SWA FEB Watch LIST (Feb/march is open)

[lisareniff]

Count me in on this watch!!

We are planning to go Feb 15 - Feb 24th (Wed - Fri) covering Pres. Weekend. Trying to be a little off peak travel while only taking three days off of school.

We live in Rochester (NY) and still trying to decide if we should fly Airtran nonstop out of ROC or SW nonstop out of BUF which adds an hours drive in Feb. I should have bought when Airtran came out at $330RT but thought I could get lower. Now I'm getting nervous with the price of fuel, etc.

I'm hoping that Jetblue will start service with one of their new planes from ROC to anyplace in Fl! They just got the first one in and should announce shortly. BUF/ROC/SYR to MCO/FLL/TPA were rumored routes, as well as JFK to BOS.

 

[suevee]

We are watching too!!!!

 

[shelleyz]

I am also waiting and watching. DS6 has the week off starting Presidents day. Not exactly sure on our dates, depends on the airfare. Already have SSR booked from Feb 18-25th but will change for cheaper airfare. Also like someone else said its usually extended at 11 am eastern time.

 

[lilstint]

My dates are either 2/3-2/12 or 2/10 thru2/19. I would like the second choice because its less time off friom school. Here in Wisconsin we don't gwet a break for Pres day..we don't even get the actual day off!!

You should't have much problem with those dates. It's president's week that is really difficult.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, I am waiting TOO! We are also going down for Pres. Week,but I will offset and miss a few days of school (like the 15 or 16th) but would like to fly home Sat.25th. PLEASE post ASAP when the dates change! I check early (8am) everyday! Hopefully we can get something in the $200.range,from PVD to MCO. Joan

 

[Sammy]

Waiting for Feb 25th to March 4th. Also looking for end of January.....

 

[vicb]

I'm waiting for Feb. 26-March 5, the week after pres. week. Thankfully our mid-winter break fell later this year. I'm hoping the parks will be less crowded and the airfare a bit less. Usually we fly NW as we fly out of Detroit but with the Chpt. 11 filing and their very high fares this year I have been sitting tight and hoping for something more reasonable on SW.

 

[canwegosoon]

Still on 1/9...hoping it is soon...wondering if KAtrina has had an effect?

 

[AnnMorin]

We just got a call on Friday switching around our thankgiving week flights, they were grat and very accomodating but said routes are being changed etc.
the slot has opened under the January so I would assume Feb. will open within the next week or so

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, Still Jan.9 this am, I am also hoping this is the WEEK!! Joan

 

[Sandi]

I'm watching, too. Have never flown SWA, but with fares of the major carriers being waaaayyy too much, it will be worth the drive to Detroit.

 

[gigi1313]

i can't stand the waiting!! i want to fly mid-january and cannot book it yet... it's only 3 and a half months away! c'mon southwest!!!

since "ding" is relatively new... does anyone know if it's "smart" to book the minute the flights are announced or wiser to wait for a good ding fare? my outgoing flight is non-negotiable as we have to catch the last flight on departure night (leaving after school) but my return is totally flexible by a day or two! is it true that they often do not release the cheap flights right away?

argh! i just cannot stand the waiting!

 

[Pocahantas]

We are heading to Disney February 25 to March 4 which is Mardi Gras Week here in Louisiana. I hope Southwest is back to a regular schedule by then and brings back their direct flights to Orlando from New Orleans. I have kept track of their release dates in the past. Here are the dates from last year:

9-23-04 released dates through 3-3-05

10-22-04 released dates through 4-1-05

12-9-04 released dates through 6-6-05

If they follow last year's schedule, dates through early March should open up later this week. I am keeping my fingers crossed...

 

[Shelby5514]

I'm waiting for Feb 11-19th. Hopefully they'll release it REAL soon!

 

[Rpsemont]

We are also going down for Pres. Week,but I will offset and miss a few days of school (like the 15 or 16th) but would like to fly home Sat.25th.

If you don't mind missing a few days of school, you're much better off in terms of airfare to fly down on Monday, Pres day and return the tues or wed of the following week. Last year, we did that and were able to go for $217 RT. I think we might have been able to get it for less if we'd been willing to fly at slightly different times. I don't think I ever say any of the Sat or Sun fares on either weekend for less than $175 OW.

 

[canwegosoon]

Just checked again... ..We have to start checking several times a day. It shoud be soooooooon!!!!

 

[Denna B]

Add us to the wait list also. We're waiting for SW to open for tickets to WDW for Feb. 19th- 26th.

 

[Rpsemont]

since "ding" is relatively new... does anyone know if it's "smart" to book the minute the flights are announced or wiser to wait for a good ding fare? my outgoing flight is non-negotiable as we have to catch the last flight on departure night (leaving after school) but my return is totally flexible by a day or two! is it true that they often do not release the cheap flights right away?

It depends on when you're going. But if you want to maximize your ability to do this, then book them as two one way tickets vs a RT. I booked DD and BIL on flights that go down the Fri of Columbus day weekend and come back the wed after. The fri night cheap fares were gone. I ended up doing a fun fare ($127)because of DD and school, and then booked the return at the cheapest fare at that time ($79) as a RT ticket. Since then, there have been internet one way fares for $49 and DINGS as low as $41, but I can't change that back half without changing the outbound and the outbound is now over $150, so the net ends up about the same. I will never book RT SWA tickets again!

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, STILL WAITING!!! I must have checked the SWA site at least 6x yesterday! I am even planning on what I will "settle" for if all the "best times" at the low fares are GONE!! Joan

 

[gigi1313]

I can't change that back half without changing the outbound and the outbound is now over $150, so the net ends up about the same. I will never book RT SWA tickets again!

huh?! on our last trip we were able to reduce our fare on both flights individually... first our outbound went down so i reduced that... then weeks later our return went down (significantly! from $115 to $49 per person x 4!) and i was able to only change that... which is why i now have a substantial credit which is affording us another trip in january! LOL!

joan s. ONLY SIX TIMES?! i must have checked it two dozen times! and already twice this morning!