Why all the SWA Hatin'?

[Cruz91]

OK... Now I don't get it... In June of 2007, gas prices were hovering around the $2.90 - $3.00 mark. They are now up close to $4.00. That is about a 35% increase in prices. My flights for my family of 4 round trip from CMH to MCO in Nov of 2007 was right around $850. I just booked for this Nov's trip and it cost me right around $1150 - which is, drum roll please, 35% more than last November. Did everyone really think that the cost was going to stay the same? I did homework and for me to fly any other carrier for our same family of four around the same dates, the next cheapest flight I could find was over $1800, and that was a flight with stops!! I think it will be much more satisfying, and less frustrating, to compare SW to other carriers' current prices, not its own previous prices.

 

[ntsammy5]

YES, YES YES!

Oh did I say YES!

 

[jellybeans0607]

we're flying southwest. using their ding i was able to get $99 each way for all 8 of us. im happy with that. oh we're flying form providence. of course it was cheaper the last time we went, but i expected to pay more. hell one year we paid $99 round trip, i dont expect that to happen again.

 

[Minnie824]

well, I expected the prices to be higher, but I guess I didn't expect them to be this much higher. I have a trip booked in July this year for 4 people roundtrip around $1100. Now for November, 4 people roundtrip is around $2200. Yes, different location, different time of year and I expected it to be more, but I didn't expect the price to be double.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I wouldn't call it "hating", maybe just sticker shock.

I was a little surprised at some of the rates (some of which have gone up since this morning!!), but I'm enjoying it while I can because I'm confident that as fuel continues to rise, so will airfares, and at some point we simply won't be able to fly

But I'm still loving SW, and will continue to fly them until I can no longer afford to do so.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

My flight prices have doubled -which was a huge sticker shock. Its 100% increase for me. I thought they might be around 1.5 of what I paid last year.

 

[MrMarv]

Some markets got great fares, and some markets got not-so-great fares.

 

[bavaria]

Several of us had speculated that there would be many disappointed posters today as we suspected that SW was going to raise fares more than most here seemed to anticipate.

I think that there is a misconception here that SW is somehow immune to rising fuel costs due to their past hedging strategy. That benefit is coming to an end soon, and they too are seeing rising costs.

Frankly, it would be irresponsible of SW NOT to raise fares and take advantage of the reduced capacity in the marketplace.

I just saw a thread about $318 RT PHL-MCO - I still consider that a very good price, and am quite surprised at what people are posting as 'unreasonable' fares. And I agree with the OP - comparing airfare to last years underpriced fares doesn't make sense, especially when fuel has risen so much in the past year.

 

[kpm76]

Well, I certainly expected an increase but not more than double what I paid last November. Sorry, $470 to fly from PVD to MCO is not reasonable....

 

[moepanz]

I don't hate SW. I am just annoyed that we are more than likley have to cancel our Dec. trip as a result of the increase. Last year we paid $54 each way. We are a family of 5 so the $129 each way just blew our budget out of the water. The airfare will cost just about the same as our whole disney package DDP included. So I guess I am more dissapointed than anything.

By the way I did expect to $54 this year but not $129 either.

 

[mareed]

While I may not like the higher prices, I agree with you. We're used to paying $220 round trip from Houston (often to Tampa instead of Orlando to get this price). I booked flights for XMAS at $277, which is a 25% increase. We were going to drive, but the price was reasonable enough for us to save the time & hassle of driving and fly instead.

 

[cbrfan]

Because it's their turn. Up until today it was AirTran's turn, Spirit before that, AA before that, Delta before that, etc. Every time a new round of fares, a change in policy or anything new or different there's an uproar. While I think everyone knew prices would be higher when SW released this round of fares, I think they were all secretly hoping they'd stay pretty much the same.

 

[eaglerock]

Well i'm happy with my fares for Nov 2nd that I booked on Southwest.

Their still way less than USAir & Airtran.

The flights did fly off the screen though.

I selected my site and then proceeded to the purchase. There was short delay while I inputted the names & Rapid reward #'s. I applied my credits and then tried to purchase. The site said seats were no loner availble. That stunk. I then bought tickets for the next day instead.

 

[4nana]

No hatin' here....simple sticker shock.

We've been planning our gathering for a year now, and I'm relieved this was the last piece of the puzzle. It was stressful just trying to get the tickets, but we bit the bullet and purchased tickets for our group of 12 for TG week. You can't put a price tag on family trips and the wonderful memories you'll make, but I admit at $375 pp/$4500. RT from BWI/MCO really hit hard . Sadly, it will cause many families to reconsider.

 

[Microcell]

Yeah, still love Southwest, just hate the higher prices. Disney is getting less affordable all the time and if Obama takes office, up go our taxes and there goes my vacation!

 

[disfan07]

Disney is getting less affordable all the time and if Obama takes office, up go our taxes and there goes my vacation!

I could say so many things to that comment but id get kicked of the boards.....but i will say this....

and we're doing so well with bush in office now?????


now back on topic.......
Im very happy with my fare that i got today with southwest...
I got dulles to burbank roundtrip for less than $500...dec. 22nd-jan 5th....that is $300 less than the cheapest fare i found before SW fares came out....yes its not direct, but i'll save $300!!!!!

 

[mickey2000]

Yeah, still love Southwest, just hate the higher prices. Disney is getting less affordable all the time and if Obama takes office, up go our taxes and there goes my vacation!

What does he have to do with the weak dollar and high oil prices

 

[kaytieeldr]

That would be the weak dollar and the record-high oil prices resulting from the eight year Bush administration... right?

 

[DMRick]

I selected my site and then proceeded to the purchase. There was short delay while I inputted the names & Rapid reward #'s. I applied my credits and then tried to purchase. The site said seats were no loner availble. That stunk. I then bought tickets for the next day instead.

That is strange. In the past they have held onto the seats for about 20 minutes (after you clicked on purchase). At the end of the 20 minutes, it would say timed out, or something to that effect.
If they aren't p[utting a hold on the seats anymore while we pay, it will be tough to purchase seats. One SW person said, even if you just look at the seats, they have a hold, which means even if you don't buy, the next person thinks they are gone. She told me to keep trying, when I called the time I picked seats, changed my mind and they when I went back in, they were gone. We did get them after an hour or so.

 

[goofy4tink]

Don't want to see any political discussions here. We already have one thread that is close to that. Stay on track here.

SW had to increase their prices...no way around it. We all got spoiled with those terrific fares. People got in the habit of heading to WDW because it was so cheap to get there. Won't be happening anymore. But, perhaps we'll start seeing some good room discounts, like we have seen in the past. But, those $99 each way fares? Not going to be nearly as common as before...we'll start seeing less and less of that. I would be thrilled with $129 each way. Of course, my family of three only flys together once a year, if that. The other trips to WDW are either by myself or just my dd and I. Can't imagine how a family of five is going to be able to easily afford that trip now.