Are WN fares higher than other airlines' in my markets?
Dec 19, 2015, 10:15 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TPA/SRQ
Programs: Hyatt Explorer, Marriott Titanium, AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, Avis Plus, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,692
I guess I should not complain. I just found a 59 fare MDW to TPA in January that I booked for a quick weekend. The return was 109. that was hard to beat
Dec 19, 2015, 2:50 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Grand County, Colorado
Programs: IHG Plat, HH D, UA GS, Perm BonVoyed
Posts: 2,013
A week ago Friday, I purchased a walk-up fare MCO-MDW $109 all-in.
Last month, I bought two under one-week out, $154 RNO-DAL and $143 DAL-PBI.
Southwest is not always the cheapest, but you'll never see an obscene price on SWA.
Remember, you can bank their credits (no change fees) and no bag fees.
Last month, I bought two under one-week out, $154 RNO-DAL and $143 DAL-PBI.
Southwest is not always the cheapest, but you'll never see an obscene price on SWA.
Remember, you can bank their credits (no change fees) and no bag fees.
Dec 19, 2015, 4:40 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Houston (HOU/IAH)
Programs: WN, UA, DL, AA, Chase UR, Amex MR
Posts: 2,269
Dec 19, 2015, 7:28 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Silver
Posts: 711
I'm flying on a Thursday mid-January LGA-MDW-SNA. Total cost was $333 one way. I could have flown to LAX on Southwest or another airline for half the price. But I had a credit from a botched flight earlier this year and would rather use it than lose it. My trip is time sensitive so SNA is closer to my destination.
SWA is not the most convenient from NY but I do use them as a backup to JetBlue when it's a non-B6 destination or if the flight times work better. Fares have been hit or miss for me this year.
SWA is not the most convenient from NY but I do use them as a backup to JetBlue when it's a non-B6 destination or if the flight times work better. Fares have been hit or miss for me this year.
Dec 19, 2015, 9:22 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
Bottom line, some years ago, maybe coincidental with the expiration of fuel hedges or Gary taking over or whatever, WN stopped being a fair, cost / distance based fare airline (the $299 caps) and joined the legacies into a gouge, whatever the market will bear, airline...
Dec 19, 2015, 10:05 pm
#21
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,336
On most flights that I actually end up flying, I generally end up paying a small premium to fly WN. However, WN has saved me thousands (literally) in the form of the no-change-fee policy.
Overall, I guess for me WN is still net-positive. But it's not a slam-dunk anymore. I often see legacy carriers significantly undercutting WN on many routes that I fly.... just with that "little" $200-300 change fee lurking in the background.
The mandatory games that you are forced to play with PNR spreadsheets, fake bookings to roll up small PNRs, etc., are a royal PITA though, makes me wonder if it's really worth it.
PS: joshua362, nice flashback with the $299 caps... ah, the old WN...
Overall, I guess for me WN is still net-positive. But it's not a slam-dunk anymore. I often see legacy carriers significantly undercutting WN on many routes that I fly.... just with that "little" $200-300 change fee lurking in the background.
The mandatory games that you are forced to play with PNR spreadsheets, fake bookings to roll up small PNRs, etc., are a royal PITA though, makes me wonder if it's really worth it.
PS: joshua362, nice flashback with the $299 caps... ah, the old WN...
Dec 19, 2015, 10:51 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,739
First let me qualify this as I am a fan of southwest. I fly them 90% of the time. Partially since I am close to MDW.
But they are getting really expensive lately? Or is it just my imagination. I have an RT to FLL over new years and it was almost 800, I booked it three or four weeks ago.
I am looking at MDW to RSW and the cheapest non stop I can find is over 650. On ITA i find a bunch of legacy carriers for $420. Hell, I can get first class on united for 720.
Is it me and where I am looking to go, or is anyone else seeing this?
Just currious
But they are getting really expensive lately? Or is it just my imagination. I have an RT to FLL over new years and it was almost 800, I booked it three or four weeks ago.
I am looking at MDW to RSW and the cheapest non stop I can find is over 650. On ITA i find a bunch of legacy carriers for $420. Hell, I can get first class on united for 720.
Is it me and where I am looking to go, or is anyone else seeing this?
Just currious
Thee fares may be a little higher but remember they dont charge for checked bags.they may have a slightly higher airfare than before.
