princeville

They're the only airline that flies BUR-OAK, making it convenient for a weekend in Napa in June. I generally avoid WN if there are other options.

Boraxo

Did not fly WN in 2016 (and very few times over past few years) but I have some expiring TTF so I will probably take at least 1 flight in 2017.

Personally I like WN and prefer OAK and BUR but but fares have not been at all competitive where I have UA/AS/VX options @SFO and WN premium is too steep to justify even with "no change fees." In fact UA is even cheaper because as an elite I get free checked bags and free E+, whereas WN charges me a non-ref fee for EBCI.

Part of the problem is that WN's software/revenue mgmt. team has completely eliminated discounts on my preferred travel days (FR/SU/MO) and I'm not going to waste valuable vacation days and time just to save a few $$.

For my more lucrative business trips, the on-board product would need to improve dramatically to capture my midcon or transcon trips, e.g. OAK-HOU. Like better seats, paid food (think VX) and more frequent nonstops.

Troopers

Suggest JetSuiteX BUR-CCR (Concord)...even closer to Napa!

char777

I am interested to try this. I guess it's cool now that you can get B6 miles for JetSuiteX flights, but they're still typically more than double the cheapest BUR/LAX-OAK/SFO flights, and the schedules are not ideal — only 2x a day on weekdays, timed for day commuters, and no flights on Saturdays.

Compare that to WN's offering on BUR-OAK, and it's much more compelling. Cheap fares, plenty of flights, and easy in, easy out on both ends of the itinerary. Not bad for an hour's bus ride in the sky.

princeville

Ohh... wish I'd thought of this before all six of us booked on WN last week. And I know a JetSuiteX pilot!

Their schedule doesn't go out to June yet, but I looked at a weekend in April and the times would have worked perfectly and it cost less than our WN flight ($178 vs. $233 on WN). Next time!

How's the rental car situation in CCR?

Troopers

Per JetsuiteX:

There's a Hertz next door, and an Enterprise a mile(?) away.

princeville

Thank you. I think I will bring it up to our group because this is a much better way to travel (we're celebrating a friends' 40th b-day). I'm sure we can all find a way to use our WN credits.

Troopers

Also, depending your arrival and departure times, traffic can be awful from/to OAK (assuming I-80 passing Berkeley).

pirossalma

No change fees.
No change fees.
No change fees.

Reservations made with points are easy/free to cancel, fully refundable.

MDW, SNA, SJC

Loose Cannon

I've done it twice already. I like being able to check two bags free and I also like it that there are no "close in" fees for award tickets.

nsx

+1. On cheap tickets, a change fee means loss of the full value of the ticket. This is therefore equivalent to a surcharge of the fare paid times the probability of needing to change.

Also Southwest has the best schedule and highest frequency for my routine flying. Companion Pass is the best perk in the industry these days.

synergistic

Because I still have a load of points and they're perfect for fairly speculative weekend trips. Still waffling hardcore on whether to get the companion pass, though...

blondietink

Cheap flights, non-stop to most places we want to go, one-way travel is easier and cheaper than other airlines, 2 bags fly free. Really wish we could fly to Hawaii on Southwest!

camaross

No change fees, no cancellation fees, no luggage fees, easy to book and cancel points flights with no penalty. Almost a no brainer.

Proudelitist

Routing and routing only. Otherwise I avoid WN like I avoid Wal-Mart and McDonalds. If I DO fly them it's because it goes to a specific location..for example, HOU instead of IAD for my yearly trip to Galveston, or it's a direct flight under 1 hour.