SWA pricing makes no sense

[disneymomjcs]

I am really surprised well annoyed that a flight from

phl - mco about 861 miles is one way $143 and up (Philadelphia to Orlando)

den - mco about 1545 miles one way is $110 (Denver to Orlando) Twice as long as a flight.

You would think gas fits into the equation and thus Denver to Orlando would cost more.

I know popular destinations have higher airfares? That is a big difference.

grrrrrr............

 

[sam_gordon]

It's not just gas... supply & demand. There's not as much demand for den-mco, so prices drop.

 

[n2mm]

Yep, try checking out those BWI to Orlando flights too! I use to fly SW, but haven't for years because I can generally fly Jetblue for much cheaper. I use to love those lower SW flights, but haven't seen them for several years. I've even removed my "ding" because I've never gotten a good fare from there.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

Doesn't the airport fees have something to do with it also?

 

[scootch]

And then the fluctuate all day long, at least in the PIT market. They fluctuate if you put in 1 or say you put in 3 passengers.

 

[Elleshoodat]

It's not just gas... supply & demand. There's not as much demand for den-mco, so prices drop.

Exactly. You can't compare mileage alone. Southwest has competitors, just like -- dare I say? -- Disney.

 

[nilseks]

The other day when I was trying to book 8 flights (2 different trips), the prices were all over the place and fluctuated all day. This was on Monday, when the November-December flights were released.

I ended up getting 4 really cheap flights out of Milwaukee, nonstop at great times. For our second trip, I couldn't find anything good out of Chicago. Prices were way higher. I would have thought it would be the the opposite.

 

[tzeitel]

DEN to MCO is usually over $400 r/t, the recent price drop was a huge surprise and many of us from CO took advantage knowing it is a once in a blue moon thing

I have kept an eye on those fares and last week they were back up to the $400 range. I checked earlier today and there were some flights for $220 - funny how the direct flights are $220 but the ones that have stops are more expensive

 

[zeferjen]

I am also hoping for under $200/ticket PHL to MCO. Airtran is close, but I am really holding out for a Spirit Air coupon out of Atlantic City.

 

[stitchsx3]

I noticed that to, airfare is all over the place. I looked for a friend to go from den to mco in july and it was anywhere from 300 to 490. I got ours on united yesterday morning from den to mco in Nov for 220 nonstop, today the same flights are 290.

 

[wendow]

DEN to MCO is usually over $400 r/t, the recent price drop was a huge surprise and many of us from CO took advantage knowing it is a once in a blue moon thing

I have kept an eye on those fares and last week they were back up to the $400 range. I checked earlier today and there were some flights for $220 - funny how the direct flights are $220 but the ones that have stops are more expensive

I've been watching them too and they are all back up...except that $110 early bird flight which we are on. Amazing to me how high the others are! So glad we booked when we did

To the OP, it has more to do than with just gas. Supply & demand as well as airport fees play a huge role. It's frustrating, I know!

 

[mrsklamc]

There are LOTS of factors...supply and demand...how many other seats they have sold and at what prices...whether or not you are flying out of a 'hub'...who their competitors are. Basically, it may make no sense to us, but I guarantee they have spent a lot of time and money making sure it makes sense for them.

 

[bettymae1121]

There are LOTS of factors...supply and demand...how many other seats they have sold and at what prices...whether or not you are flying out of a 'hub'...who their competitors are. Basically, it may make no sense to us, but I guarantee they have spent a lot of time and money making sure it makes sense for them.

Ding ding ding!!!!

I'm a travel agent and 99% of what I do is book flights (I do corporate rather than leisure travel). In 14 years in the travel biz, I've never seen fares make much sense as far as price = distance. The number one thing that affects prices is load factor, that is to say, how full a flight is. Generally speaking, the fuller the flight the higher the price gets.

Let's say a fligt has 100 seats. They'll offer 10 seats at $100, 10 seats at $120, 10 seats at $140, 10 seats at $160, 20 seats at $200, and 40 seats at $250. Obviously the cheapest 10 seats at $100 goes first. Once those are gone, all they have left are the $120 seats, and so it goes all the way up the price scale. That's why prices can seem to change within minutes, it's not that the airline changed the price so much as the last few seats at the lower fare got sold.

Once a flight gets to, lets say 70% full and it stops selling seats, the airlines may (or may not) readjust the fares and lower the prices to sell the remaining seats. That's why you can sometimes grab a decent deal at the last minute, they'd rather fill the plane at a discount than have it operate partially full.

Also in play is competition, an airline at an airport with either few or no airlines competing with it and/or no nearby competting alternate airports can get away with charging a lot more than an airline with competition from other airlines or nearby airports. When you're the only game in town, you can write your own ticket (so to speak).

