Southwest Sale - buy a leg at a time?

[lacy1101]

Does anyone every buy your airfare a leg at a time? Our departure date is November 14, which is the last day to fly under the Southwest 72-hour sale rates. Our flight from Nashville to Orlando is $98. The flight home (not on sale) is $216. Should we just buy the departure flight that's on sale now and wait to see if we can get a better rate on our return flight?

 

[rockingrollercoaster]

In fact, we never buy R/T at once because we never find great sales "together"

 

[ollyg]

Does anyone every buy your airfare a leg at a time? Our departure date is November 14, which is the last day to fly under the Southwest 72-hour sale rates. Our flight from Nashville to Orlando is $98. The flight home (not on sale) is $216. Should we just buy the departure flight that's on sale now and wait to see if we can get a better rate on our return flight?

I just did this last week. My departure from Pittsburgh Sept 28 was $110, but my return flight is hanging out at $204 and has not budged I am hoping they still have their birthday sale and I can get a better price

 

[Donna M]

I was about to buy SW at $99 and then come home on JetBlue for $99. The problem was getting dropped off at Manchester and then taking a bus home from Boston. The reason we didn't go for it was because there wasn't any good availability at Disney that weekend.

 

[snesguy]

If you know you are going and going on Southwest I would definitely buy the outbound on sale regardless of whether or not I bought the return.

If you wait to book the return the price for the return could go down or it could go up so be prepared.

 

[Mommygraham]

I am always hesitant to buy airfare one leg at a time. You just don't know when/if a sale will come up for the return trip. We are going in October and I just booked roundtrip, nonstop flights for my family of 5 for $240.00 total from Chicago/O'Hare to Orlando flying United/American Airlines. I found these flights using Hotwire.com. I haven't had much luck with Southwest lately, though I know they don't charge for your first checked bag..

Good luck!

 

[rlduvall]

With SW I always book each leg of the trip separately - even if I do it at the same time. That way if the price goes down later on one leg of the trip, but maybe not the other, you didn't lose out. I really see no downside to this.

 

[DebbieB]

It used to be airlines would charge much more for 1 ways but I don't think that's the case anymore.

 

[mischief32]

This how I book our trips down on Jetblue and back with Airtran. I did not like the time of the return flight on Jetblue so I waited until Airtran released there dates and snagged a 12pm return instead of a 8am flight for $89 pp. Very happy

 

[nikkistevej]

We always buy "one leg at a time" as well, makes it easier if I need to make changes.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Yes, I would definitely do that and have done it.

 

[bytheblood]

In fact, we never buy R/T at once because we never find great sales "together"

Ditto!

 

[wdwfan1]

We also book one leg at a time. As others have said, if the price of one legs comes down, but the other goes up, you can still get the lower fare.

 

[kda]

With SW I always book each leg of the trip separately - even if I do it at the same time. That way if the price goes down later on one leg of the trip, but maybe not the other, you didn't lose out. I really see no downside to this.

Exactly why I do the same. It's not unusual for me to book 2 different airlines, based on price and most convenient time for us....... usually much more flexibility when booking separately. (But I still price it out booking at R/T and booking separately, just to make sure there's no price difference.) Good luck!!

 

[miztressuz]

It used to be airlines would charge much more for 1 ways but I don't think that's the case anymore.

depends on the airline still. SW sells in one way increments, so no different in price if you buy one one-way or two one-ways. if i try pricing on say us airways, two one way flights is just about double a round trip. same dates, flights, etc. i think it's a difference between the lost cost carriers and the mainstream airlines.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I do it all the time....my next trip, in July, I bought my southbound flight and then the northbound flight about 9 days later.

 

[Qltrgrl2]

I do this too. You almost always get a better deal if you monitor the website closely.
Good Luck!

 

[pigletto]

I bought our flight to Orlando with Jetblue and our flight home with Southwest. The times worked best that way and the price was much better than using just one airline.
Looks like I'll need to do it again if we plan a Christmas trip. I have my eye on a decent price to get to Orlando, but Southwest still hasn't opened the dates for the return and Jetblue is higher than I'd like to pay.

 

[CheetoGuido]

one leg at a time.. I learned this the hard way. I am trying to get on this 72 hour sale too!

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I always purchase one way with SWA.