Southwest sales-what happened?

[Simba's Mom]

It seems as if Southwest no longer has any big sales, at least out of our airport. When they advertise a sale now, we're lucky to see about $10 off of the usual fare of about $180 each way. Not too many years ago, they'd periodically run a big sale where airfare would drop almost in half, it was $99 each way. Like I said, now their "sales" only give us about $10 off. Is it just our airport or are others experiencing that also?

 

[3happydancers]

It seems as if Southwest no longer has any big sales, at least out of our airport. When they advertise a sale now, we're lucky to see about $10 off of the usual fare of about $180 each way. Not too many years ago, they'd periodically run a big sale where airfare would drop almost in half, it was $99 each way. Like I said, now their "sales" only give us about $10 off. Is it just our airport or are others experiencing that also?

Wow, I guess I got lucky. I managed a flight down to Orlando for 89.00. Coming home it was more, 135.00 pp. Sorry your fares are so high. I know we couln't do those prices. Maybe they will come down???

 

[disny_luvr]

No, I'm finding it to be true at my airport too. In fact, none of the recent sales have decreased the prices of the flights I'm watching. We aren't flying until June so maybe the sales are better closer to the time of flying. I remember when we got flights for $54 each way. I miss those days.

 

[3happydancers]

no, i'm finding it to be true at my airport too. In fact, none of the recent sales have decreased the prices of the flights i'm watching. We aren't flying until june so maybe the sales are better closer to the time of flying. i remember when we got flights for $54 each way. I miss those days.

you are right, we have not seen those prices in quite some time. I am still ok with 89.00 but 135.00 is a bit high.

 

[phred52]

I check our fares twice a day. So far, my flights have dropped 3 different times since I booked. $ 55, $ 20 and $ 50. (I rebooked each time to capture the savings) Since the original round trip price was just over $400 each, I'm pleased, but I'm still checking twice a day hoping for more savings!

Yes, the days of of the rock bottom fares seem to be in the past, unfortunately!

 

[francie57]

The prices around here aren't any better. JetBlue isn't any cheaper they are $134 to MCO and $109 back but their flight times are awful. Delta did away with all of their non-stops and a flight with them now, including stop is over $450 round trip. Just booked our return flight on Southwest (first time we will be going Southwest) for $139. The flight to MCO was $120. Prices haven't gone down here at all, in fact the price of the trip that we got for $120 is now $139. Guess the days of really cheap airfare may be gone for most of us.

 

[Chuck S]

It has almost always been true out of San Antonio. The really cheap SW fares were only short hops, like to Dallas or Houston. Rarely did we ever see anything really on sale to either coast.

 

[3happydancers]

I've checked with SWA a few times since I booked this morning. Our flight down jumped from 89.00 to 135.00 so I am happy I jumped on that. Our flight home has remained the same at 135.00. I am curious to see where this goes. I won't be changing if it drops because I won't be flying before next year, but I am CURIOUS!

 

[disny_luvr]

I've checked with SWA a few times since I booked this morning. Our flight down jumped from 89.00 to 135.00 so I am happy I jumped on that. Our flight home has remained the same at 135.00. I am curious to see where this goes. I won't be changing if it drops because I won't be flying before next year, but I am CURIOUS!

Flights for our June trip were released in mid-December. At that time I thought they were too high and would drop in price, so I waited. Well, they haven't dropped but haven't increased either. I ended up booking our flight to MCO on AirTran at $87/ticket. I am very pleased with that price. I'm holding out on our return flight. I stalk Southwest's site constantly. I'm still hopeful that SW's prices will decrease. If not, I'm going to have to bite the bullet and book the higher price, obviously. BTW, the flight I've got my eye on is $130/ticket. I guess it could be worse but I just know that if I book it at that price, the price will drop and I won't be flying again until Nov. 2013 so any credit I would receive would go unused.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We are out of Dallas and having the same problem. The Southwest fares are so much higher than they have ever been. We've driven the last two years but I was hoping to fly this time. If these prices don't come down, we'll be driving again.

