Those with Southwest Experience....

[2binak]

Our flights for Oct have gone down twice since I booked them last month. I booked them with rewards points and have gotten nearly 4,000 points per person credited back to my account by calling and asking for the credit so it does pay to check often and call to get the credit.

 

[Lothlórien]

Have you ever known Southwest prices to go up and then back down? I have been watching flights for October, but really wasn't quite ready to book yet until we finalize our plans, but I notice a lot of the flights I was watching have gone WAY up! Since it is still 7 months out, can I be hopeful that they will go back down some before then or will they just continue to go up?

Yes, they do just that. Southwest has sales all of the time. However, there are times they just go up and up and up. If you know you are going, it is better to book now to ensure you get your flights and then reach out to them if the price drops. If you are waiting for a better price to make up your mind, that may or may not happen, depending on when they release sales and what dates they cover. It could be that the sale price for Oct is released after your window for dining reservations and FP reservations opens up.

If you book on points you can always get those back. If you pay with a credit card you will receive a voucher good for a year from your original purchase date.

 

[MYD714]

We ended up canceling our Christmas trip two years ago because I didn't buy our tickets and then the prices just kept rising. They got so high that we could no longer justify the cost of the trip because the flight prices more than doubled. Because of that, I now book the minute I'm somewhat comfortable with the price.

I noticed that there are less direct flights offered on our dates this year, so I booked them right away.

 

[Disneygrl71]

I've also been watching first week of Oct, flying from sdf to mco. I'm really bummed because the 'wanna get away' non-stop has sold out. Finally today the price dropped down to $166 {going down} which I'm not happy with, but considering thats the only early morning flight {there's only 3 total for the day} I went ahead and purchased 4 tickets with my points. I haven't booked anything coming back because all the flights are $257, so I'm hoping for a drop or sale.

Does anyone know if they do open up the non-stop flights at a cheaper price, can I switch our flights even though I purchased with my points?

 

[thornton0511]

I finally bit the bullet and purchased our June flights for $284 each RT, and that is way more than we are used to paying, but I couldn't stand it anymore and we are getting close to time so I needed to know the exact plan. I have been checking daily several times a day since Southwest released the June flights forever ago and there still hasn't been much of a budge for our dates...but I will continue to check just in case so we can have a credit. Still wish we could have taken advantage of some of those lower fares, I swear every time they have had a "sale" my dates are always the exception lol.

 

[Lothlórien]

, I swear every time they have had a "sale" my dates are always the exception lol.

The same happens to a lot of us. It is because of the airport (MCO). We find it happens with SNA as well. (closest to Disneyland)

 

[thornton0511]

The same happens to a lot of us. It is because of the airport (MCO). We find it happens with SNA as well. (closest to Disneyland)

I was kind of getting that impression because I tried all airports within a 6 hr drive range and they were all about the same with MCO being the common denominator. They have finally dropped some summer flights but I swear they are all just out of the reach of our dates. What is so special about the second week of June?

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm in the if you see a price you can live with, book it group. Is there one on this thread?

Anyways - costs of flights go up and down.

At least with SW, if you see the price go down you can call and receive a credit to be used on a future date. I did that on my March trip and ended up with enough credits to book EBCI which was really nice. Now I'm spoiled and want that every trip.

Hmmmm. I tried hard last year to use our credits to add EBCI but never found a way to do it. Was there a secret to it?

 

[Minniekins]

I've also been watching first week of Oct, flying from sdf to mco. I'm really bummed because the 'wanna get away' non-stop has sold out. Finally today the price dropped down to $166 {going down} which I'm not happy with, but considering thats the only early morning flight {there's only 3 total for the day} I went ahead and purchased 4 tickets with my points. I haven't booked anything coming back because all the flights are $257, so I'm hoping for a drop or sale.
Does anyone know if they do open up the non-stop flights at a cheaper price, can I switch our flights even though I purchased with my points?

Yes, they do sometimes open up the ones that have sold out. I think it was in 2014 that our Xmas trip, the flight supposedly sold out the first day they opened up. Luckily I had bought right away, but I kept watching for the price to go down, I'm a SW stalker, lol! And, eventually this did open up and the price when down some so I got my points returned, it was great! So, yes you can switch your flights and get refunded the difference in points.

Love paying with points, that way I can use them on another trip, without having to do it in a certain time frame. With credit card purchase, you have from one year from date of purchase the original trip, so even if you change flight if it goes down, and you get a credit, it must be used by the date of the first purchase not the date of any changes. And, must be used by original passenger. If you get a credit, only you can use it, can't let someone else in the family use it. They used to let you, but it changed at least several or more years ago. So a credit is great if you can use it, but stinks if you won't be flying sometime that you can use it. Points don't have those limits.

