Use a TA to book SW flights?

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I usually book SW flights myself online but was wondering if I would be better off calling a TA now to get the holiday rates at SW. I know they can't book them yet but they are probably more likely to get them before I do. It seems the cheaper holiday fares go immediately and I think TA's are either informed earlier than the rest of us or they watch SW continuously (which I can't). Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[ro80]

I always book SW myself, but I also check a million times a day too. My 2 nieces are travel agents for AAA and I know from them that travel agents do not know ahead when the new dates are coming out. Last year the flights opened up to January 9th back on August 18th of last year if that helps. It could be a little before or a little after that date. Good Luck!!

 

[gottaluvdis]

I book travel for our company. We have a corporate TA, but I never use them to book SW. There is absolutely no advantage to using a TA for SW. TA's don't know anything that isn't already posted on SW's web site for general consumption. Our TA charges a $26 fee for any ticket they book (even e-tickets), so it costs us more to use them then doing it myself. I do, however, use them to book any airline other than SW because the stakes are higher if we have to cancel/change a flight on other airlines. We have a grace period with the TA that we can change our tickets for no additional fees with the other airlines.