SWA - unavailble ever open up??

[ms.ojo]

OK, I am going crazy watching SWA. The 1st night I looked it was $59 then the next morning it was gone. Many of the direct flights at $137 and even some of the $157 flights were labeled unavailable over the next few days. I haven't seen the $59 fare since BUT there have been some DING specials for travel on Tues-Thurs on these flights at $45. I've also seen the fare at $120 on the days I want to travel...then availability at $137, then it gone again and up to $157. It's crazy. Do I stand a prayer of seeing $59 again??????? Or anything under $100????

I know none of you have a crystal ball...just wondering if you've seen things like this and then it works out.

Any encouraging stories would be great. If I can't get airfare under $200 round trip for each in my family we'll have to cancel our trip in Oct. I have until 8/15.

 

[lawgs]

the way things are going the better fares are being offered for mid week now....through dings

eg ....buf to mco now has a ding out ....travel tues wed or thurs.....55 one way.....other days it is 94 one way...good aug1 to sept 30

 

[tmt martins]

If you are traveling mid-week then yes you have a chance .

Most unavailables on the regular web-sight ( non-ding) will only go down 1 payment class due to people canceling and moving flights around.

It's like the cattle call for boarding they sell so many tickets in each catagory and thats it.Our flight have been filled with the exception of the highest fares now for some time. The $79 flights were gone for my dates and time at 11:00am the day the flights opened I was in a meeting and couldn't get to them.

Nothing worse then getting a page that they opened flights from a freind and not being able to do anything about it.

 

[jiminy14]

I have had "unavailable" flights become available in the past. I would check the site every day and be ready to book if they do open up. Make sure you sign up for SWA's e-mails and when they announce a sale get to the website as soon as possible.

 

[laurabelle]

I have seen them open up and be gone again within hours when helping my sister book the same flight after me. Just keep looking throughout the day.
Here's some pixie dust!

 

[ms.ojo]

I know I'm grasping at the pixie dust...but I thank you two for sharing that you have seen fares come and go and come back again!

I am just beside myself. If I had realized the fares on June8 were specials that went away at midnight that night...I would have cranked through some #s and made our dec'n. But I didn't look closely enough at the details. It's my own fault we're in this mess!!!

And now....I just see it swinging all over the place. I can't take adv of the dings for this upcoming trip, as we can't fly midweek. I need to see the internet special on those flights on Sat departure and Mon return.

I keep thinking, maybe if some people book at the high rates....they'll release it again for low rates hoping to fill up some more seats...then go back to the higher rates. I'm probably delusional!!!!

Anyway, I've resigned myself that this was a last minute thing, and if it doesn't work out...it doesn't work out. We'll go next spring, or next fall. But when it's sooooooo close...... sigh.

 

[travelin' tigger]

I am just beside myself. If I had realized the fares on June8 were specials that went away at midnight that night...I would have cranked through some #s and made our dec'n. But I didn't look closely enough at the details. It's my own fault we're in this mess!!!

When I received the email from SW on June 6, it did specify the sale would end at midnight June 8. BUT, if they still need to sell seats, they could have another sale!!! If you don't already, sign up for SW's weekly email.

 

[ms.ojo]

When I received the email from SW on June 6, it did specify the sale would end at midnight June 8. BUT, if they still need to sell seats, they could have another sale!!! If you don't already, sign up for SW's weekly email.

Thank you. I'm on their mailing list and keeping my fingers and toes crossed!!!!

I didn't even look at the mailer that Tuesday as we weren't thinking of a trip then. Thursday night I'm grabbing airfare for a wedding we have to attend in Aug and I started looking into Disney's free dining and then checked airfare at SWA and saw the internet special..and just didn't "think" it would go away that day. So dumb dumb dumb. Next morning I go to book...and well, you know the rest of the story. So now I wait....and learn patience.....and wait...

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

OP - Don't give up hope, it can definitely happen! Just check often and everyday -- VERY OFTEN, AM and PM.

I know, because we were fortunate enough to catch "unavailable" both ways for our last trip (May '06) after what seemed like forever of checking. We flew Sunday - Friday, which I think is harder to luck out with than Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Sending you some pixie dust and good luck!

 

[Jodi]

OJO
Can you fly into Tampa? I know it's a haul, but you could prolly get a rental car cheap & I keep seeing "cheap deals" on SW there. $59 & dings for $45. Just something to consider!
Jodi

 

[ms.ojo]

OJO
Can you fly into Tampa? I know it's a haul, but you could prolly get a rental car cheap & I keep seeing "cheap deals" on SW there. $59 & dings for $45. Just something to consider!
Jodi

I'll check Tampa too. Did that once before. Prefer to do Orlando and use a towncar svc....but maybe this trip a car would work out. Thanks for the idea.

 

[ms.ojo]

OP - Don't give up hope, it can definitely happen! Just check often and everyday -- VERY OFTEN, AM and PM.

I know, because we were fortunate enough to catch "unavailable" both ways for our last trip (May '06) after what seemed like forever of checking. We flew Sunday - Friday, which I think is harder to luck out with than Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Sending you some pixie dust and good luck!