Their pricing structure is different. Because bags are free most occasional travelers usually fly with them because bags are free and they know they have a good shot of being able to sit as a family in one area.
As a result most of their travelers book earlier. flying over the holidays you need to book far earlier---like when the booking opens over the holidays.
These travelers may travel only over xmas so they book their flights in July-early September.
Southwest pricing structure also sees them (and they have always done this) raising the fares a lot if you are under 2 weeks of travel dates.
For last second travel, southwest isnt the best option to choose from.
With holidays southwest knows many travel so they do tend to keep the fares higher and see if people purchase. Only if sales are moving for flights do they lower the fares.
Dec 19, 2015, 11:01 pm
#23
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,739
Hi -
Their recent fare sale is one of the better ones I can remember. WN rarely offers $49 fares from PDX-OAK/SJC/SMF and $69 fares from PDX-LAX/SNA.
While not universal, It is my experience that the legacies have fares that are equal to or lower than WN. Almost never the other way.
Their recent fare sale is one of the better ones I can remember. WN rarely offers $49 fares from PDX-OAK/SJC/SMF and $69 fares from PDX-LAX/SNA.
While not universal, It is my experience that the legacies have fares that are equal to or lower than WN. Almost never the other way.
The time I will see other carriers cheaper than WN will be when you book under 2 weeks or traveleng over the holidays and you didnt book early for it.
Dec 20, 2015, 1:34 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,621
Hi -
Actually, AS had $49 fares PDX-SFO/OAK/SJC on their Cyber Monday sale .. and some $99 midcon/transcon fares. I haven't seen a $99 transcon on WN in like .. forever.
The fact that WN felt it was needed to have a PDX and SEA fare sale to various destinations suggests that sales were a little slow.
And for those that can make MVPG, you don't have to deal with change fees. And you can SDC to a different flight without having to buy up to a YL fare.
Actually, AS had $49 fares PDX-SFO/OAK/SJC on their Cyber Monday sale .. and some $99 midcon/transcon fares. I haven't seen a $99 transcon on WN in like .. forever.
The fact that WN felt it was needed to have a PDX and SEA fare sale to various destinations suggests that sales were a little slow.
And for those that can make MVPG, you don't have to deal with change fees. And you can SDC to a different flight without having to buy up to a YL fare.
Dec 20, 2015, 10:41 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,336
I would actually say WN has become DL's best friend in ATL.
Dec 20, 2015, 12:20 pm
#27
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,365
As a DL stockholder, it is very, very good.
Dec 20, 2015, 2:03 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
Southwest is almost always the most expensive choice for me. It makes sense: in 2015, they are the premium major domestic airline. As the premium product, they can charge more. Their planes are full.
When I fly them, it's because they deliver FAR more value than their competition. Nonstop flights, better airports, larger planes, customer service that is less-bad than the legacies, better frequencies, etc.
On the occasions they don't offer unique value (say, an unusual route where everybody has a roughly equal 1-stop), I just take the cheap ticket on AA.
When I fly them, it's because they deliver FAR more value than their competition. Nonstop flights, better airports, larger planes, customer service that is less-bad than the legacies, better frequencies, etc.
On the occasions they don't offer unique value (say, an unusual route where everybody has a roughly equal 1-stop), I just take the cheap ticket on AA.
Thanks for the Sunday-afternoon chuckle. One experience with WN's Devolve seating was quite enough for me. I'm 10X more comfortable on the A side of an ERJ-145. See, bigger planes <> more comfortable planes.
Dec 20, 2015, 2:50 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
To the places I fly to most often, WN is usually the cheapest and/or offers the most flexibility of travel times. I check the prices daily. MDW-SJC? Usually the airline with the closest price to WN is Alaska Airlines, but to do that I'd have to change planes in Seattle (someday I'll give them a try just for fun). But that would require flying out of O'Hare.... No thanks.
Obviously, some markets are different. I looked at MDW-MSP recently and was not impressed. Same with MDW-MCO. Your mileage may vary.
Obviously, some markets are different. I looked at MDW-MSP recently and was not impressed. Same with MDW-MCO. Your mileage may vary.
Dec 20, 2015, 3:09 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
Same here. For the trips I take, at least half the time WN has the best fares when I buy. Most of the rest of the time, they are close, and occasionally they are a lot more. So I do the same thing I've been doing for the past 25 years, I shop and compare prices before buying, but for the past few years that's resulting in over half my flying being on WN.