SWA pricing makes no sense

[MAH4546]

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!

Ummmm....no. Southwest runs pricing models based on supply and demand, competition, seats sold, etc., like everybody else. It isn't any different with regards to its pricing.

 

[Fly4free]

Ummmm....no. Southwest runs pricing models based on supply and demand, competition, seats sold, etc., like everybody else. It isn't any different with regards to its pricing.

I have found their pricing to be all over the place too & not many bargains to be found lately.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Hmmm, we may fly out of Denver next time we visit WDW. It takes us 8 hours *538 miles* to drive there, we have family right by the airport, cost to fly SLC to MCO *no direct flights* $549, same dates DEN to MCO *nonstop* $393, we could leave after work/school, get to our loved ones home late at night and fly out the next day. $150 x 3 is a lot!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I live in South Korea, and we're probably (hopefully) moving to Hawaii within the next few months...
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?

You could book RT and just "miss" your return flight....

 

[maggs1035]

I have found their pricing to be all over the place too & not many bargains to be found lately.

I guess that depends on where you live? Our non stop flights out of buffalo NY are only $220/person, 2 free bags, and no assigned seat hassle. My hubby saw the other day on USA today, how airlines will be CHARGING families for the option to sit together??? This is crazy?? Ok, you sit with my cranky 2 yr old, Im NOT paying for sitting with my child!

Southwest has no assigned seats

P.S. Southwest has a new reality series starting tonight on TLC called "On the Fly"

 

[bettymae1121]

You could book RT and just "miss" your return flight....

I've done that for clients to save a few bucks...

 

[Planogirl]

Dallas to MCO is consistently around $230 one way so we have these beat. It's frustrating.

 

[disneymomjcs]

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

I know I remember those prices! After 911 we flew to WDW for $100 r/t and had a post card for All Stars Movies $49 a night December. Least expensive trip we ever took to WDW. We had Annual passes so it was great and empty.

 

[disneymomjcs]

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!

I agree that I love SWA. Seating is quicker than traditional, my luggage flys free haha. They are very kind and I have always been treated well by the staff. I do hope to continue to use them as we have a SWA credit card and earn free flights along with the ones purchased. I hope they do have more flights available for us PHL people.

 

[disneymomjcs]

I guess that depends on where you live? Our non stop flights out of buffalo NY are only $220/person, 2 free bags, and no assigned seat hassle. My hubby saw the other day on USA today, how airlines will be CHARGING families for the option to sit together??? This is crazy?? Ok, you sit with my cranky 2 yr old, Im NOT paying for sitting with my child!

Southwest has no assigned seats

P.S. Southwest has a new reality series starting tonight on TLC called "On the Fly"

I haven't seen this yet as its not on demand. Sure to be good.

They had another show but I don't remember what it was called. Good drama, and funny stories. Patience of of Saint the SWA workers.

 

[maggs1035]

I agree that I love SWA. Seating is quicker than traditional, my luggage flys free haha. They are very kind and I have always been treated well by the staff. I do hope to continue to use them as we have a SWA credit card and earn free flights along with the ones purchased. I hope they do have more flights available for us PHL people.

Are there any nearby airports you could travel too? We don't live in Buffalo, NY. We live about an hour and 15 min away in Rochester NY, however SWA doesn't fly out of Rochester, so we do the drive, cuz it's cheaper, free bags, nice people, good seating, etc.

 

[Kimmers127]

I fly out of Hartford and our flights to MCO right now are WAY higher than what we usually pay... easily double. We are looking for late August, and in addition to the prices being super high, there are barely any flights! (Not just on SW) I'm hoping more come out soon. I'm picky - I like nonstop flights, and I like to get an early flight down and a late flight back. Last time I checked the price for DH and I to get that was $800!!

 

[bedogged]

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

Amen to this! I just booked for my December trip day before yesterday at the $110.00 rate, $220 roundtrip. I paid about $1,100 for four roundtrip booked for last month and I thought that was a good deal!

 

[Ragnrok23]

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

oh how I miss those $49 & $59 Ding specials

I haven't seen a good ding in like 7 years, every ding I get I already have the flight booked at less!

 

[Karenj2]

That's why I prefer to fly out of BWI - although living in ChesCo, it's less of a drive than it would be for you... We're practically in between PHL & BWI, and BWI's prices are usually MUCH lower.

*sigh* I remember when the fares were less than $100 for the two of us. The last time we flew to MCO, we paid $670 (on usair) because at the time they were actually CHEAPER than SW! (Part of that was because we were waiting to get flights with our friends, who decided to fly out of Atlantic City to save money...)

 

[jmb912]

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

We lived in Mississippi for the past 5 years so we have driven to WDW almost every year. We recently moved to PA, so we will fly this year out of PHL. The kids are way excited!!

I didn't want to wait anymore to see if the fares were going to change, so I booked our 5 seats at $250 each for our August trip. I bought them about 7 weeks ago....I think Southwest is still the best deal because with 5 of us the luggage fees would be unmanageable!!

 

[chimilady]

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............

In March they were $130 each way, and I booked them then. They haven't really gone up too much since March, just a few bucks each way. But I check every day. Even last week the $143 flights were $138. I know it's only $5 but for me that is x4 for all of us x2 for RT tickets.

Edited to add: Crap, our flight TO MCO just went up $40 overnight!!!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Am I the only one who posts my thoughts about the prices on their facebook page? I'd hope that one day MAYBE if enough people would start to speak up, it might make some kind of difference.

 

[GraysMom]

For those of you who like to fly out of PHL, don't forget to check into fares at ABE (Lehigh Valley International). No lines for security or at the ticket desks with quiet, laid back gate areas.

 

[arthur06]

I just book our trip to DL.

We usually fly out of Minneapolis on Delta when we go to Florida.

We live about 2 hours south of Minneapolis and about 4 hours north of Kansas City. For our November trip to DLR, we are flying out of Kansas City to Orange County for $116 pp one way. (We booked on Points tho)

To fly out of Minneapolis was $202 each way. Four of us going, saved us close to $700. For that price we will take the two extra hours in the car each way.