Ugh...Southwest!

[DznyGrlSD]

They're only booking through September 12th right now....I need tickets for the END of September and I'm not going to book my WDW trip until I have my air-travel dates booked....I hope they have them posted by June 4th so I can take advantage of the free dining. Any advice?

 

[hansel1]

You might want to try delta. I was able to book my flight for january 2007 a couple of months ago. Non-stop round-trip from Arkansas @ $250 per person.

 

[MouseearsDeb]

Can you book your WDW dates and then change them if necessary? I'd hate to miss the free dining.

 

[JimboJones123]

meeee toooooo

COME ON SW!

Hopefully they will post online rates soon too. 49-59 each way is better than the 320 they are offering from delta for direct flights right now from here in columbus.

 

[YankeeMouse]

We fly Southwest from Chicago. If you book your trip, you can get your air fare later and if you find one cheaper, there is no change fee with Southwest if you don't use the tickets, it is the original fare. If there is a sale and you go onto the internet and find that sale (check it frequently), and call them, you will get the cheaper fare and can use the credit for another later date...an excuse to go back!

 

[natalia1681]

I had been checking Southwest everyday for a little while--sometimes twice a day, waiting for the end of September also.

I finally gave up and booked out of another city on AirTran through Disney. I got a great deal on the tickets--pretty close to anything that Southwest would have been able to offer, even with their $39 fares. To me, it was worth it to pay a little extra so that I could get my free dining plan.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

BOOK THE DISNEY PORTION OF THE VACATION NOW!!!!!

This is the same issue I've got. But think about it. You know you'll find SOME sort of flight for your dates. Especially if you continually check for them. Even if you end up having to pay a little more per ticket for the flight, you're going to be saving so much on the dining plan that it would be worth it.

But realistically, you should find the flight you need at the right cost.

Do what was said earlier... Book the Disney trip, and just put down the deposit... Worst case scenario, if you can't find flights on the dates you need, move the dates of the vacation around a little bit.

And it was also said earlier... Southwest doesn't charge to change flights, if that's required.

You'll be fine. PULL THE TRIGGER! (And I'll see you there!!!)

:wave:

 

[bears163]

I had been checking Southwest everyday for a little while--sometimes twice a day, waiting for the end of September also.

I finally gave up and booked out of another city on AirTran through Disney. I got a great deal on the tickets--pretty close to anything that Southwest would have been able to offer, even with their $39 fares. To me, it was worth it to pay a little extra so that I could get my free dining plan.

if we go this year we are using air tran more than likely too. so far they are cheaper than anyone else even SW. we are flying out of either philly or baltimore

 

[mousermerf]

To note, a friendly person on these forums suggested a new search engine I've never heard of before called "Sidestep"

www.sidestep.com

It searches several websites all at once and might find you a great fare right now.

 

[jsfra209]

They're only booking through September 12th right now....I need tickets for the END of September and I'm not going to book my WDW trip until I have my air-travel dates booked....I hope they have them posted by June 4th so I can take advantage of the free dining. Any advice?

OH MY GOD DARLIN'!!! Do not fly southwest!!! They are terrible. If I wanted to be treated like steerage I would take the train. Try delta. They are frendlier, more professional, and probably cheaper.

 

[JimboJones123]

OH MY GOD DARLIN'!!! Do not fly southwest!!! They are terrible. If I wanted to be treated like steerage I would take the train. Try delta. They are frendlier, more professional, and probably cheaper.

if it saves you 600 bucks -- what's the big deal?

 

[goofntink]

Uhhggg:hurl: Southworst SUCKS!!!!I hate them. Go with Airtran, better flights,better rates. AND they won't resell your seats to 10 other people, after you purchased your tickets, and bump you because someone who bought their tickets 30 minutes ago at the counter, checked in before you! :zipit: Happened to us ,we bought are tickets 2 months in advance,checked in, and basically told TS, we always overbook the flights, that is why we say to get here early.

 

[Main Street USA]

OH MY GOD DARLIN'!!! Do not fly southwest!!! They are terrible. If I wanted to be treated like steerage I would take the train. Try delta. They are frendlier, more professional, and probably cheaper.

