why no cheap airfare on southwest?

[KPeveler]

Why have there been no sales for weeks on southwest? I fly PVD-MCO, and we usually see $99-$109 airfare regularly, and there has just been nothing like that this summer! And i fly midweek too and not on holidays!

Has anyone heard anything about future deals?

 

[treehugnmama]

last year we got seats in sept for 59$ this year same time frame 129$ I finally bought them the other day as i was getting nervous waiting

 

[Donut23]

I don't mean this answer to be flip at all...but...

Southwest will not discount their airfares unless they have to.

First, airlines can offer up to 15 different fares per flight - and they can be changed a couple of times each day......but let me back up......

It's called "yield management" and just about everybody does it....including Disney (checkout all the discounts available --- to fill the rooms).

Yield Management simply means.... how they manage the flight.... or hotel proberty to make the highest profit. They often offer modest discounts when prices are first published. If they can sell enough seats at the modest discount to fill the cabin enough to make a profit, there is no incentive to discount.

However, if the flight is not popular and there are not enough seats purchased....in come the Dings and Discount fares.

The one factor Southwest DOES respect is.....once a flight takes off....they can NEVER sell that seat and it's completely lost revenue. They would rather have someone sitting there for $79 from Baltimore to Los Angeles......than $00 because they held firm on their discounts.

 

[DebbieB]

Don't forget the "free bags".

 

[KPeveler]

Usually we see better Ding fares, as they try to fill things at the last minute... it is just unusual to see fares this high for the entire summer. Usually you see lower fares for mid week as they try to fill seats.

and i know that they do not have to have a sale if they do not want to.


One thing I heard recently is that there are a lot of empty seats recently (my dad recently flew southwest and there were only 28 people on the plane), and I would think they would want some last minute sales to fill those seats...

 

[TMB1203]

I have been waiting for November flights to open from MKE to MCO. They opened a couple weeks ago at $119 each and have moved between $115 and $119. Today I booked for $84.

 

[Tara]

I ended up snagging $99 each way fares from ALB to MCO in late June. I'm also traveling in late August and, though I've already purchased my airfare (some using Rapid Rewards), I've yet to see a Ding fare for that time, and the fares have ranged from as high as $216 and $175 for each leg of the trip, though now they are at $144 each way. (I've been charting the fares every day since 4/1!!!)

 

[BigTigger]

Starting early last year, it seemed like PVD to MCO Dings were offered from 6 weeks ahead to 3-4 weeks ahead and that's as good as it got. That has not changed this year. The only consistently cheap Dings from PVD seem to be to PHL or BWI.

Instead, I've gotten the best fares ($89) a few times by just checking the website a lot on mid-week mornings. For our July 7th to 13th trip, we got $109 going and $89 returning and used the $25 coupon for the first under $200 SWA roundtrip fare since last fall.

 

[Tara]

I should add that the $99 Ding fares for late June came out on 4/22.

 

[pooch]

not-so-patiently for flights from BDL-MCO to come down. I've never paid more than $79 each way and I've been staring at $119 for 2 months now on both SW and Delta (yes, I know, bag fees, but Delta has MUCH better times). There are 50+ seats still open on the Delta flights and I can still buy 8 tickets at the $119 level on SW so I'm still waiting. BUT I"M GETTING NERVOUS!!!!

and, where in the purchasing process do you enter the discount code for the $25 coupon?

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Scanning various Southwest city pairs last night, I have to agree. Their fares are HIGH this year. If they think they can fill planes at those prices and people buy them, the fares will remain high. If people balk, they'll come down.

BobK/Orlando

 

[stitch34]

Definitely have found SW to be high lately. Gone are the $59 flights, at least none I've found!
I think also SW is pretty popular - no baggage fees, and I know for myself, I love being able to switch flights and not have to pay a fee, or flat out cancel and have the credit to use another time.
Just booked last week with USAir our return flight in October, and was like are we REALLY doing this, as I clicked the final click to confirm it! There's no backing out now and that was $$$. Whereas with SW I feel much better knowing that I will have a credit for another trip if decide to cancel. I would think that is appealing to others, plus the no baggage fees and usually better prices, that makes them more popular and keep filling those seats and not have a need to drop the prices.

 

[uva185]

One thing I heard recently is that there are a lot of empty seats recently (my dad recently flew southwest and there were only 28 people on the plane), and I would think they would want some last minute sales to fill those seats...

