Southwest just jacked their fares up BIG TIME!

[captainkidd]

They just released the schedule through August on Tuesday. As of yesterday, airfare roundtrip for 5 of us was $1,337. I couldn't book until tomorrow. Today, it's up to $1,667.

Pricks.

 

[captainkidd]

Not in my experience. If I go to Southwest's or Jet Blue's website and book directly, it has ALWAYS been more expensive (significantly) than if I booked Delta or United for the same trip.

It must have something to do with where you're flying from. Yes, right now, Delta is less expensive. However the flight times are limited, and with baggage fees, it's the same price as SW. Plus, if we need to make any changes, Delta will charge us $100 per ticket. Sw charges you $0.

As for United, that's not even in the ballpark. They're more expensive than SW, they aren't direct flights, and they have baggage fees.

 

[Tazer19]

We're going in July. Boston we'd have to switch planes. I'd rather drive then go through the entire airport security fiasco 4 times round trip.

Really not quite sure what to do here. On one hand, I'm thinking I should just buy now, before either it goes up higher, or they sell out. If it does drop, I can always use the credit for next year's trip. On the other hand, I'd rather not spend over $300 per person round trip. From Boston to Orlando, that is insane.

Not that this really matters in the big picture conversation of this thread, but unless you change terminals, you shouldn't have to go through security again.

 

[captainkidd]

Not that this really matters in the big picture conversation of this thread, but unless you change terminals, you shouldn't have to go through security again.

Even so, with 3 kids and 2 car seats, no thanks.:hammer:

 

[ddbowdoin]

last may I paid 305 a person from Boston to Orlando direct... but it was well worth it. This allowed my girlfriend and I to check a bag free... so at the end of the day the flight was really 280 a person.

The flights were absolutely perfect, we departed logan at 7am and we were down before noon, checked in and at the parks. On the way home we left MCO at 7PM, enjoyed a full day at the parks before leaving to return my rental car and home early enough that I was comfortable at work the next day.

To me, flight times are the most essential and for 30-50 more a flight I'll gladly take more vacation time at my end destination versus savings.

 

[captainkidd]

last may I paid 305 a person from Boston to Orlando direct... but it was well worth it. This allowed my girlfriend and I to check a bag free... so at the end of the day the flight was really 280 a person.

The flights were absolutely perfect, we departed logan at 7am and we were down before noon, checked in and at the parks. On the way home we left MCO at 7PM, enjoyed a full day at the parks before leaving to return my rental car and home early enough that I was comfortable at work the next day.

To me, flight times are the most essential and for 30-50 more a flight I'll gladly take more vacation time at my end destination versus savings.

I always fly direct from Boston or Providence, and have never paid over $200 per person. That's why these prices are so shocking.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Any luck yet?

I have been checking SW morning, noon and night watching the prices from Albany, NY. The prices have gone up and down and all oiver the place. This morning our return trip for Dec 19th came down again after being high for over a week. We orignally booked for $319 RT and we have reduced our cost to $220 after 3 changes and have a credit for the next trip. You can book now and try watch for $$ reductions or wait and pray.

I understand the driving thing. We will be at WDW for 16 days and that is not long enough to warrant me driving. A drive straight thru with a few bathroom stops and a quick meal or 2 would be 22+ hours and I know I would not want to do anything the first day there. Then I cannot imagine how I would feel when I would have to get behind the wheel to drive home. That just does not spell vacation to me.

Keep checking constantly! Good luck.

 

[captainkidd]

No luck yet. I have a funny feeling we won't be flying SW this time. Even though we aren't leaving until July, I don't feel comfortable waiting on airfare. As much as I like SW, there are less expensive options, including flying into Sanford.

 

[markc]

I don't know if you're actually suggesting that the Legacy air-carriers are consistently cheaper than the Discount carriers, or just presenting your anecdotal evidence, but regardless, the Discount carriers are generally cheaper.