Uh, ok. Yeah, I'd rather save $400. I'm not royalty. I can take a 2 - 3 hour flight on southwest. Besides, what's the difference? An assigned seat? Ha, take responsibility for yourself, get to the airport on time, and get any seat you want.

Southwest treats customers great. Better than any other airline I've flown. They also don't rip you of on Airfare like Delta and several others.

As an adult, you should be able to sit still for a few hours. Geez.

 

[Main Street USA]

Uhhggg:hurl: Southworst SUCKS!!!!I hate them. Go with Airtran, better flights,better rates. AND they won't resell your seats to 10 other people, after you purchased your tickets, and bump you because someone who bought their tickets 30 minutes ago at the counter, checked in before you! :zipit: Happened to us ,we bought are tickets 2 months in advance,checked in, and basically told TS, we always overbook the flights, that is why we say to get here early.

Well, sounds to me like you didn't get there when you were supposed to. They over book flights because irresponsible people don't show up. When you get there anytime before they start boarding (and there's no reaosn not to be there by then) there aren't any problems.

Funny, I've been flying Southwest for years and years, and never had a problem. Then again, I don't find it all that hard to follow instructions.

 

[Main Street USA]

They're only booking through September 12th right now....I need tickets for the END of September and I'm not going to book my WDW trip until I have my air-travel dates booked....I hope they have them posted by June 4th so I can take advantage of the free dining. Any advice?

As said above, I would go ahead and grab the week you want at Disney. Southwest will have the cheapest fares of any airline available before then, without fail.

You can also go to their site and download the "DING" program. It gives you daily updates with specials to and from nearly all cities that are only available for a certain time, usually about 8 - 10 hours.

 

[mousermerf]

Another note...

I just realized through sidestep that the price i'm forking out for a few days at WDW (which I live 45mins from) at AKL with free dining I could got DLR instead. *contemplates*

 

[shoppingnut]

Well, sounds to me like you didn't get there when you were supposed to. They over book flights because irresponsible people don't show up. When you get there anytime before they start boarding (and there's no reaosn not to be there by then) there aren't any problems.

Funny, I've been flying Southwest for years and years, and never had a problem. Then again, I don't find it all that hard to follow instructions.

While you are fine with SW, I hate it. I flew them once and I won't do it again. I don't care for the no assigned seats thing, I want to choose and know where I am sitting. People are lining up like cattle and sitting all over the floor in those lines for quite some time, just so they are first in their group to get on, so they hopefully get a good seat.

 

[ErickainPA]

I have never had a problem with Southwest, prefer them over any other airline. The staff is very friendly and no issues ever with a seat. People that wait til the last min to get into line and need to have a whole row of seats for their family are the worst. We usually get into line so we are at least 1/2 way to the front if not more. We were the 3rd people in line once in section A but we chose to go back to like row 10 just so that those with kids and elderly could be toward the front more.

People are accommodating for the most part. One airline they assigned hubby and I seats that were rows apart, we bought the tickets at the same time and even checked in at the same time. Told at baggage check-in well maybe they can work it out at the gate. They couldn't do anything about it. I had to just about beg the flight attendant to get the seat next to my husband (it was empty anyway) and she waited until we were taxing to allow me to move to that seat (I was stuck at the window and had to climb over 2 unhappy people to get out) Never have that problem with Southwest.

 

[epcot2004]

We're taking Airtran in September and our flight time has already changed three times. We have been pushed back to an 8pm arrival from noon I guess that is one drawback to booking early at least with them. Maybe by waiting a few more weeks the schedule will be more stable and you won't be disappointed like us.

 

[Main Street USA]

While you are fine with SW, I hate it. I flew them once and I won't do it again. I don't care for the no assigned seats thing, I want to choose and know where I am sitting. People are lining up like cattle and sitting all over the floor in those lines for quite some time, just so they are first in their group to get on, so they hopefully get a good seat.

But you don't have to be part of the lining up to get a good seat. Just get there early enough (not earlier than any other airline, just good airport time) and get an "A" boarding pass. Better yet, print it up online 24 hours in advance. You're automatically one of the first 40 people on the plane, you basically get whatever seats you want, and you don't have to line up.

So, again, I say, if you know Southwest, then there's nothing wrong with it. Every complaint thusfar has been from someone who simply doesn't know how to best utilize the Southwest system....and by the way, it's no secret. All of the info you need is on their website.