Hmmmm. I tried hard last year to use our credits to add EBCI but never found a way to do it. Was there a secret to it?

Well, I have tried online, and called to speak to an agent, and they said they absolutely do not allow using cash credits to pay for EBCI. You really aren't getting refunded money, it's just a credit towards another flight only. If you can't fly in the allotted time, you lose the credit.

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Just be careful they don't sell out. Memphis --> Orlando for the dates we go in October always sell out early. But they typically only have one nonstop flight on the dates we need and that contributes to it.
We booked ours the morning fares were released. $260 RT. It's up to $432 RT and has stayed there since... (I check frequently in case it does drop and I can get a credit).

 

[HollyMD]

Hey, Memphis to MCO is what we are actually looking at! And that's why I haven't booked yet, because of how much it has gone up. But, with an infant, I REALLY want non-stop, so I may have to just go ahead and book and keep watching to see if it goes down.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, I have tried online, and called to speak to an agent, and they said they absolutely do not allow using cash credits to pay for EBCI. You really aren't getting refunded money, it's just a credit towards another flight only. If you can't fly in the allotted time, you lose the credit.

That's what I thought. And I tried online, researched online and asked my travel agent. Thanks for the confirmation!

 

[pmaurer74]

Have you ever known Southwest prices to go up and then back down? I have been watching flights for October, but really wasn't quite ready to book yet until we finalize our plans, but I notice a lot of the flights I was watching have gone WAY up! Since it is still 7 months out, can I be hopeful that they will go back down some before then or will they just continue to go up?

Yes they go up and down, usually they go up closer to the trip. They have airfare sales that usually come out on Tuesdays. We got a fantastic deal for our June trip and booked in February. I think the best rates are usually 3-4 months out? What is nice about Southwest is you can book the trip and if the prices go down, they will adjust them. Great experiences with them so far!

 

[Disneygrl71]

I booked ours yesterday going down to MCO for $166 and today they are $257! That's insane! Smh! Still waiting for return flights to drop!

 

[bjscheel]

I've also been watching first week of Oct, flying from sdf to mco. I'm really bummed because the 'wanna get away' non-stop has sold out. Finally today the price dropped down to $166 {going down} which I'm not happy with, but considering thats the only early morning flight {there's only 3 total for the day} I went ahead and purchased 4 tickets with my points. I haven't booked anything coming back because all the flights are $257, so I'm hoping for a drop or sale.

Does anyone know if they do open up the non-stop flights at a cheaper price, can I switch our flights even though I purchased with my points?

Yes, absolutely, that's the best way to do it because your points will just go back into your account to be used any time you like, unlike a credit you would get if you had paid in $. On the website, click on Change Flight. You'll have to do each person separately, because with points, each one has a separate confirmation number.

I LOVE booking with points because of this flexibility. We would be unlikely to use a credit within 12 months of booking, since we fly at most once a year.

 

[Mitzicat]

I booked our September flights last month when Southwest released them and was having a big sale. I check once in a while, but so far what I paid has been the cheapest. I was able to use points to purchase all 4 tickets - so I doubt I will get it any cheaper.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Your flight COULD go down but it's not a guarantee. If it's a holiday weekend, then it might not. But the other posters are right, southwest flights (as with all airlines) fluctuate quite a bit. And the reason we love them is because they let you make changes so easily.

 

[BabiesDaddy]

Hey, Memphis to MCO is what we are actually looking at! And that's why I haven't booked yet, because of how much it has gone up. But, with an infant, I REALLY want non-stop, so I may have to just go ahead and book and keep watching to see if it goes down.

I'd like to add, from memphis to orlando usually starts out around $250 for me on the first day of the fall release. A couple of years ago, that same flight 3 months before the flight, changed to $875 ( the wanna get away was sold out). We had booked early, but my buddy tried to book a few months before, needless to say, he drove. Leaving out of memphis, you could check allegiant air. Depending on your dates, you can fly roundtrip for less than $200. The only thing is they fly on mondays and fridays for orlando. They also fly to Sanford airport in Orlando.

 

[totallytigger]

I rebooked our May flights two days ago and saved $60. We are flying on weekend days--so contrary to earlier poster, weekend fares do go down sometimes. I would book flights that appeal to you, early on, and then watch for sales. This has worked for me on Jetblue also.

 

[maxiesmom]

I booked my tickets on Southwest for October the day they were released. But I wanted specific flight times, and wouldn't be happy if they had sold out. If you want to fly in early in the day, would you be ok if those flights sell out but you can get a later one cheaper? For me, losing a day in the park wasn't worth the risk.