 

[Joanna & Hunters Mom]

Agreed! We just had Southwest added to our airport last year, but the fares aren't that great. $115 down and $135 back. I can fly Allegiant out of the same airport for $39.99 each way. Yes I know I have to check bags, but I typically only check 2 for our family of 4 and use our 8 carry-ons for the rest of my packing. Looks like we will be flying Allegiant again when we head down to see Mickey this summer.

 

[beccawes7471]

Agree, Southwest is still our best option bc our airport has so few options, but our best was $159 going and $199 return. I still check frequently but we used to always get a $99 each way, but I guess those are the good ole days

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

It seems as if Southwest no longer has any big sales...

Well in the last couple years:
Continental bought out United.
Delta bought out Northwest.
Southwest bought out AirTran.

There aren't many airlines left.
When competition goes down, prices go up.
When low travel seasons hit you will still see some sale activity but the rest of the year there is little reason for the few airlines that remain to offer big sales.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

The prices around here aren't any better. JetBlue isn't any cheaper they are $134 to MCO and $109 back but their flight times are awful. Delta did away with all of their non-stops and a flight with them now, including stop is over $450 round trip. Just booked our return flight on Southwest (first time we will be going Southwest) for $139. The flight to MCO was $120. Prices haven't gone down here at all, in fact the price of the trip that we got for $120 is now $139. Guess the days of really cheap airfare may be gone for most of us.

I've been noticing the same thing. I don't like the fact that Delta has no more non-stop flights which I think made SW and JB not have to offer the deals as they used to. It's either SW or JB now at BDL and I haven't seen early flights from BDL on JB and the SW prices are no longer 99 . . everything is 109 or higher and coming home its 139 or higher.

 

[Armadillo4]

I remember reading a lengthy article from the Wall Street Journal last summer about Southwest's rising airfares. It took a little Googling, but the article was re-posted on Yahoo Finance. It's a long read, but well-researched and gives you a good idea on the challenges that Southwest has in trying to remain the low-fare leader. But to address the OP's original question, you're probably not alone in seeing fewer big sales on Southwest routes.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

Looks like I should have booked yesterday...I purposely waited until today because it's always been my experience that Tuesday drops! Our ideal flights have gone up again!! I just checked Airtran out of Rochester and there's a non-stop for $100 instead of the now $150 out of Buffalo...seriously thinking ROC may end up being our new departure airport and AirTran our "new" airline. We have to factor in whether we'd have the extra cost of checked baggage, but in May I'm not sure we'd need to since our need for extra clothing would be so little. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Same here, both JB and SW went up from 109 each way yesterday to 120 each way today . . . Bizarre because I also thought Tuesday the prices go down . . .guess they are trying to switch it up . ..

 

[lillykat]

I know I am watching fares but we didn't book on Sunday because we aren't 100% certain we will be able to take the trip. I know you can rebook but we won't be able to travel before January if we have to cancel so we are now on hold. Very frustrating to see that on Sunday when they released the dates for end of August they were $89 down and $135 return. Now they are about $100 down and $145-175 return trip. Unfortunately everyone else (jet blue, delta etc) want $1300+ for 4 tickets and then you have possible baggages fees on top of that - and parking is much more out of LGA or JFK than Islip.

 

[focusondisney]

Same here, both JB and SW went up from 109 each way yesterday to 120 each way today . . . Bizarre because I also thought Tuesday the prices go down . . .guess they are trying to switch it up . ..

Just an FYI: Jetblue's website is now showing the prices with taxes already included. So the first price you're seeing is actually your final price, too. I am keeping my eye on JB prices for May, still trying to talk my DH into a trip. While the prices listed on the "pick your flight" page seem higher today, my final price is exactly the same as it was yesterday.

I know there is a new rule that the airlines need to show prices with all taxes & fees up front, I didn't realize it was starting this soon.


EDIT: Looks like Southwest is now doing the same thing. So maybe the new law has kicked in.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Same here. DW and I are going to DL the last week of August. Price jumped from our home airport to LAX from $131 yesterday and Sunday, to $142 this morning. They're now the same price as United. Only reason I would still fly SW is because of the no bag fees. We would each need to check a bag for a week long stay. If not for that reason, I would probably book the United flight.