SWA FEB Watch LIST (Feb/march is open)

[suevee]

I have a question - If SW was going to raise the price substantially wouldn't they have removed the bargain fares that are still available through Jan 9? I just checked for the heck of it and I can get a rt fare from Jan 5 to Jan 9 for $154 from BWI to MCO. And there was plenty availablilty.

 

[gigi1313]

gigi - have you tried flights out of JFK or LGA? We purposely don't fly out of MacArthur as SW is the only airline with non-stop flights and no guaranteed seats. As DH has a huge fear of flying we like assigned seats. We booked Song out of LGA for 158.00 pp/rt for the week before President's week. You can wait for SW but you really need to be quick once those flights are posted. We know a ton of families waiting for the flights to be posted just to get flights Pres. Week out of MacArthur. Good luck....

if we cannot get a flight out of islip, we won't go JFK and LGA are just too far (we are east of riverhead) and costly to get to and/or park... plus the time factor for us is significant... we flew out of JFK to seattle (due to lack of choice) and it was horrific... over an hour in the plane on the ground just waiting for a runway! i know, we're spoiled by the cost and convenience of islip

we're not going for president's day... we're planning to go mid-january

 

[Rpsemont]

Personally, I think it just has more to do with hurricane fallout, and SWA trying to figure out their schedule. But who knows, that's just my opinion.

However, it should be noted that as of today they have set a new record!
Since I've been monitoring it religiously, 3/13/03, the lowest number of days from open date to FIRST new travel date was 107. If they would have opened today, it would have been 106. That's just over 15 weeks to travel date. If I didn't LOVE them so much for their change policy and the fact that we now go to FLA 2-3 times a year instead of once a year - thanks to their low fares - then I would hate them!

 

[gigi1313]

spoke to a friend who just got off the phone w/a swa agent (she was inquiring about using american express rewards) and the agent told her that her dates (same as mine, 1/12-17) would be released in the next few days and they are delayed in releasing them due to complications which ensued from hurricane katrina... she also indicated that flights were going to be a bit harder to come by, esp the more popular long weekends/vacation weeks...

not sure what to think of all that info, but i will continue to refresh swa.com constantly as i have been the last week!

 

[vicb]

Good luck to everyone on this thread. I've opted out and purchased my round trip airfare on NW today. I got non-stop flights both ways for $279, going the week following Pres. Week which also happens to be Mardi Gras week. Flying SW from Detroit would have require a plane change, I'm comfortable with paying a bit more to fly non-stop and have seats reserved.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for all of you!

 

[stut15]

spoke to a friend who just got off the phone w/a swa agent (she was inquiring about using american express rewards) and the agent told her that her dates (same as mine, 1/12-17) would be released in the next few days and they are delayed in releasing them due to complications which ensued from hurricane katrina... she also indicated that flights were going to be a bit harder to come by, esp the more popular long weekends/vacation weeks...

not sure what to think of all that info, but i will continue to refresh swa.com constantly as i have been the last week!

I am going to be gone from Thurs. afternoon to Saturday morning...I HOPE they post in the next two days!!!!

 

[Rpsemont]

she also indicated that flights were going to be a bit harder to come by, esp the more popular long weekends/vacation weeks...

This could be a reference to the new rapid reward policy where they may be limiting the number of reward seats available, since the caller was inquiring about amex rewards

 

[madge]

spoke to a friend who just got off the phone w/a swa agent (she was inquiring about using american express rewards) and the agent told her that her dates (same as mine, 1/12-17) would be released in the next few days and they are delayed in releasing them due to complications which ensued from hurricane katrina... she also indicated that flights were going to be a bit harder to come by, esp the more popular long weekends/vacation weeks...

not sure what to think of all that info, but i will continue to refresh swa.com constantly as i have been the last week!

that sounds very familiar to what someone at SWA groups told me. Delays in schedule release because of Katrina, and booking quickly because my travel dates are over the long holiday weekend. I was calling about booking travel for 23 people, though....I will have to book our seats almost immediately, LOL

 

[gigi1313]

can you share the website for swa groups? i would love to chat w/other swa'ers! tia!

 

[lilstint]

OMG I don't believe it! FEBRUARY 3rd! This so stinks.

 

[lilstint]

NOW WHAT??? ANOTHER MONTH???

 

[wee-haggis]

Strangely the SWA website is now showing February in the drop down menu but it will not accept any Feb dates ?

 

[lilstint]

Strangely the SWA website is now showing February in the drop down menu but it will not accept any Feb dates ?

It will accept up to the 3rd.

 

[wee-haggis]

It will accept up to the 3rd.

Yes...you are right.
I was looking at further in Feb.
Do they onley move ahead in 1 week incriments now ?

 

[lilstint]

Yes...you are right.
I was looking at further in Feb.
Do they onley move ahead in 1 week incriments now ?

I have absolutely no IDEA what is going on or what to expect at this point.

 

[disgirl]

Do you think we will have to wait another month before they put the rest of Feb.? I have to make my decision about Pres. week very soon because I have points I need to bank very soon if we decide not to go because of very high airfare.

Good Luck to everyone with their booking airfare!!

 

[Shelby5514]

UGH! What are they doing to us! Feb 3rd! GRRRR!

 

[stut15]

Believe it or not Southwest went to the EXACT date I needed!! I was able to book a return flight! YEA!!!

 

[lilstint]

Believe it or not Southwest went to the EXACT date I needed!! I was able to book a return flight! YEA!!!

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!

 

[mill4023]

I guess I've got awhile to wait for March 25 - April 8.
The good news is that the cheapest internet fares are still the same for my route (PDX - MCO at $99 each way) and they are available for just about every day in January. So I guess I'll keep waiting and hope I can still get decent fares in March.