When will Southwest relent on insane summer fares? (Answer: June 3, 2016)
Jul 13, 2016, 6:32 am
#166
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
For what's its worth, nearly every discounted fare I have bought has not been a sale fare, and most sale fares are at or above what I managed to pay for my flight.
Jul 13, 2016, 3:30 pm
#167
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,462
I snagged a $39 fare MDW-MCI today. I can't remember the last time I got a fare that low. And the funny thing is that it is for a flight next week.
Jul 13, 2016, 4:35 pm
#168
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
Jul 18, 2016, 9:14 am
#169
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 surprised that so very many people booked away from Southwest before June 3, but they apparently did. If Southwest's revenue managers don't deduce from this experence that the proper summer premium is closer to 20% than 100% then they are slow learners.
Jul 18, 2016, 9:51 am
#170
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
I think the expanded footprint of the ULCCs is having an effect. People are learning that Southwest is no longer the price leader and they becoming more comfortable with the ULCC model and are learning the the ULCC aren't the evil monsters that have been depicted as.
Jul 18, 2016, 10:03 am
#171
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
Here it is mid-July and there are 51 passengers on my commute hour 143-seater. It's great for napping. Normal pre-summer loads on these flights were 85 to 95%.
I'm surprised that so very many people booked away from Southwest before June 3, but they apparently did. If Southwest's revenue managers don't deduce from this experence that the proper summer premium is closer to 20% than 100% then they are slow learners.
I'm surprised that so very many people booked away from Southwest before June 3, but they apparently did. If Southwest's revenue managers don't deduce from this experence that the proper summer premium is closer to 20% than 100% then they are slow learners.
Jul 18, 2016, 10:41 am
#172
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,192
Last Wed. I booked for 7 am today one-way PHL-MDW @ $59 (5 days out). And then last night when my wife called and wanted to change because she was sick, I rebooked for tomorrow for just $138, compared to some gigantic BS fare.
WN points save me again!
Last edited by toomanybooks; Jul 18, 2016 at 10:48 am
Jul 18, 2016, 11:35 am
#173
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
Jul 20, 2016, 10:09 am
#174
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
They are learning! Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's dates have come down to a 20% premium in LAX-SFO and LAX-OAK markets in the last day or so. Dates which had been held back at high fares are now bookable at the 20% premium.
Jan 23, 2017, 1:54 pm
#175
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
OMG, Southwest is at it again this year. Intra-CA fares are now $113 and $123 all summer, up from $73 as of last week. Lesson not learned?
Jan 23, 2017, 2:02 pm
#176
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
How about the current ISP-TPA $504 one way AT fares fares for the retired & leisure market?
Jan 23, 2017, 2:11 pm
#177
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: IND
Programs: Avianca Brazil Diamond, Etihad Gold, Southwest CC Pass, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 315
Yep, the fares are still crazy expensive in most markets for the summer. Always fun to see sold out on most of the wanna get away fares.
Jan 23, 2017, 2:32 pm
#178
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
VX is showing $74 for SFO<=>LAX long-advance fares and it is tempting as I can rebook if the price drops if I use the VX-branded card. Much less incentive on those $123 WN fares. But maybe that's the WN plan as I bet the kettles don't bother to re-ticket when fare drops - they've been well conditioned by the other carriers.
Jan 23, 2017, 3:04 pm
#179
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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Posts: 21,624
Jan 23, 2017, 3:09 pm
#180
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700