When will Southwest extend their reservation date?

[smvdelv]

Right now they are at January 16. I thought you could book with them up to 6 months out. I am waiting (not so) patiently to book my April trip! They are my last hope. Delta and American both want $450 - $550 r/t nonstop out of Boston. Regular fares run about $200 or even less. Talk about price gouging, just because it is a school vacation!!!!!!

 

[patsal]

Last year they didn't release those dates until around February. I know it can be frustrating but if you can wait you will save. Last year I couldn't wait and I ended up booking on Delta and had to switch planes--with kids it is a real pain and a much longer flight than I care for! If you run out of patience just keep checking Delta frequently and eventually they will turn up a price you think you can't refuse!

 

[Poorman]

I was told, for my January trip, that the fares would come out Sept. 18th. Which is 4 months out. I guess you could call like I did and ask when the fares came out for April last year. I woun't hurt to call.

Good luck. Rich

 

[Disney Sweetie]

I am a travel agent and last year it was late January or early February. I am going in March and I am patiently waiting for the fares because they usually have a special. I am hoping to get my round trip tickets from New Orleans at about $100 each. Right now Delta is $183. That will be a big savings for us.

 

[airhead]

Especially when everything else has been planned . I'm waiting for June/July 04 flights which probably won't be released until
next March! I'm really on the fence right now to book out of Boston instead of waiting ,so we can fly out of Manchester,NH.

airhead

 

[Fire14]

I'm waiting on early Feb. And it will decide if we fly or drive.

 

[Rella]

smvdelv when I have spoken to swa before I was told by an agent that the new fares come up in a three month time frame. But since you are flighing out of Boston have you looked into SONG airlines? Reading from another forum they have pretty good deals.I am also looking for Easter Holiday time. Good luck.

 

[Goof]

Disney Sweetie, being that you are a travel agent, would you think any airline's airfares would come down by the first of the year or so. Their pricing strategy would almost take a rocket scientist to figure out.

Delta for example, fluctuates constantly up and down. Right now their fares for those of us who would be flying out of eastern north carolina/eastern virginia are almost too much to stomach.

The last couple of trips that we have flown with them, the prices have started out high and then came down when the departure dates were close. Now it seems that the prices have started low and are creeping upwards. Our next trip is in 2004 and we are almost afraid to wait in hopes that there will be a cheaper rate as we get closer to departure. In the past month the fares for our chosen flights have fluctuated from a low of $173 to the current high of $232.

Your thoughts?

 

[dorisdvu]

Does it cost more to fly on Sunday? I'm planning a vacation from Sunday to Sunday. Am I going to pay anymore for flying on Sunday?

 

[Pinnie]

Last year SWA released the April schedule on Dec 20 ( I remember because it was my birthday and I booked my Easter flights)

Genrerally, I find it a tad MORE expensive to fly SWA on a Sunday. They don't seem to release as many of the "cheaper" seats on that day.

pin

 

[Disney Sweetie]

Hi...I have been away from the computer for a few days...It is really hard to say what the airlines will be doing from moment to moment. As the holidays approach I would say cheaper fares will be hard to find. Probably after the first of the year they may come down some. There is just no set rule for the airlines. They do whatever they feel like. Traveling mid-week is always cheaper with a Saturday night stayover. Sunday, Monday and Friday are busy business traveler days therefore they tend to be booked out and are higher fares.

SWA as you know runs specials often. so they are the best bet if they are in your area. But you have to be fast because not many seats are available for all specials!!

 

[cristen]

Boston to Orlando is $188.00 RT right now on US Airways. I just checked for you. I just booked my flight from Denver to Orlando for April for 138.00 RT. Great prices on US Airways site right now. They are having a ton of Florida fares that are way cheap. Rochester right now is only 118.00. WOW!

Cristen

 

[ladyjayhawk]

Disney Sweetie, in your experience, will Southwest offer a special shortly after releasing the new schedule or do they wait awhile? I am looking for airfare for the end of Feb. 2004. I don't know if I should jump on the new fares as soon as they are released or wait for a special. Do you think they will have the February schedule out soon? Thanks!!

 

[wdwmom2]

I called South West approximately 1 1/2 months ago and they said that they don't even know when the new fares will come out. They are as clueless as us!!!! I am going in April and I will be checking their website every day. Looking for a Grrrrreat rate!!!!!!!

 

[Rpsemont]

ladyjayhawk,
last year we booked pres week thuesday to the following tuesday at a special rate of around $150. I think we booked it about a week after the fares were released because that's when the special came out. If you want to fly the weekend of pres week or the sat sunday of the weekend after, I would book as soon as it comes out. If you have flexibility, I think you could wait for a sale

 

[ladyjayhawk]

Rpsemont, thanks for the info and advice. My plans are to fly in to Orlando on the Saturday after Pres. week. I think that leaving Orlando that weekend would be busy but hopefully arriving wouldn't be too bad. I may wait a week or so before buying to see if we can catch a special. Do you remember when the Feb. schedule was released last year? Thanks!

 

[Rpsemont]

ladyjayhawk,
For the Sat after you'll probably be OK, but I can't say for sure. while I am always checking availability for the days around the day I fly (to get an idea of how full the plane is) last year I wasn't looking that far ahead. But I know that we could have flown out Pres. day, tues, or wed for a somewhat fare right up until about two weeks prior to departure if memory serve me right. I think the Feb fares came out around 9/18 and we bought our tickets 9/23 (The Tuesday following.) I'm trying to decide whether to go a longer trip and grap the more expensive fares and fly Pres. weekend, or a shorter trip and wait for sale fare where we might not get out until Monday or Tuesday. we'll have to return the following Mon as DD has school and we're already taking her out for 4 days this October.