Why is Southwest so high for August??

[MUFFYCAT]

I was totally bummed when the dates were released the other day. We've been going every August and NEVER paid no where near $174-$200 each way from Long Island.

I hope they go down a bit or I'll be searching other airlines...

 

[holden]

I agree! I've been watching the prices since they opened on Tues. We are thinking of flying out a day earlier and flying back on USAir since they are cheaper.

 

[ancestry]

I don't normally travel to Orlando on SW but I was watching when the rates were released as DH and I are considering a possible adult only trip. I was shocked at how high they were out of Manchester, NH as well. Same as what you posted - $174-$200 each way. Air Tran currently has the same days for $79 each way although I don't trust Air Trans schedules.

 

[wdhinn89]

Prices go up the day school lets out and stays high the whole summer.

We booked with JetBlue for our June 27th departure. Rather have an assigned seat and a TV.

 

[SweetMommy]

I don't normally travel to Orlando on SW but I was watching when the rates were released as DH and I are considering a possible adult only trip. I was shocked at how high they were out of Manchester, NH as well. Same as what you posted - $174-$200 each way. Air Tran currently has the same days for $79 each way although I don't trust Air Trans schedules.

We had Airtran on a Direct flight and it got changed to a layover which we dont want

 

[Tiggs14]

I'm another one that isn't liking the August flight prices at all. We're looking at paying twice as much as we paid last year based on the current pricing. Hopefully the prices will adjust to a much lower level at some point.

Sadly we have to stick with Southwest as we cancelled our Disney trip in January so we've got a large credit with them.

I keep checking the prices but so far they haven't budged...at least not the ones that I want.

 

[Missyma919]

Well southwest just lost my business for our Sept trip. Prices were way too high. I bought tickets at United and saved almost 600. for all 5 of us.

 

[NotUrsula]

Ever since SWA started announcing their booking release dates, they have deliberately released without significant discounts, to catch the folks who are waiting for the release and just HAVE to have a particular flight on a particular day. Once the initial feeding frenzy drops off, the fares almost always come down. That usually takes about 2 weeks to happen.

We always buy airfare about 6-8 weeks out from our travel dates to get the best prices. We also make it a point to very very seldom fly on major travel days in a given market.

 

[eeyoresmom]

SW lost us for this summer to. I'm just not wanting to play the waiting and checking 3 times a day game for this trip. Already booked with another airline.

 

[LSchrow]

i just booked for our 9/26-10/6 trip, and got $89 each way
we normally pay significantly more for that time of year......that's weird that august is higher than usual. i hope they come down for everyone

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I was totally bummed when the dates were released the other day. We've been going every August and NEVER paid no where near $174-$200 each way from Long Island.

I hope they go down a bit or I'll be searching other airlines...

I think it has to do with that still being summer and summer rates tend to be higher. Out of Chicago most of the August rates are $130 each eay, while starting in September there $79 each way.

 

[litlpixie]

Ever since SWA started announcing their booking release dates, they have deliberately released without significant discounts, to catch the folks who are waiting for the release and just HAVE to have a particular flight on a particular day. Once the initial feeding frenzy drops off, the fares almost always come down. That usually takes about 2 weeks to happen.

We always buy airfare about 6-8 weeks out from our travel dates to get the best prices. We also make it a point to very very seldom fly on major travel days in a given market.

I agree They'll go down, I see this happen every year too. Im just trying to be patient.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I agree They'll go down, I see this happen every year too. Im just trying to be patient.

I was thinking or hoping that after the frenzy the rates may drop a bit also.

 

[leahjade]

I think it has to do with that still being summer and summer rates tend to be higher

That's not true -rates this summer are $40 higher per person than we've ever paid and we fly to Florida every year. I may now book on one of the airlines that we've never used before because of their typically high prices (Delta, Continental or United) since their prices are lower this time around!

 

[emmabelle]

The only thing about Delta, is having to pay $50 to fly a checked bag round trip.

Delta's the same price as Jetblue out of Boston with better flight times for our July trip, but I just hate to pay an additional $50 for every bag we check. A week trip is too long to just take a carryon.

I remember paying $49 each way a few years ago on SW, MHT to MCO. Now those were the days!

 

[leahjade]

We do carryon - its summer so we all just have tiny shorts and tank tops - not much to pack! Couldn't do it in the winter though.

 

[emmabelle]

We do carryon - its summer so we all just have tiny shorts and tank tops - not much to pack! Couldn't do it in the winter though.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I must take my bed pillow with me! It takes up alot of room in a carryon.

 

[holden]

I was all set to book SW, but when I saw the rates we wound up splitting our flight. We are going down a day early on SW for $115pp(cheaper flight and hotel is free) and flying home on USAirways ($105pp). That's still more than we paid last summer on SW ($79 each way), but I was afraid if I waited rates would go up.

 

[dioxide45]

Air Tran currently has the same days for $79 each way although I don't trust Air Trans schedules.

For a $100 pp savings, I would take my chances on AirTran. Sure they may change their schedule, but then again they may not or only by a few minutes. Their schedule changes are not enough to deter us.

 

[JessGWI]

For a $100 pp savings, I would take my chances on AirTran. Sure they may change their schedule, but then again they may not or only by a few minutes. Their schedule changes are not enough to deter us.

Depends on how much luggage you plan on taking. If you're going to be checking 2 bags, well, there went your savings on Airtran. If you are light packers, I wouldn't let the chance of a schedule change deter you. You're going to a peak destination at a peak time. Chances of them completely eliminating a flight are extremely slim. It is possible that they may alter their times by a few minutes, but I wouldn't anticipate anything drastic.