SWA Wanna Get Away Fares?

[BarbMike821]

Do the Wanna get away fare prices ever fluctuate? Or do they always remain the same?

With the new flights open I check it out this morning and for going ONE way to Orlando was $560 per person for a few flights. Most were around $200pp one way. Seriously?!?

I nearly booked Delta for $232 RT a few weeks back but my travel mate flipped out and convinced me to wait for SWA. And obviously Delta has jumped since then. Any chance that SWA will drop?

 

[mar7967]

Yes. All fares fluctuate based on availability.

 

[mjdis17]

Yes they do drop! Many people on the boards say they find better WGA fare prices a few months or even weeks out as opposed to the day the flights come out. For my currently trip, 2 hours after being released, my $98 flight jumped to $265 (!!!!) and stayed there for a few weeks before slowly climbing back down and now it's at $125. Did you look at 6am EST right when they were out, or more round 8am EST? It is quite possible that the flights have already jumped a little bit because of a booking surge and eventually they will slowly creep back down. Regardless, there is still a huge chance the prices will drop. Also, if you fly a lot, keep in mind that if you book it and the price goes down you can get a credit for the difference. I'm sorry about your travel partner- $232 was amazing! I hope the prices go down enough for you!

 

[ah10is]

I'm in Maine.....I've only seen them go up, up, up!!! But then we are limited on the options and a small airport!

 

[BarbMike821]

Yes they do drop! Many people on the boards say they find better WGA fare prices a few months or even weeks out as opposed to the day the flights come out. For my currently trip, 2 hours after being released, my $98 flight jumped to $265 (!!!!) and stayed there for a few weeks before slowly climbing back down and now it's at $125. Did you look at 6am EST right when they were out, or more round 8am EST? It is quite possible that the flights have already jumped a little bit because of a booking surge and eventually they will slowly creep back down. Regardless, there is still a huge chance the prices will drop. Also, if you fly a lot, keep in mind that if you book it and the price goes down you can get a credit for the difference. I'm sorry about your travel partner- $232 was amazing! I hope the prices go down enough for you!

I installed the price hopper app over breakfast and it looks like a round-trip will eventually get as low as $190 on another airline. So I will definitely hold out and wait!

Looks like my next few months will be spent stalking fares. Sigh.

 

[mjdis17]

I installed the price hopper app over breakfast and it looks like a round-trip will eventually get as low as $190 on another airline. So I will definitely hold out and wait!

Looks like my next few months will be spent stalking fares. Sigh.

My fingers are crossed for you! $190 would be awesome. Fare stalking can be a very rewarding activity- remember that!

 

[Karabear15]

How about when they don't show WGA fares at all? We seem to have this problem during peak season flights or weekend flights...they show WGA fares as unavailable, but there sure are openings for Anytime or Business pricing. Chances of those opening up at much lower fares? No way I'm paying $500 pp just to fly home.

 

[mjdis17]

How about when they don't show WGA fares at all? We seem to have this problem during peak season flights or weekend flights...they show WGA fares as unavailable, but there sure are openings for Anytime or Business pricing. Chances of those opening up at much lower fares? No way I'm paying $500 pp just to fly home.

Not likely, honestly. I have never seen WGA fares pop back up before so that's basically out of the question. Anytime might drop down a little bit, but Business won't because those prices are wrapped around the whole A 1-15 boarding and refundable fare thing. Personally once WGA is gone I would start eyeing other airlines or trying to move my schedule around a little bit in terms of days and/or crappier flight times

 

[Karabear15]

Not likely, honestly. I have never seen WGA fares pop back up before so that's basically out of the question. Anytime might drop down a little bit, but Business won't because those prices are wrapped around the whole A 1-15 boarding and refundable fare thing. Personally once WGA is gone I would start eyeing other airlines or trying to move my schedule around a little bit in terms of days and/or crappier flight times

This is where I struggle, because with the flights just opening up today, how is it that they have no WGA fares available for a return flight, yet plenty to get me to Orlando...I was on at 6am, I feel it's a ploy to force people to purchase at the higher rates since it's for the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

 

[danielw888]

Sunday after Thanksgiving is a prime travel day, one of, if not the busiest day of the year. Airlines, just like most hotels, have moved to demand based pricing (just like Disney is starting). If you want to fly on one of the busiest days of the year, then you have to pay premium for it. If you can get away with waiting to come home on Monday, then you should be able to get a much cheaper fare.

