SW Airlines

[Disneyland1084]

Just out of curiosity, do any of you know why Southwest Airlines isn't a part of booking online at Disney.com?

 

[ktulu]

It might have something to do with the bookings of flights from Love Field, their home base. There is this stupid law that prevents from flying to any state that does not border with Texas, with the exception of a couple places. This law was put in place to make sure DFW airport would be the large airport for the area.

It could also be that SW likes to control all aspect of booking. I don't recall seeing them on any travel website either. Just my speculation

darren

 

[SamIAm21]

I don't think that's exactly right. SWA flies to Chicago, Buffalo NY, Kansas KS, Orlando, Albany, NY; Baltimore, and well basically around the whole US. Southwest also has it's own "Southwest Vacations" program, which may be the reason why it does not lend itself to Disney.com.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I may be that Disney requires concessions from an already discounted airline.

Jack

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Southwest doesn't do bookings from Travelocity or Expedia either. I don't think they do outside bookings.

 

[tmt martins]

Southwest doesn't do bookings from Travelocity or Expedia either. I don't think they do outside bookings.

Southwest decided a few years back to hold it's own on-line booking and thats it .It pulled itself from all the big ones and controls everything in house.

It helps keep prices down and flights booked .Other airlines have to keep a certian number of flights and seats open for 3rd party booking .

So the only way to fly SW is SW or SWV and this is funny if you book SWV it's a hard ticket with no on-line boarding chance.

 

[mommabo]

It might have something to do with the bookings of flights from Love Field, their home base. There is this stupid law that prevents from flying to any state that does not border with Texas, with the exception of a couple places. This law was put in place to make sure DFW airport would be the large airport for the area.

It could also be that SW likes to control all aspect of booking. I don't recall seeing them on any travel website either. Just my speculation

darren

While there is an ammendment restricting flights (the Wright ammendment? not sure if this is right ), it only applies to those flights in and out of Dallas (SWA only uses Love Field). All other flights having to do with any other Texas city are not affected by this. So I don't believe this is why SWA is not part of Disney vaction packages. I believe another poster stated it has more to do with SWA chosing to be the only ones to offer booking of their flights. This helps to keep to costs down as they don't pay TA fees etc. From our experience, they almost always have the lowest flights available as compared to other major airlines, and they have always proven to be much easier to use (make changes, etc). Hubby travels quite a bit for business and has racked up more flight credits than we know what to do with. Our family loves us because we are always giving them our rapid rewards that we can't use. Even our trip this summer we will drive to SoCal instead of flying as a rental is more expense than gas from AZ. Oh well, grandma and grandpa already have plans to put a few rewards to good use

 

[ktulu]

Well, it could be ONE of the reasons. Heck, I can't book a direct flight from DAL to SNA/LAX on their website, I have to book flights to New Mexico, and then book flights to SNA/LAX. I could see it being a programming nightmare that they don't want to deal with as well.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

It could be that Disney actually wants happy people when they show up. Dont get me wrong I have used them for short flights but I would never consider them for a long one.

 

[MrShiny]

I believe the only reason is that Southwest does not interface it's booking engine with anyone else. The other major CRS (computerized reservation systems) are all interfaced (SAABRE, Apollo, Worldspan - those were the big three, not sure if they still are!).

Originally, each was controlled by a single airline, and that airline's flights were listed first. That got stopped by the courts, and now each has to provide listing of the others, if they participate. SWA doesn't. They maintain their own system and do not particpate in any of the other CRS's. They sell their own vacation packages, but do not allow anyone else to book them. I also believe they provide no commissions at all (not as much a big deal as it used to be, as commissions are small now).

 

[MrShiny]

It could be that Disney actually wants happy people when they show up. Dont get me wrong I have used them for short flights but I would never consider them for a long one.

I have flown them from Chicago to California and Florida frequently, and have had no trouble.

Conversely, I've had issues with flights on American, United and Continental even as short as to Minneapolis (about 45 minutes).

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

It could be that Disney actually wants happy people when they show up. Dont get me wrong I have used them for short flights but I would never consider them for a long one.

We find we need to bring sandwiches or something on the long ones. I hate being herded like cattle though. Ok all you A cattle, get in the chute. Moooo. Moooo. and the people camping out on the floor in the terminal to get to the front of their chute is rather hilarious. But what could I ask for for $99 vs $250-$500 for the same flight.