund on the difference? I know they don't charge you to change to a different flight (which I did) and they refunded me the difference in lower fare.

SW won't give you a refund, but they will credit your account with the difference in price. You would need you use the credit (actually fly somewhere, not just purchase airfare) within one year of the date you originally booked.

Yep, that's how it works when paying with a credit card. And that's why I really like using points to book! They will refund the points, usually available immediately in my account, and there isn't a limit when you can use these, which is awesome! For me the refund in a credit to use in a year won't do too much as we usually only fly once a year.

For those of you who booked during last year's anniversary sale, do you remember what you paid? Or how much less it was than the "normal" flight? I'm just trying to see if I want to wait until then to book.

Well, I can't remember the cash price, since I booked with points last year. But the ticket down to Orlando was just over 5500 points. This year my flight down had a cash price of $142 when I booked, which I paid with 8,530 points. I'm hoping it'll go down and the get some points back, lol!

 

[chris4disney]

Yep, that's how it works when paying with a credit card. And that's why I really like using points to book! They will refund the points, usually available immediately in my account, and there isn't a limit when you can use these, which is awesome! For me the refund in a credit to use in a year won't do too much as we usually only fly once a year.

so do you "buy" points and pay that way or do you used earned points from previous trips?

 

[Minniekins]

so do you "buy" points and pay that way or do you used earned points from previous trips?

I think most get a SW Visa card and join the rapid rewards program. Often, but not always, when signing up for the card they have some promo, such as get the card, and get a good number of points (25,000 - 50,000, I got 50,000 but I've seen some get 25,000), if you spend so much in the first 3 months. When booking, you can see each flight costs so much in dollars, or click to view in points and it will say how many points it would cost. You get one point per dollar spent, and two points per dollars spent thru Southwest, such as for tickets, fees, and more. Each flight earns so many points when you use dollars to buy a flight. And if you have a southwest card you'd also get points for the money you spent , as well, it's two points per dollar for a flight. You don't earn any points for using points to buy the trip though. If you need extra points to book a trip, you can buy more points. Right now they have a promo that is 25% off when buying points, so 2000 pts (smallest amt to buy), are $41. I think you could buy points with another cc as well, but you don't get pts then for the actual purchase, just the amt they give for buying with dollars, so without the rewards visa card you'd earn less pts. I hope that makes sense! The benefit to spending points to get a flight is that if the price goes down, you would get the points returned to your acct for anytime use. Whereas with dollars, you'd get a credit to use(buy and fly), for a flight within one year from original purchase. If you can use your card to pay bills, etc, and pay it off each month, you can earn points for flights, so it can be like getting free flights. Hopefully most of this makes sense, sorry if not! Lots of details at southwest site, too!