 

[mjdis17]

This is where I struggle, because with the flights just opening up today, how is it that they have no WGA fares available for a return flight, yet plenty to get me to Orlando...I was on at 6am, I feel it's a ploy to force people to purchase at the higher rates since it's for the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

OH I did not realize you were talking about flights that just came out today for Thanksgiving. Yeah, SW is clearly not releasing WGA fares because they know people will pay top dollar. I just looked at flights home from MCO that day to 4-5 different airports, and none have WGA. I agree with PP about trying to come home on Monday if you can swing it, although I will say some of the WGA fares are still really high too...

 

[disfanforlife]

This year we were planning to go in March. I checked on the day that fares were available and they were $500 round trip and never dropped. We changed our plans and went in January instead (much lower price) I have never traveled over Thanksgiving, but wish you good luck in finding a reasonable fare. We just booked this morning for earlier in November and got a good price.

 

[Karabear15]

Sunday after Thanksgiving is a prime travel day, one of, if not the busiest day of the year. Airlines, just like most hotels, have moved to demand based pricing (just like Disney is starting). If you want to fly on one of the busiest days of the year, then you have to pay premium for it. If you can get away with waiting to come home on Monday, then you should be able to get a much cheaper fare.

Yes, I fully understand that it is one of the busiest travel days...we are trying to decide biting the bullet and paying the overpriced fare, or staying until Monday.

OH I did not realize you were talking about flights that just came out today for Thanksgiving. Yeah, SW is clearly not releasing WGA fares because they know people will pay top dollar. I just looked at flights home from MCO that day to 4-5 different airports, and none have WGA. I agree with PP about trying to come home on Monday if you can swing it, although I will say some of the WGA fares are still really high too...

We are looking into coming home Monday, it all depends on my brother as he has very minimal vacation days. What stinks about Monday is there are only two available options open...for some reason all of the other times are "unavailable" as well. I will probably check nightly for any updates/changes.

 

[mjdis17]

Yes, I fully understand that it is one of the busiest travel days...we are trying to decide biting the bullet and paying the overpriced fare, or staying until Monday.



We are looking into coming home Monday, it all depends on my brother as he has very minimal vacation days. What stinks about Monday is there are only two available options open...for some reason all of the other times are "unavailable" as well. I will probably check nightly for any updates/changes.

I did see that because I may/may not have seen on your profile that you live near Chicago and was looking at flights for you What can I say, I'm bored! I hope those prices drop a little bit or more WGA becomes available on the Monday.

 

[LynnTH]

WGA fares do fluctuate and may come back. In the past I have always booked with SWA on the day the flights were released. This past year we had a cruise booked in March so our dates were firm. When the flights were finally released they were outrageous. (like $800 RT per person from MSP to FLL). And there were no WGA fares available. So after going back and forth and looking at different options (needed SW as we had points). We decided to book our flights flying into Jacksonville, FL and then renting a car. Much cheaper.

I kept looking everyday and sure enough the WGA flights did show up and we were able to change our reservation and they even dropped a few times so I got my points credited back. So, keep checking if you don't find anything else.

 

[BarbMike821]

It's showing 4 of the flights available earlier as sold out with the wga fare. I call bluff and bet more open up down the line. Ridiculous!

 

[BarbMike821]

You can get points credited if there's a price drop?!?!?

 

[LynnTH]

You can get points credited if there's a price drop?!?!?

Yes. If you pay with points and the price goes down you get the difference back. (you just cancel and rebook) Very easy to do. I have gotten tons of points back over the years from price drops. It pays to check everyday as you never know when or why they will drop.

 

[Karabear15]

WGA fares do fluctuate and may come back. In the past I have always booked with SWA on the day the flights were released. This past year we had a cruise booked in March so our dates were firm. When the flights were finally released they were outrageous. (like $800 RT per person from MSP to FLL). And there were no WGA fares available. So after going back and forth and looking at different options (needed SW as we had points). We decided to book our flights flying into Jacksonville, FL and then renting a car. Much cheaper.

I kept looking everyday and sure enough the WGA flights did show up and we were able to change our reservation and they even dropped a few times so I got my points credited back. So, keep checking if you don't find anything else.

Thats the plan, to just keep checking. I was pleasantly surprised by the pricing heading down, and then immediately frowny face seeing nothing available coming back.

I did see that because I may/may not have seen on your profile that you live near Chicago and was looking at flights for you What can I say, I'm bored! I hope those prices drop a little bit or more WGA becomes available on the Monday.

Haha! Hey, the more the merrier searching for flights for us, I'll take it!

 

[Disney_n00b]

I'm in Maine.....I've only seen them go up, up, up!!! But then we are limited on the options and a small airport!

I'm also in Maine- have you looked at Manchester NH? I found better SW prices there. I'm going in October and I'm agonizing over flight options for my group of 8 right now