When will Southwest relent on insane summer fares? (Answer: June 3, 2016)
#136
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
Well, for those that thought last week's sale was a prelude to a Birthday Sale this week; that doesn't appear to have happened. There's a generic 'Flights as low as $69' banner at the top of their page which doesn't appear to translate to any great system-wide discounts.
#137
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,586
Some Fall dates (e.g. Tuesday after Thanksgiving and Dec 15) which were $68 last week are $59 now. So that's worth checking.
At the moment the Change Reservation feature is "undergoing maintenance" but I'll be patient.
At the moment the Change Reservation feature is "undergoing maintenance" but I'll be patient.
#138
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred and CP, Marriott Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 158
There are some deals to be had out there this week -- I've spotted fall (late Aug-Oct) fares between DAL and TPA, FLL, PHX, MDW, SAN, and DEN for $36-$41 (or 1465-1800 points) each way.
#141
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,586
This is weird. I've been watching fares for July 4 and 5 daily for weeks. July 4 has held at $113 and July 5 at $123. No way will intra-CA flights sell out at those prices.
Today, exactly 3 weeks out, the price for July 4 dropped to $69 for all times except one. The July 5 price is still $123. July 1 and 2 are $138. July 3 and July 6-31 are $69. In no universe does this pricing make any sense.
At this point I'm following the pricing for entertainment, since I have already made plans to avoid flying on July 4 or 5. I suppose I would travel on July 5 if the $69 fare appeared, but I don't really care one way or the other.
I have been favorably impressed with the ease of booking AA flights with Avios, especially the instant redeposit at a cost of only $5.60 if you want to cancel and rebook a different time. Because of this and good AAvailability I plan to stop booking any high-fare dates on Southwest.
Today, exactly 3 weeks out, the price for July 4 dropped to $69 for all times except one. The July 5 price is still $123. July 1 and 2 are $138. July 3 and July 6-31 are $69. In no universe does this pricing make any sense.
At this point I'm following the pricing for entertainment, since I have already made plans to avoid flying on July 4 or 5. I suppose I would travel on July 5 if the $69 fare appeared, but I don't really care one way or the other.
I have been favorably impressed with the ease of booking AA flights with Avios, especially the instant redeposit at a cost of only $5.60 if you want to cancel and rebook a different time. Because of this and good AAvailability I plan to stop booking any high-fare dates on Southwest.
#142
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Chicago, IL USA AA Platinum, UA, Hilton Blue, Starwood Platinum, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 189
$200 is the going rate from Chicago to Detroit, and sometimes it is higher than that. I've slowly given my business to American & United whose fares are now more competitive than SW in Chicago. I have a MP Visa which I have been using for car rentals, so I still get a free bag. SW has to give me a better reason than peanuts and 2 bags to continue to fly with them.
#143
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,586
AA's boarding was a complete zoo, something for them to be ashamed of compared to Southwest's orderly and efficient lineup.
All in all, AA fights using Avios are worthy competition to today's Southwest. Yesteryear's Southwest would have won going away.
Edited to add: My return flight on AA today was very different. Lots of gate space at SFO, audible announcements, and orderly boarding. Seating on a 737-800 was just as tight as Evolve, but the seats appeared to be fully padded and soft rather than Evolve's thin, hard padding. Load was 100%, possibly due to the NBA playoff game last night.
AA flights would add at least 30 minutes to each trip, so I still prefer Southwest when they aren't trying to gouge me.
Last edited by nsx; Jun 20, 2016 at 9:31 am
#144
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
One side "benefit" I've maybe noticed on the high summer fares is they they don't appear to be raising the last minute fares as much as they were. I had a flight last Thursday ( the last day before the Summer Fares kicked in) which I changed on Wednesday to Saturday for only $44 then I changed it again on Friday to Wednesday for no additional fare, but I could have changed it to Monday or Tuesday as well without additional cost. The original fare was a WGA at less than $100 and WGA fares were still fairly available even on peak time times. The fare I paid was only about $13 over the lowest summer fare on the route ($113).
#145
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,586
To get the $69 fare on today's flight you would have had to buy the ticket June 3 afternoon through June 7. Before and after that it was $128. As the weeks go by more people will have had a chance to pay the $69 fare, so loads should pick up.
Last edited by nsx; Jun 27, 2016 at 10:04 am Reason: date typo
#147
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: LAX
Programs: AS 75K, southwest A+, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire ambassador
Posts: 87
Loads out of LAX to OAK have been light this month. I have traveled this route each week this month and there were several times the load was in the low 60's. Fares were very high, even booking 5 weeks in advance. Decided to fly out of Long Beach today for less then $100 round trip.
#148
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 56
Been looking at the following fares for October-
BNA-MCI
MCI-MCO
MCO-BNA
The prices haven't budged since prices were released, nearly 5 months ago. Prices are the same today, on a weekend as they are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and any other day.
Are they ever going to go down? Has anyone ever seen anything like this with Southwest?
BNA-MCI
MCI-MCO
MCO-BNA
The prices haven't budged since prices were released, nearly 5 months ago. Prices are the same today, on a weekend as they are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and any other day.
Are they ever going to go down? Has anyone ever seen anything like this with Southwest?
#149
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Houston (HOU/IAH)
Programs: WN, UA, DL, AA, Chase UR, Amex MR
Posts: 2,267
The flight I needed to LAX finally dropped to a reasonable fare but I already bought on UA for a little cheaper than what WN wants now. Oh well, at least I'll get to fly on a 787-9. I'm usually pretty patient but they waited too long and this was one of those times where it needed to be a particular flight time.
#150
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: WN A-List, AS MVP, HH Gold, FPC Premier, Hyatt Diamond, CC Gold, TR Diamond
Posts: 73
For many years I've flown SWA 80% or more of my flights. Now it is down to less than 25% as SWA prices have increased so dramatically (except for the limited highly competitive routes with other low-cost/upstart carriers). It will be interesting to see who will benefit more from upcoming IT capabilities, the customer or the airline's bottom line. In the old days under Herb, I felt these were both tied in the same direction ... but now I believe they will be in opposite directions...like fewer Tue/Wed flights will result in fewer low cost options for leisure travelers.