SW Wanna Get Away fare sold out?

[nkereina]

As we all know, Southwest extended their schedule yesterday. I booked my round trip flights out of Buffalo leaving 11/15 and returning 11/22. I checked prices today and noticed our nonstop flight on 11/15 now shows sold out. Should we expect this flight to be almost full or do they remove fares for other reasons? It's making me nervous - crowd calendars show 2s that week so I didn't expect it to be too busy!

 

[Disneylover99]

I think they just offer fewer wanna get away seats. I doubt that it's sold out.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

I am flying out of buffalo the week before and I missed the flight I wanted at the cheaper price. The flight isn't totally sold out, just the $109 seats.

 

[nkereina]

The flight I'm referring to says "Sold Out" for the Wanna Get Away fare. The price all day was $173 (not $109 - no cheap flights on this day for some reason). I know the flight isn't totally sold out since refundable and business fares still remain, but I was just curious what circumstances they remove the Wanna Get Away fares under? Is it when they book up fast or could there be other reasons?

 

[hsmamato2]

my flights that week say sold out for the nonstop one also.... and I was looking at points.... I think it is sold out. I thought in the past, more seats showed up later

 

[Lewisc]

The methodology used to allocate number of seats available for sale in each fare bucket is considered a trade secret. Anyone with absolutely correct information won't be posting.

In general airlines offer discounted seats if they don't think the flight will sell out at full fare. In general if seats sell slower then expected the revenue manager might add additional seats at the lower fare buckets. Seats sell faster then expected and the revenue manager might reduce the number of discounted seats.

Southwest tries to charge a premium price on peak flights. That's why you might get lower fares if you can fly Tues-Thur but a higher fare if you want to take a Saturday morning flight. Some people's vacation schedule is rigid and those passengers will pay a premium in order to enjoy their full week.

Internet boards, including DIS, have many posters who have grabbed great fares by being flexible and by looking often.

I don't know what's special about 11/15. Buffalo is used by Canadians. Is there a Canadian holiday? Is that a frequent vacation week? I'd keep checking for 8 seats. As soon as 8 seats aren't available, at any fare, the flight is close to selling out.

 

[nkereina]

The methodology used to allocate number of seats available for sale in each fare bucket is considered a trade secret. Anyone with absolutely correct information won't be posting.

In general airlines offer discounted seats if they don't think the flight will sell out at full fare. In general if seats sell slower then expected the revenue manager might add additional seats at the lower fare buckets. Seats sell faster then expected and the revenue manager might reduce the number of discounted seats.

Southwest tries to charge a premium price on peak flights. That's why you might get lower fares if you can fly Tues-Thur but a higher fare if you want to take a Saturday morning flight. Some people's vacation schedule is rigid and those passengers will pay a premium in order to enjoy their full week.

Internet boards, including DIS, have many posters who have grabbed great fares by being flexible and by looking often.

I don't know what's special about 11/15. Buffalo is used by Canadians. Is there a Canadian holiday? Is that a frequent vacation week? I'd keep checking for 8 seats. As soon as 8 seats aren't available, at any fare, the flight is close to selling out.

Thanks for the info and tips. Buffalo is used frequently by Canadians, but that week shouldn't be any busier than normal. It's not a Canadian holiday and crowd calendars show a 2 at WDW. It is a Saturday which makes it slightly busier, but shouldn't be anything out of the ordinary. That's why I was so surprised! I'll check the 8 seats - good tip. Thanks!

 

[Minniekins]

Do flights that end up saying 'sold out', possibly open up again during sales or other times? Or once they are sold out, they are just sold out?

 

[Snoozan]

I also am flying down to WDW on 11/15/14, but out of Hartford. I noticed our non-stop AM flight also has "sold out" for the wanna get away fare. I think they just put fewer seats out for the lesser price on flights they know will probably fill up, regardless of price.

 

[lions1995]

They had to set aside some seats for their anniversary sale which is not far off.

 

[Minniekins]

They had to set aside some seats for their anniversary sale which is not far off.

I like this answer, lol, and pretty much what I was thinking, but who know?! But, it's what I'm waiting for!

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

I am going tues - tues and the flight was $109. I know it is cheaper to fly tues and wed. I am glad the flight was cheap but I am not happy to leave at 6 am.

 

[nkereina]

They had to set aside some seats for their anniversary sale which is not far off.