Not true - Legacy air carriers will often always have a better rate. I cant remember the study off the top of my head - but after researching fares at different times of the year on different days, it was found that LCC's (low cost carriers) only fared well on short haul trips (flights less than 500 miles). For long hauls, the legacy carriers were significantly better priced. The only exception to this is AirTran, who often has to match Delta's pricing due to their direct competition in ATL (or vice versa, with Delta matching AirTran). The biggest misconception out there is that Southwest is the best priced airline out there - and tons of "ma and pa kettles" (thats what the "common folk" fliers are referred to out there by the frequent flier community), will often book on SW without looking elsewhere. But unless you plan on really bringing a lot of un-necessary luggage, SWA is not a good fit for most people.

Frequent flier benefits are also the weakest on the legacies - and something to remember especially if you fly a lot for work or personal travel. The return of being an "elite" in one of the legacy programs devalues any "value" on a LCC 10 fold.

And quite frankly, the biggest thing to remember, is the lack of flexibility of LCC's in a weather related issue. You are far more likely to be stranded longer by Southwest and Airtran than you are a legacy with 3-5 hubs and 100's of connecting options, versus point to point networks which offer little flexibility and multiple headaches.

 

[markc]

No luck yet. I have a funny feeling we won't be flying SW this time. Even though we aren't leaving until July, I don't feel comfortable waiting on airfare. As much as I like SW, there are less expensive options, including flying into Sanford.

As somebody who flies a lot and is very familiar with how airlines price out their different fare classes - I can tell you the biggest mistake would be to book your airfare this far out in advanced. Prices WILL drop. Reservations should never be made any earlier than 3 months prior to the trip, and no later than 10 days prior to departing. The only exception to this rule are international fares, which often stay stagnant.

 

[captainkidd]

As somebody who flies a lot and is very familiar with how airlines price out their different fare classes - I can tell you the biggest mistake would be to book your airfare this far out in advanced. Prices WILL drop. Reservations should never be made any earlier than 3 months prior to the trip, and no later than 10 days prior to departing. The only exception to this rule are international fares, which often stay stagnant.

You know your stuff - I read this VERY same thing a couple different places this week.

I'm trying to be patient and believe it. I'm just incredibly nervous about the airfare being sold out. We're going the 2nd week of July which I know is very busy.

 

[googilycub]

No change as of this morning. In fact, return flights have gone up $30 per ticket.

I may have to bite the bullet and drive this time. It'll be an incredible pain, but at some point, if we don't stop giving in to the airlines, they're going to get higher and higher.

Giving in to the airlines? You mean the industry that hasn't made money in god knows how long because they where chasing market share over profits? Airlines have come to the correct conclusion that having the most people flying between cities does not equal profits. The days of $99 fares are gone, which is for the good of the industry. A healthy airline industry is good for the economy. It is not good for the average once a year flyer, but, with the exception of Allegiant, they are not the customer that the airlines really want anyway.

BTW with Northwest going away last year, Continental going away this year and Airtran going away next year the airlines have increased their pricing power a lot. The price for a ticket is returning to where it should be.

 

[captainkidd]

Giving in to the airlines? You mean the industry that hasn't made money in god knows how long because they where chasing market share over profits? Airlines have come to the correct conclusion that having the most people flying between cities does not equal profits. The days of $99 fares are gone, which is for the good of the industry. A healthy airline industry is good for the economy. It is not good for the average once a year flyer, but, with the exception of Allegiant, they are not the customer that the airlines really want anyway.

BTW with Northwest going away last year, Continental going away this year and Airtran going away next year the airlines have increased their pricing power a lot. The price for a ticket is returning to where it should be.

If that's the case, then why do the fares ALWAYS go down?

Sorry, but if SW could make money charging $49 one way to Orlando from Providence, it stands to reason any airline can make money charging $99 one way.

