Southwest Rates are up and they are no deal

[dsneygirl]

I just booked AirTran last weekend departing Dec 29/07 out of BUF and returning Jan 5/08 from MCO. Non-stop round trip for two incl taxes for $470US. Quite a bit better than SW's prices at same time last year. Same flight out of Pearson if I'd have booked back in late January was $1150CDN total and last weekend was roughly $2000CDN. Needless to say, I'm pretty pleased...

Holy smokes you booked for Dec already! I guess though New years is pretty busy. We just booked this week for our May trip and we still have Aug before our Dec trip rolls around.

 

[Questforthemouse]

Holy smokes you booked for Dec already! I guess though New years is pretty busy. We just booked this week for our May trip and we still have Aug before our Dec trip rolls around.

You know as a DVC member you have to book Christmas/New Years as soon as the 11 month booking window opens so we've known for a while we're going. When I saw AirTran's price I was pretty confident SW wasn't going to beat it (based on last year's pricing) come late August when SW opens up for Christmas season ressies. "See the hill...take the hill"

 

[Camilo]

Camilo - Those prices are good as far as flying out of Canada goes, but what you are failing to mention is that Sunwing only flies to MCO on Sundays and only has 1 flight on that day.
Most of us prefer the ability to choose any day of the week and a particular time of day, which you can get flying out of Buffalo.


CPC

This is the situation I am in.
I'm booked for 8 nights at POP Century, hoping to fly out of Buffalo on Saturday morning and return on Sunday afternoon.
I'm seriously considering, though, to change my plans and go with Sunwing (and stay only 7 days/nights there).
EVEN if SWA reduces their prices to 59.00 each way, it would end up costing us the almost the same amout of money, if we take into account the fuel to Buffalo and a night in a hotel there.

 

[krissyh]

Those WestJet prices bring it to just over $2000 CA for 4. SouthWest out of Buffalo - even at a high price of $168 US each way - comes to $1420 plus exchange. Still cheaper to fly out of Buffalo. Darn taxes!!!

FYI-
Airtran now has a direct flight each day from BUF to MCO. Buffalo is my "home" airport" and over the last few years, I have found better deals on Airtran. With the cheapest fares, you get your seats assigned at check in but that is still better than Southwests seating.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Well since we need to travel home on the labour day weekend, I bit the bullet and booked with Delta for the return. I was wanting a direct flight, but Delta goes through Atlanta and then onto Buffalo. Only an hour stopover. So on way down we're going non stop with Air Tran $89/pp and on way home with Delta one stop for $69/pp. This is saving us over $500 US verus Southwest's current rates for our dates. I really liked SW, but their prices are just way too high this year. I feel much better now that we're booked! Now to just figure out all the places to dine for free!

 

[jeannief]

I booked from detroit before I read all the information here. I was in panic mode. Can someone PM me or explain here how I can re-book if the prices go down from Buffalo and get my charges credited? The tickets say non-refundable, but people have said that they book and rebook. I'd love to keep looking for a better flight/price but need to know the game plan... do I get the DING, cancel the original and wait for the credit then apply it? Or book the ding/better flight and then call SW and ask for a credit? Or call them directly once I see the better deal and ask them to do it?
Thanks in advance for any assistance!

 

[mickeywho?]

FYI-
Airtran now has a direct flight each day from BUF to MCO. Buffalo is my "home" airport" and over the last few years, I have found better deals on Airtran. With the cheapest fares, you get your seats assigned at check in but that is still better than Southwests seating.

I'm on "flight watch" right now. Airtran's nonstop flights for my days of travel are over $300 right now. And the best price I can see for my flight down is $136 plus taxes so for $30 more I can go non-stop with SW. Plus SW allows changes for no fee - Airtran charges $60 per change so I'm holding off for a little while before I decide. We also have credits with JetBlue (we were in the big flight fiasco in February) but we can only use them for a one-way purchase. So we'll be going JetBlue one-way and SW or Airtran the other.
I'm beginning to think driving would be a whole lot less complicated!!

 

[surfer_ed]

I can getr a good price comming back for our October Trip but not going down. Maybe i should try AirTran.