 

[csharpwv]

Southwest is a VERY different airline in that they are a low cost airline that does not set airfare based on market or marketability- they base their pricing on their actual cost to run the route - that's why you don't hear about Southwest too much when they talk about profit loss in the airline industry.

I would rather pay $100 more r/t on Southwest than pay baggage fees, deal with assigned seating, and questionable service.

Last year we were shopping for our next Disney trip and we found fare from Pittsburgh to Santa Ana - Orange County, CA for $89 each way - SO, we went to Disneyland instead! The next time we find fare that low to Southern CA we will definitely go back!

I am a huge fan of Southwest - yes, their pricing is crazy at times - BUT the airline is friendly, consistent, and safe. That's all I need and want!

 

[Fly4free]

Ding ding ding!!!!

I'm a travel agent and 99% of what I do is book flights (I do corporate rather than leisure travel). In 14 years in the travel biz, I've never seen fares make much sense as far as price = distance. The number one thing that affects prices is load factor, that is to say, how full a flight is. Generally speaking, the fuller the flight the higher the price gets.

Let's say a fligt has 100 seats. They'll offer 10 seats at $100, 10 seats at $120, 10 seats at $140, 10 seats at $160, 20 seats at $200, and 40 seats at $250. Obviously the cheapest 10 seats at $100 goes first. Once those are gone, all they have left are the $120 seats, and so it goes all the way up the price scale. That's why prices can seem to change within minutes, it's not that the airline changed the price so much as the last few seats at the lower fare got sold.

Once a flight gets to, lets say 70% full and it stops selling seats, the airlines may (or may not) readjust the fares and lower the prices to sell the remaining seats. That's why you can sometimes grab a decent deal at the last minute, they'd rather fill the plane at a discount than have it operate partially full.

Also in play is competition, an airline at an airport with either few or no airlines competing with it and/or no nearby competting alternate airports can get away with charging a lot more than an airline with competition from other airlines or nearby airports. When you're the only game in town, you can write your own ticket (so to speak).

Yes, airline marketing is one of the most complicated systems. It's also impossible to predict when (and where) you need to book to get the best deals.
I would imagine though, with summer starting now the fares will be climbing.

 

[danceintherain]

I live in South Korea, and we're probably (hopefully) moving to Hawaii within the next few months. I've been shocked at how expensive flights to Hawaii from the mainland are. Theoretically, my family could have come to visit me here for less, if they planned it right. Apparently some other airlines are considering adding routes to Hawaii, so hopefully that brings the prices down a bit.
Also, I was perusing airfares from here to Hawaii, and a one way ticket is twice as expensive as a round trip on Hawaiian Airlines! I know that they like to book both ends and not very many people are going to be interested in a one way ticket anyway, but $500 for RT and $1000 for OW?

 

[MSierra123]

I am also hoping for under $200/ticket PHL to MCO. Airtran is close, but I am really holding out for a Spirit Air coupon out of Atlantic City.

We are in the same boat. Still no flights for out Aug. Trip. Were do you find a coupon for Spirit? AC was more expensive than flying out of EWR or PHL

 

[NateNLogansDad]

To the OP, hopefully they cancel the PHL airport expansion...you think the rates are getting high now?


b/t/w doesn't it just drive you nuts to remember just 4 yrs ago we were paying $59 each way to MCO I guess we can call them the "good old days" now

 

[PatMcDuck]

I think many of us that fly SW out of Philadelphia to Orlando are disappointed. Many fewer nonstop flights for us, and the couple that are there are very expensive (and I guess nearly full). There is an entire thread about it.

All I can do is hope that after the merger with Air Tran, that there will be more SW flights available. Air Tran has many flights, I just switched my flight down for Oct to Air Trans 11:30-2:02 nonstop flight.

And I changed my DL trip flights from PHL to SNA to EWR (Newark NJ) to SNA. Big change to see flights cheaper on SW out of EWR vs PHL. (both PHL and EWR to SNA were connections)

I have credits, so that is why I am flying SW right now. But I DO prefer SW over other airlines in general.....

 

[jiminy14]

I have been watching the fares for my October trip to WDW bounce all over the place. Right now it will cost my DH and myself close to $700 to fly down from PHL on SWA. I used to pay that amount for my entire family (4 people). I have also seen the number of direct flights from PHL to MCO significantly drop. There used to be at least five a day and now there are only two a day in October.
Earlier this month my DD and I flew to San Francisco and back from LAX for $598 for the both of us on Virgin America. For that price, I would rather re-visit Disneyland instead of WDW.