 

[Alison1975]

That's why we will drive. We've driven to Savannah GA from W. Mass 4 times..with 4 kids.. if ya leave and time things right the kids sleep thru the bulk of the 17 hours.. WDW is just 300 more miles.. with two drivers we won't even stop except for gas...

 

[WDW_Emily]

That's why we will drive. We've driven to Savannah GA from W. Mass 4 times..with 4 kids.. if ya leave and time things right the kids sleep thru the bulk of the 17 hours.. WDW is just 300 more miles.. with two drivers we won't even stop except for gas...

We Used to live in W. Mass (Now in Boston) and we did it with 3 kids. We stop for the night either in GA or SC. It's not the bad we actually have fun doing it. The price for 5 people to fly round trip is ridiculous.

 

[Alison1975]

Exactly..we have 7 people..and the cost of flying, long term parking, luggage etc is just unreal.. we can drive down and back and it's going to be around $450 including tolls. We can then bring a giant cooler so we can avoid renting a fridge, we can have sleeping bags, stroller,laundry stuff with no issues on where to put it. We will have our own van for Grocery store runs ( will stop on our way into WDW and stock up on water, juice, snacks ,cereal etc). My husband usually does the 17 hrs from here to GA alone..but with the added few hours I will do some of the driving too. The benefits of driving combined with the cost savings is what makes it even possible for the 7 of us to go.. flying would cost more than the resort! My kids are really good on the ride, and again we time it so we leave and they sleep most of the way!

 

[Mammymouse]

You have to check Southwest's website frequently because you never know when a good fare will pop up. Last Tuesday about 10 AM I checked for Providence, RI to Orlando for the month of December and the fares were $79 one way. We are returning to FL before Christmas - we live with our daughter when we're not in RI and we live 90 minutes south of WDW. When I logged back on around 12:20 to actually book a flight they had all changed to $123. So I've been kicking myself since because I didn't book when I first saw $79. :hammer:But.......last night just for the heck of it I checked the fares and they had $79 again! It was listed for only 4 days, but it was the time I wanted, so now I am doing the happy dance. :sohappy: And seeing we will be going right by WDW when our daughter picks us up from the airport we are planning to stop by to see the Christmas decorations, and maybe spend the night if we can get a room!

 

[keylimesqueeze]

yikes!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Don't give up. Regardless of your airline of choice- prices will drop if you're patient. While not all airlines show up on Yahoo and Travelocity- one of the best things you can do is to program it to email you once fares for your departure city and destination drop below whatever you've set as your max price. I tend to wait on booking my airfare in the 3 -1.5 mos out range...even for peak travel times like Thanksgiving- August/September are often the best months to book...I've even gotten great deals into October (just using this as an example for timing and peak travel).

Personally, I've found SW to be the biggest rip for our departure city. Yes, I've made it known that I despise their boarding set up, but I also rarely find them to be the cheapest option- even with the lack of baggage charges. So- wise to check out all of the carriers.

Funny- with as much as we fly- we were still so frightened with air costs for our upcoming trip that we were just going to buy a new more spacious vehicle and drive. We were to the point that I turned off my airfare watch for MCO. Funny thing happened- the day I went in for my first test drive...I had an AWFUL test drive. As I sat there at home, feeling betrayed by the vehicle I'd fallen in love with months prior to said drive, I wondered if the bad test drive was a sign. I checked online and wouldn't you know it- airfare for our dates on our preferred airline dropped to a rate that made me SUPER HAPPY. So, just wait a bit! Good luck! :wave:

 

[googilycub]

If that's the case, then why do the fares ALWAYS go down?

Sorry, but if SW could make money charging $49 one way to Orlando from Providence, it stands to reason any airline can make money charging $99 one way.

Fares don't always go down, and with the mergers that are going on, the times that they will go down will be even less. Also if Southwest filled a plane with $49 passengers on a flight from MCO to PVD, they would bleed red ink like no tomorrow.

 

[Mammymouse]

I really miss those $49 flights from 2006.