Thank you thank you thank you. I am a sahm and I swear, every trip upstairs I hit the refresh button on SWA and see what might be new! LOL

Thanks to everyone on this thread for the pixie dust. I am so hopeful this trip can come together!!!!!!!!!

 

[kmjmom]

If you don't already have the e-mails of sales coming to you, sign up! I got the fare sale e-mail from work on June 6th and they had to be purchased by June 8th. Fortunately, I took advantage of the sale and now my DD and I are taking a Mother -Daughter trip to celebrate her 13th birthday. I had been watching the rates and was hoping for a little pixie dust to make the trip happen...and there it was-$59 each way direct!. I hope you are able to get in on the same rate! Last summer I spent $179 RT.

 

[gigi1313]

we've had unavailables become available in the past... the best was when we booked $129 each way ISP to MCO and on thanksgiving morning, as i'm getting ready to do the family thing, i sat down and checked airfare just for "fun" and lo & behold, it had gone down to $49 each way! i was pumped!! that gave us enough credit to do another trip... YAY!

 

[ms.ojo]

we've had unavailables become available in the past... the best was when we booked $129 each way ISP to MCO and on thanksgiving morning, as i'm getting ready to do the family thing, i sat down and checked airfare just for "fun" and lo & behold, it had gone down to $49 each way! i was pumped!! that gave us enough credit to do another trip... YAY!

WOW -- that's great!!!! You all have given me hope!!!!!

 

[goofyforlife]

My group of 5 returned from MCO on Memorial Day. All the low fares were pretty much unavailable for six months but that's the date I needed to be home.

Two of us got seats on vouchers (thanks to my DH travelling on business last year)but the other three had to pay $162 each for the trip home.

Still I kept checking though.... 8 days before our trip I checked our date and low and behold $132 fares had opened up for same flights... Now I was ecstatic at just that amount off until the next morning when there were $79 internet only fares that had opened. Can I say score!!!!!!

We'll be using the $250 credit for our airfare in December to get at least a couple of us down. (When the dates open of course.)

 

[gonemousin']

Keep an eye on Providence too! They tend to have cheaper fares (by about $10 each way) to begin with and there really isn't anywhere in CT that isn't semi-driveable to RI (unless you're in the extreme SW corner).

Here's my story, and I hope it gives you some relief. We were in the same predicament back in April. Booked the free dining as a "whim" trip and really needing the cheap airfare out of Bradley to make it worth the discounted vacation. I hadn't been in the airfare searching groove since it was a spur of the moment decision (much like yours, it sounds!). When SW opened up the August dates, there were numerous news stories about airfare increases due to skyrocketing gas prices. Lots of DISer's were saying "BOOK WHAT YOU CAN, nothing will get cheaper". I semi-agreed and booked the $137 each way for my family of 4 with the hope that I'd find something cheaper...having the credit was not a problem because we plan to return to WDW again within the year. Paying the $300 r/t per ticket wasn't completely unreasonable in my mind since they were great flight times and nonstop flights. I held onto those tickets for almost two months, often feeling twinges of guilt that I turned a last minute cheap trip into something bigger just because of the airfare. (I really wanted to justify YET ANOTHER TRIP to WDW by it being a deal too good to pass up) Then came the June fare sale...I was able to rebook at the $59 each way, but unfortunately the flight out on Saturday wasn't available. But there was one available on the Friday before - nonstop, leaving at a perfect time. So, I booked that and added an extra day to our free dining package. It ended up costing us an extra $100 to add a night to our package, but we're saving $600 in airfare!!

The moral of my story is...I've been sweating about the airfare expense for this trip for almost two months. But Southwest came through for me and my family, and I'd be willing to bet it will come through for you too! Just hang in there. It can be so stressful! I'd be willing to bet SW will come out with another fare sale in the next month or two...they seem fairly regular. Keep trying BDL or Providence to MCO or Tampa. Good luck and keep refreshing your SW web page!!

 

[Tink Fans]

Mrs. Ojo - Wow, I just experienced the flight I wanted becoming available so I was able to switch it through the travel center on SW. I originally wanted a 7:05 am flight and it was unavailable so I booked the 10 am (then was debating whether to fly out the night before - which is on a different post) but decided to check today and the 7:05 out of Islip was suddenly available. I couldn't believe it!!!! The little things in life that make one HAPPY!! There is hope - good luck and keep checking.

PS - this transportation board is awesome - i've never visited it before a few weeks ago - thanks to everyone for their help.

 

[kmjmom]

How does it work when you decide to rebook for the cheaper rate? I didn't realize it was possible.

 

[ms.ojo]

Thank you thank you. My dh thinks I'm insane. Last night I actually left the computer in sleep mode and checked it at 3am when I woke up to tend to dd. No cheap fares at that hour last night.

Your stories of hope are so helpful to me. Thank you very much. I will certainly post if (WHEN) i score good fares!!! The kicker is going to be 8/15...If I don't have them by then....will I book the trip and still wait for the airfare??? I"m not a gambling lady....but time will tell. I really want to try this free dining!!!!!! And go to Disney THIS Oct.!!!! oH man!!! Please please please please swa....grant me low fares!

Oh, and yes, I'm checking Providence too. Though since we live 10mins from Bradley, that would be the best place for us.