I would disagree. Overall planes are full. Airlines have cut flights to reduce capacity and thus no longer need to offer such cheap fares to fill planes.

While a hotel has to work with a set amount of inventory (rooms) airlines and rental car companies can reduce their inventory and thus are better able to achieve closer to 100% utilization when people change their travel habits.

For the most part airfares will stay high(er) throughout the summer as that is the peak travel period in the US. Perhaps in the Fall when bookings slow down some lower fares will be offered.

 

[My 2 princesses]

This is weird. I have been constantly checking prices SWA and AT from BUF to MCO and noticed that AT is way cheaper on the day I need to fly out. Don't believe it was so low the last time I checked. Hoping SWA will lower their prices shortly too. I need to get to MCO, as I was comfortable with the price and booked back from MCO already on SWA.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

IThe one factor Southwest DOES respect is.....once a flight takes off....they can NEVER sell that seat and it's completely lost revenue. They would rather have someone sitting there for $79 from Baltimore to Los Angeles......than $00 because they held firm on their discounts.

Yes and no, sure its lost revenue, but if the revenue earned in filling the seat is less then the cost to do so, it doesn't make sense to fill it, better to let it stay empty.

Example, lets say you offer a $79.00 fare, if the additional fuel costs, baggage transportation and service costs are greater then $79.00, it doesn't make sense to offer the lower fare.

One thing people forget is SWA over the past couple of years did a great job in hedging their fuel costs. So while other airlines were paying extremely high airfares due to less then stellar hedges, SWA was paying far, far less. However, as their hedges expired, the found themselves back on level playing field with other carriers. They lost their advantage in that area. This meant they were now paying more for fuel.

Now of course fuel costs have come down, but hedging can work against you too, if costs drop below your floor hedge, you pay more then market price, sure you can go to the market and get fuel, but then your hedge plus market price makes it even worst. So if you're too conservative or too aggressive with your hedge, you may be better or worst off depending on the movement in fuel prices.

Fuel (plus Salary and Plane leases) are one the largest components of the expenses that make up an air carriers budget and because it is a volatile componenet hedges are in place to help insulate the expenses from steep drops and increases.

 

[PammieJ]

I can surely sympathize, and I do agree...typically a SW flight from MHT to MCO is under 100 bucks. This year....157. And although I can get a flight from BOS (Delta) or PWM (Air Tran or JetBlue), the SW flights for the times I like, are also non-stop. I've spent way too much time comparing flights, times, fees, and even doing a mix/match airline package, and SW always managed to edge out the other carriers by either a few bucks or a better schedule.

They used to be hands-down, the least expensive airline (free bags or not), but now they are neck and neck with the others. For me, it boils down to convenience. And I find them a lot more user-friendly. So I continue to fly only SW, unless I can get RT, non-stop for a cheaper fare, and I haven't seen one yet.

 

[keishashadow]

hmmph, ive never snagged a DING & consider myself lucky when booking a flight under $200 and satisfied when it's under $300 pp from PIT to MCO

it's probably due to my travel dates (prime time/weekends mostly) others in my area gleefully relate their low rates. I just sigh & cut something 'extra' out of the trip to make it work & keep (futilely) checking for lower rates on SW & a (small) credit for the next trip.

 

[tinkamom]

I've been flying southwest for 10 years and have never seen fares like I'm seeing now for our August trip. The first flight out is $237, mid day $137, last flight $95. Thats a big difference in price! Why? Because they can?

I'm waiting. We have never paid more than $79 for the first flight out. Thats a very large increase!

Hopefully prices will come down.

 

[pooch]

I've been flying southwest for 10 years and have never seen fares like I'm seeing now for our August trip. The first flight out is $237, mid day $137, last flight $95. Thats a big difference in price! Why? Because they can?

I'm waiting. We have never paid more than $79 for the first flight out. Thats a very large increase!

Hopefully prices will come down.

I think I need a buddy to keep me from booking too soon!!! Ya know, like AA - Airfares Anonymous!!!

 

[ScubaCat]

I've been flying southwest for 10 years and have never seen fares like I'm seeing now for our August trip. The first flight out is $237, mid day $137, last flight $95. Thats a big difference in price! Why? Because they can?

Not entirely true. They're all the same price; just the $95 and $137 seats are gone on that first flight