When will Southwest relent on insane summer fares? (Answer: June 3, 2016)
Jul 3, 2016, 7:04 pm
#151
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1.050MM, PersonalCar 0.275MM
Posts: 1,718
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.
Jul 5, 2016, 12:16 pm
#152
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 92
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.
Jul 5, 2016, 6:12 pm
#153
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
Just completed an OAK-LGB round trip 6/30-7/4. Plane was half full going south but the return trip was near capacity. Long Beach as a domestic airport isn't that bad and I would definitely be interested in using it again if the prices are $100 cheaper round trip than Burbank, LAX.
Jul 6, 2016, 11:42 am
#154
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: 21,624
I'm not sure if it's been this way for a while, but today I noticed that Thanksgiving Wednesday and Monday flights are reasonably priced ($74) for SFO-LAX, much cheaper than for OAK-LAX ($113). Sunday morning is available too.
Jul 10, 2016, 5:18 pm
#155
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,334
Seems like their new play is to keep the fares quite high until ~30 days before date of travel, and then slowly release cheap seats until they fill the plane.
Much like cruise lines.
Not much reason to buy anything in advance, at least based on recent fare action (luckily, I've been able to re-fare everything I had booked for the rest of this summer, several times in some cases).
YMMV.
Much like cruise lines.
Not much reason to buy anything in advance, at least based on recent fare action (luckily, I've been able to re-fare everything I had booked for the rest of this summer, several times in some cases).
YMMV.
$49 would be even better! 
Jul 11, 2016, 8:07 am
#157
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: 21,624
Another 80-passenger flight this morning. Everyone aft of the exits has a row to himself.
I thought Southwest was stupid setting summer prices at $123 until the last minute, but as a customer I am loving the result: $69 fares for sleeping seating!
I thought Southwest was stupid setting summer prices at $123 until the last minute, but as a customer I am loving the result: $69 fares for sleeping seating!
Jul 11, 2016, 8:24 am
#158
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,413
They relented on this over the weekend. Finally. $79-$91 for the entire month of August. Down from $199. I wonder if loads were down in July.
Jul 11, 2016, 11:45 am
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
Both my SFO-LAX-SFO flights (UA and AA) were full with others on waitlist. Hopefully WN will fire the current revenue management team or tweak the programming. There are plenty of paying customers if the price is competitive.
Jul 11, 2016, 2:54 pm
#160
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
I was doing some of my regular flying on Spirit, but over the weekend Southwest dropped a lot of fares with no warning and no announcement. There is no sale notice I can find. I wonder what's going on.
Jul 11, 2016, 3:04 pm
#161
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MCI
Programs: CBP Global Entry, WN A-List Preferred, WN Companion Pass
Posts: 2,007
Jul 11, 2016, 7:36 pm
#162
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
MSY-ATL. Spirit $39.00+$9.00 for a seat selection. I don't take a carry-on or check a bag.
Currently Southwest is offering this route for $49.00.
I find it odd that this has not been announced as a sale.
Prior to this weekend they were asking a minimum of $113.00-126.00 through mid-August.
Currently Southwest is offering this route for $49.00.
I find it odd that this has not been announced as a sale.
Prior to this weekend they were asking a minimum of $113.00-126.00 through mid-August.
Jul 11, 2016, 9:18 pm
#163
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 149
MSY-ATL. Spirit $39.00+$9.00 for a seat selection. I don't take a carry-on or check a bag.
Currently Southwest is offering this route for $49.00.
I find it odd that this has not been announced as a sale.
Prior to this weekend they were asking a minimum of $113.00-126.00 through mid-August.
Currently Southwest is offering this route for $49.00.
I find it odd that this has not been announced as a sale.
Prior to this weekend they were asking a minimum of $113.00-126.00 through mid-August.
Jul 11, 2016, 10:44 pm
#164
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
This was up Monday morning. I have seen other reports here of pricing droping over the weekend, that's why I checked today. The low fares seem to extend to the Christmas travel period, except for the Thanksgiving travel period.