I know the anniversary sale is coming up, but why would they hold seats for a sale when they could potentially sell them at a higher price before the sale? Whatever seats haven't yet sold at the higher price they could then discount during the sale.

 

[mikehn]

the status and prices of those 'wanna get away' fares change constantly. Just keep checking back.

 

[NotUrsula]

Do flights that end up saying 'sold out', possibly open up again during sales or other times? Or once they are sold out, they are just sold out?

If you mean REALLY sold out (as in, no seats available at any price), then the answer -- for SWA -- is no. SWA doesn't hold seats back from inventory to be released at a later date.

However, that is not always the case for the legacy carriers. They often will hold seats back in the hope of selling them to last-minute business passengers or with an eye to pleasing Elite customers with an upgrade, or for crew movement slots. When that is the case, sometimes calling a phone rep or a travel agency will get you booked on the flight -- for a premium price.

 

[Minniekins]

If you mean REALLY sold out (as in, no seats available at any price), then the answer -- for SWA -- is no. SWA doesn't hold seats back from inventory to be released at a later date.

However, that is not always the case for the legacy carriers. They often will hold seats back in the hope of selling them to last-minute business passengers or with an eye to pleasing Elite customers with an upgrade, or for crew movement slots. When that is the case, sometimes calling a phone rep or a travel agency will get you booked on the flight -- for a premium price.

Well, no, not not available at any price. I was just wondering about the lowest price Sw fares, the Wanna Get Away fares. I was wondering if it says sold out now, is that it for that fare level or do they actually release more in the wanna get away category, say maybe for the anniversary sale or any later fall/winter sales. I really feel like I've seen that before, that they've said sold out in that wanna get away fare and then become available again in that category. I find it really hard to believe that the 9:50 morning flight I have on black friday has no more seats that aren't almost five hundred dollars and no more will be available at all. I did get tickets, but hoping for lower sale anniversary price!

 

[Lisa0620]

Well, no, not not available at any price. I was just wondering about the lowest price Sw fares, the Wanna Get Away fares. I was wondering if it says sold out now, is that it for that fare level or do they actually release more in the wanna get away category, say maybe for the anniversary sale or any later fall/winter sales. I really feel like I've seen that before, that they've said sold out in that wanna get away fare and then become available again in that category. I find it really hard to believe that the 9:50 morning flight I have on black friday has no more seats that aren't almost five hundred dollars and no more will be available at all. I did get tickets, but hoping for lower sale anniversary price!

Thank you for posting and I'm anxiously waiting for answers too. We're in the same situation, going on an extended family trip returning black Fri. I convinced my SIL to get the southwest card so she had the points but she was intimidated by the process and didn't book anything on Monday . My family got the 9,000 point fares both ways, but now she doesn't have enough points to book at the crazy fares that are left. I remember tracking AirTran flights for TG in 2012 and they were cheap until early June, so I wasn't expecting this. At this point I'd be thrilled to see the 9,000 point fares again, just so I could get her booked! I am stalking SW site too, and will post here if I see any changes. Hopefully someone can answer the question about Wanna Get Away fares, especially for a holiday week. Are they gone for good and I'm checking every 1/2 hour for nothing or is there even a slim chance? The other issue is the number of flights. We have one nonstop and two connecting that week versus the 2 nonstop and 4 connecting they have for 4th of July week. Do they add flights ever based on demand or is this it?

 

[Dayzee1026]

We booked on Tuesday for November 29...we looked this morning and they're sold out too!!! Maybe because it's the Saturday after thanksgiving.

 

[dfisher9]

I had the same issue when I booked my flights for August. I looked at the price for Wanna Get Away fare and waited. I went back the next day, and it was listed as sold out for my flight. I kept checking back though since I was looking at different flights as well, but soon all direct flights from Philly to Orlando were showing as sold out for Wanna Get Away. A couple weeks later, Wanna Get Away fares came back for all the flights.

I think they have put a small amount of Wanna Get Away fares on sale right away and hope to get people to buy the other fares. If they don't sell, they'll release more Wanna Get Away tickets.

 

[hsmamato2]

I am no expert, but I think the actual merging of AT and SWA has changed the old patterns.... I noticed immediately the schedule differences from my fave airports.... there are far less Nonstop fares than in the past, and far faster booked up rates, To snag the fares for Fall I was up at 6 a.m.,I had studied the schedules and noticed the lack of choices.... not that there are none, just fewer nonstops.