SW: when do you pull the trigger?

[constanze]

Just a quick poll...

1. What price are you looking for that makes you decide to book the ticket?
2. What state are you flying from?

 

[CPer'sMom]

Just a quick poll...

1. What price are you looking for that makes you decide to book the ticket?

When I see $69 now that's a good price Used to be $49 (or even $39 sometimes!) but I don't think I'll see that again unless it's a DING!

2. What state are you flying from?

Northern Virginia ~ Dulles or BWI

Sometimes I may book higher if it doesn't look like I'll get the 'good' price since I know I can always get a credit if it comes down Gotta love SW!

 

[Paticake]

I would be happy with $79. Right now I have 1 way booked at $154 {yikes} I won't book the return until the price comes down. (I have 8 of us booked) I could live with $89 or $99.

 

[goofy4tink]

While I would love to see those $79-99 fares again, I have a feeling it will be a long time before we see them. SW has higher fares than I ever recall seeing, for those internet fares. Same with Jetblue. With the economy the way it is, I doubt SW can afford to offer very many seats at those rates. If you see 'em, jump on 'em. There will probably only be 6 seats per flight at those rates.
Me? I'm thrilled if I get anything less than $250 nowadays...Boston/Providence to MCO, and back again.

 

[Disneyhappy]

PHL-MCO or TPA
I book at $79 each way and then rebook if it comes lower. I fly them several times a year so I can always use the credit. They are offering $59 and $63 fares forthis route for dates in May and June. I have noticed that the lower fares are not available quite as readily on the weekends anymore. Keyis checking rates frequently. I currently have three roundtrip flights booked with SW and I checked the rates at least 3-4 times per week. This is how I find the lower fares as they are not always a part of an advertised sale.
Good Luck!

 

[Paparazzimama]

We booked our flight TO Orlando with a $59 DING and are still trying to hold out for another steal on the flight home. Right now it's at $121 and we are under 4 weeks from our departure, so it's getting pretty touch and go. I think by Monday we will have to just jump on whatever price it's at. We fly from New Orleans (MSY).

 

[valleygirl]

We're going from May 28 to June 5 and are booked on SW at $78 each way from Providence. I saw those rates about a month ago and booked them right away.

 

[helenk]

When I travel solo, I play around with the dates and the flight times to fit my budget. But when I travel with my family, like I am in June, I looked at the highest price for the Wanna get away fares and then figured that would be my budget. Then I wait until the fares come down a bit, like from $145 to $120 and then I go ahead a book. I'd rather do that and have the flight times that I want.
If the cost comes down later, then that gives me more credits for my solo trips so it all works out in the wash.
SW has been a bit high lately, but since I do go to WDW at least twice a year having the credits makes it easier on my wallet in the long run.

 

[rgf207]

I just purchased my return flight from MCO to BWI yesterday. It was $69

 

[vt_disney_fan]

Just bought 6 last night from RDU to MCO, for $84 each way. That's the cheapest I've seen, but with 6 tix needed, I can't afford to wait and take a chance, or we may have to take a later flight. I have a 7:15 AM direct flight on day of departure, so we'll be there by 9 AM, and I have a 7:15 PM direct flight on return, so we'll be home by 9 PM. Can't beat that.

Plus, if they come down via a DING, I can always get the credit or the refund. But I don't think they will.

 

[disney4us2002]

1. What price are you looking for that makes you decide to book the ticket?

We will book for $69 or less each way. There are 5 of us so if the prices do not drop to that, then we will drive.

2. What state are you flying from?

We live in Maryland and prefer to fly out of BWI, but could use National or Dulles (DCA or IAD).

 

[Megan07]

I'm waiting to book on SW. I've got my flight out to MCO booked because it was free. Now just waiting to book our flight home to OMA nebraska. I'm hoping for a $99. You would think being in the middle of the country you'd have decent airfare, but nope. Right now it's $139.

 

[DonnaL]

Depends what time of year we're flying..........not around a major holiday......I usually wait until I can get $89 ow from PHL/MCO.....close to a major holiday I'll grab it a little higher...maybe $109 ow depending on how important it is for us to have a specific day or flight.........then, I continue checking daily (or sometimes several times a day) for a lower price, which usually does come along.....I've been getting mostly $79 each way from PHL/MCO. That said, I'm real happy with our $59 each way mid May ......exactly the dates and times I was looking for!!!

 

[hannah_03]

I'm hoping for anything under $100 each way from OKC.

 

[constanze]

We're going May 22 -31... Right now I can get a fair one way for around $152 each going out. But coming back, the flights we'd like are in the $180's. Do you think that $150ish is good and I should at least book that? I've been keeping an eye on things the last month, and it doesn't seem to change. We're flying from Denver...TIA!

 

[NC State]

My question is are the rates better on the first day tickets are released or wait a few weeks and hope for a Ding?

 

[Disneyhappy]

My question is are the rates better on the first day tickets are released or wait a few weeks and hope for a Ding?

Some folks report getting great rates when the fares are first released. I have never been that fortunate. I see the highest fares when the schedule is first released. I find the best fares are found around the 2-3 month mark. I used to get great deals with Ding but I have not purchased a Ding fare in over a year. I find the best rates during an advertised or unadvertised sale. It is toughter to get great rates during major holidays but then again, I was able to book my parents a flight home from TPA to PHL on Tuesday of Easter week for $69 each. Keep checking and check often is my motto!

 

[TheMorgans]

When our fares were first released it was $139 each way. I waited until the fare went down (mid January) and booked at $69 each way from STL to MCO. This fare was not a "ding". I was alerted via email from farecompare.com

I had initally booded with AirTan in November at $99 each way but canceled it when they changed by non-stop to one with a stop in Atlanta.

 

[cbsnyber1]

Southwest, from what I've read, was able to offer great fares for quite a while because they had locked in (via futures contracts) low per gallon fuel costs back when gas was hitting $4/gallon (and every other kind of fuel was high). Now, the shoe is on the other foot: they locked themselves into future contracts when fuel was way higher than it now is, thinking, I guess, that fuel was just going to go higher and higher, and with the sudden fall of fuel prices, they are stuck with these higher than market costs of fuel.

Bottom line: check fares daily, those of SW and all other carriers. It looks like SW is at a disadvantage in the short term because of the fuel contracts they are now stuck with.

 

[jamstew]

Just a quick poll...

1. What price are you looking for that makes you decide to book the ticket?
2. What state are you flying from?

If it's over $350 R/T, it takes too many FF miles, so I'll wait and see what happens. Otherwise, I'll book a non-stop at the time I want and hope it goes down. At least with SW, you can change without penalty.