SWA booking question

[UConnJack]

I am a somewhat of a newbie when it comes to booking and flying SWA, as earlier this month was the first time flying them in years.

I am trying to book my May trip from BDL, which will fly into FLL to visit relatives, and fly back through MCO after our WDW stay. I plan on booking each leg separately as recommended to take advantage of Ding fares.

Since there are no direct N/S flights from BDL to FLL, I will have to book a connecting or pass-through flight via BWI. I want to leave on a Friday night, but there are no internet fares left(just $180 one way!). However, if I book each leg individually (i.e., BDL to BWI, BWI to FLL), I get the fun/internet fares and save $40 per ticket.

My question is (and I unfortunately think I know the answer) if I did this, would I need to get my baggage at BWI and re-check it to FLL, or can/will SW forward the luggage on through to FLL? It's kind of annoying that the same sequence of flights are cheaper individually than combined. I also though that this might increase my chance of a Ding fare on the individual flight legs, rather than the full BDL-FLL (much like keeping separate one-way flights).

Which brings up another question, in the SWA frequent flyer's experience out there, do Dings come up more often for direct flights than connecting ones?

Thanks!

 

[Disney Ron]

UConnJack, I'm afraid I can't help you, but I just wanted to ask you a question.

How 'bout them FRIARS???

 

[UConnJack]

UConnJack, I'm afraid I can't help you, but I just wanted to ask you a question.

How 'bout them FRIARS???

That is completely off-topic and I am demanding the moderators close this thread immediately!

No, it was a thumpin'. Haven't seen a Jekyl and Hyde team like this Husky squad in a long time. Providence always gives us a game, no matter how good they are, but they just picked us apart.....

 

[Disney Ron]

UConn, the Huskies are loaded with very young talent and will be a handful when those kids mature. Just let me enjoy my Friars victory until the real UConn Huskies decide to show up!

Have a great trip!

 

[Rpsemont]

would I need to get my baggage at BWI and re-check it to FLL, or can/will SW forward the luggage on through to FLL?

I don't know for sure, may be worth a call to SWA. If you got a nice Skycap, they might do it, but you wouldn't know until you got there. Buy some trip size stuff, or ship a box, and just take it as a carry on. Plus the advantage of holding 4 tickets (segments) is you'll get 4 RR points instead of two.

We once had a simiar situation with flight from BDL-CLE. There are no direcct, but pricing it was $99 one way and it connect through BWI. There was a ding and I booked BDL-BWI for $25 and BWI-Cle for $25. We were just going for a weekend so not checking wasn't an issue.

I also thought that this might increase my chance of a Ding fare on the individual flight legs, rather than the full BDL-FLL

Who knows, but even if there was a ding for BDL-FLL, you could cancel and rebook. That's what I love about SWA.

Which brings up another question, in the SWA frequent flyer's experience out there, do Dings come up more often for direct flights than connecting ones?

I haven't found any rhyme or reason. I think it just depends how full the flight is. In the case of connecting flights, for there to be DING availability probably both legs of the flights have to have a need for increased reservations.