Southwest schedule open through Nov 1st

[DebbieB]

I just booked our round trip flights from Louisville to Orlando Oct 5th through 13th. It will be our first time flying SW and I have a few questions:
1) By booking on the first day available and paying for EBCI today as well, does that guarantee us boarding assignments in the high A's?
2) It's my understanding that if the fares for our flights go down, we will be able to apply those savings to our existing reservations. Is this something we check back on ourselves, or does Southwest alert us to discounts?

1) A likely but not guaranteed.

2) you have to check yourself.

 

[mousestruck]

Did anybody else get some worrying error messages prior to the window opening? It was alternating between "schedule not open yet for your dates" and "Southwest is discontinuing service from MHT to MCO on 9/27/13". That second one made me go

I was so glad when the schedule finally came up and saw that yes, you can still get there from here!

Yes! I set my alarm bright and early to book flights, only to find a message indicating that SWA was discontinuing service between PHL and MCO. I believed it, since they've been reducing service already and AirTran services that route. I was very dispointed, because I was planning to book the AirTran flight I had my eye on through SWA (since AirTran expanded its schedule on Sat.) to save on the baggage fees. So I hopped over to AirTran and bought the tickets, since fares were good... only to find this thread a few hours later indicating it was all a computer glitch!!! Arghh!!!

A happy ending though... I called AirTran and cancelled my purchase without penalty (since it was less than 24 hours) and rebooked the flights through SWA. No baggage fees, and the fees were somehow a bit cheaper. So even though fares were the same, the 4 tickets cost about $25 less. I was nervous making the switch, but everything seems to have worked out. So glad I logged into DisBoards this am!

 

[Sugar Jones]

Booked our return flights to Flint for Sept. 28th. I was a bit disappointed with the price I was hoping for $115.00 like we got for the the trip down but the return flight was $175.00. I was also bummed that it was an early flight. I was hoping for a 7:00pm. Oh well I'm going to Disney so I can't complain!!

 

[mdsd8700]

I just booked our round trip flights from Louisville to Orlando Oct 5th through 13th. It will be our first time flying SW and I have a few questions:
1) By booking on the first day available and paying for EBCI today as well, does that guarantee us boarding assignments in the high A's?
2) It's my understanding that if the fares for our flights go down, we will be able to apply those savings to our existing reservations. Is this something we check back on ourselves, or does Southwest alert us to discounts?

I think you already purchased EBCI but now someone can pay additional $40 per person to be guaranteed A1-A15. That is something SW just recently started. A bit steep for me, but we don't even do EBCI. It is available up to 45 minutes before take off, I believe.

Also if there is a fare decrease (as PP said you must check yourself) the credit is not applied to your existing reservation. It comes in the form of a credit that will expire one year from the date of purchase. It cannot be used toward EBCI.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

didn't get that message but was having horrible time using existing credits in combination with SWA rapid rewards card kept getting error messages as to payments not matching flight total. Finally gave up, signed out of my account and back in and it worked eeeek kept thinking the prices would go up in the interim lol

how's everybody feel about the prices they're seeing today?

from PIT i paid $320 RT pp

checked my notes:

$75 more pp than same week last year

$100 more pp than trip in june (even after deducting the $40 pp credit i have)

hoping to see price drop for Oct's trip but never did find a lower price after booking last year.

We fly out of Islip Long Island....flying out on a Wednesday was 92 this year ...last year was 98 .......have to wait until may to book our Sunday return flight

 

[loveswdw]

I didn't book yet. Louisville to MCO was too high for me ($371/rt pp). Thinking we may fly into out of Tampa as that was $251/rt pp. There's four of us so the savings would be significant. And I still think $251 is high. We may drive after all. Have also been considering renting a car & driving down then flying home.

 

[Winky65]

I was able to get $127 one way from Baltimore to MCO late October. GREAT rate for us especially non stop. I have noticed that my airfare for April has increase by 150 dollars though..was hoping that would come down a bit to get a credit.
Does anyone know when they will start to book Nov 2nd? (our departure day). Seems they only opened up a short amount of time to book.

We booked the $127 flight from BWI to Orlando yesterday for October 29th. Today it is $104, we rebooked. You might want to check your flight too.

 

[gweninwb]

We got our tickets yesterday. We live an hour north of Milwaukee and were hoping to fly out of there but the prices for a round trip ticket were $370 and the flight times were horrible. We are driving 2.5 hours down to Chicago Midway airport and saving $400. The tickets are $270 each! The flight times are perfect for us from Midway as well. Leaving at 8:05am and returning at 6:20pm. For the nonstop flights, cheaper tickets, and better flight times I guess it's worth the extra 1.5 hour drive.

I do have one question. Does anyone know if the two free checked bags is per ticket or per reservation? I'm thinking we might need three bags. We are staying at a villa and want to bring down some food.

 

[budafam]

I'm waiting for December 3rd & 10th as well. The prices don't look too bad for Tuesdays in October. I really like the times as well. Hope we get a decent arrival time so we can hit up a park on the 1st day. Counting down to May 6th now

 

[mdsd8700]

I do have one question. Does anyone know if the two free checked bags is per ticket or per reservation? I'm thinking we might need three bags. We are staying at a villa and want to bring down some food.

It is two free bags per person.

I always bring some snacks with as well then use the empty suit case for souvenirs on the way home.

Not sure what size room you have but there is also the availability to have groceries delivered to the resort. We do every trip. Garden Grocer and WeGoShop are the two most people use.

 

[LisaS]

We booked the $127 flight from BWI to Orlando yesterday for October 29th. Today it is $104, we rebooked. You might want to check your flight too.

Our return flight dropped by $15 today. Didn't expect a price drop after just 24 hours! It pays to check regularly.

 

[mkacar24]

I am starting to think I am not going to get a deal on our return flight from Orlando to Nashville. Vacation is from June 4th-12th and while we got a great deal for the flight there, the flights on the 12th just aren't going down even during the promos they have run the last few days.

What is strange is that every other Wednesday in June (5th, 19th, 26th) the early afternoon and evening flights are on sale for about 30% off. But for the date we need (12th) they only flights on sale depart before 9AM, which is a super early wakeup for the Magical Express and kind of a waste of that last night in the hotel room.

There is an afternoon flight on sale for the 11th. I am so cheap when it comes to this stuff I think I'd rather take a day off the trip and save some money rather than pay full price and leave on the 12th.

 

[antree]

I am getting very nervous that there are not many flights anymore straight through from PHL to MCO..I just happen to be on SW today when I noticed they opened up Nov 1st, our departure date. I haven't book yet. $154 one way is a little more then I want to pay. I haven't flew out on a Friday in yrs. Can anyone let me know what prices I can expect to pay for a Friday, in November, going from Philadelphia to Orlando.

One more thing what does, "Operated by AirTran" mean? is it an Airtran plane? SW has that written on some of their flights.

Thank You

 

[gweninwb]

Thanks mdsd8700. Just what I needed to know.