Christmas Fares
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: LAX/ONT
Posts: 201
Christmas Fares
Wow is this normal for many fares to completely sell out during x-mas week? I mean this is the very first day and in a matter of hours flights are completely sound out, such as those going down to Mexico. Do more wanna get away fares open up down the road?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,574
I was looking at flights to Vegas and noticed the xmas prices and WGA sold out..........also prices across the new schedule seem much higher than past years. We fly to Florida the day after Thanksgiving and t's normally 1/2 the price it is this year and they are also running more flights MSP/FLL that day than in the past
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Yup. The economy is on screech and the smart money grabbed up the cheap seats quickly. If you waited a couple of hours, you are likely SOL.
It is always possible that if WN can't sell the seats at the full price, it will open up WGA fare buckets, but if it's a holiday destination on a holiday, don't count on it.
It is always possible that if WN can't sell the seats at the full price, it will open up WGA fare buckets, but if it's a holiday destination on a holiday, don't count on it.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4me
Posts: 11,956
Do you really think that you are the only person looking for a cheap xmas fare?
#6
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Phoenix area
Programs: AA, SWA, most hotel programs
Posts: 356
I booked this morning at 7:00 a.m. pst and flights were open but expensive compared to last year. I don't recall having to jump on flights so fast it the past and they were cheaper last year by a few thousand points.
#7
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,586
I didn't see any cheap fares for the day before Thanksgiving. In recent years Southwest has not relented on those fares until later, after disappointing early sales figures. Ditto for pre-Christmas.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,690
IIRC, you (as an expert analyst here) used to think to observe the WGA "sweet spot" was about 12 weeks out, do you think that is still relevant?
#9
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,937
WOW. Had been waiting on the schedule to open up for Thanksgiving, Christmas and NY travel. I am shocked that all destinations are very high. I am looking to buy for family of 4 (3 seats plus 1 free using CP). Caribbean and Mexico are $$, so is FL. It was cheaper to buy with AA for Christmas. I was also surprised to find 4 award seats on the flight I wanted. Yes, AA was cheaper buying 4 than SW buying 3 plus free CP! I bought Basic Economy on Delta for Thanksgiving. Again 4 cheaper than 3+CP.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
WOW. Had been waiting on the schedule to open up for Thanksgiving, Christmas and NY travel. I am shocked that all destinations are very high. I am looking to buy for family of 4 (3 seats plus 1 free using CP). Caribbean and Mexico are $$, so is FL. It was cheaper to buy with AA for Christmas. I was also surprised to find 4 award seats on the flight I wanted. Yes, AA was cheaper buying 4 than SW buying 3 plus free CP! I bought Basic Economy on Delta for Thanksgiving. Again 4 cheaper than 3+CP.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,898
WOW. Had been waiting on the schedule to open up for Thanksgiving, Christmas and NY travel. I am shocked that all destinations are very high. I am looking to buy for family of 4 (3 seats plus 1 free using CP). Caribbean and Mexico are $$, so is FL. It was cheaper to buy with AA for Christmas. I was also surprised to find 4 award seats on the flight I wanted. Yes, AA was cheaper buying 4 than SW buying 3 plus free CP! I bought Basic Economy on Delta for Thanksgiving. Again 4 cheaper than 3+CP.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,653
We now have 2 threads on the same topic. Basically there are some routes where WN did not release cheap WGA seats when the schedule opened for peak travel days. They did not all instantly sell out at 7am like a Taylor Swift Concert. I saw nothing to/from Mexico around Thanksgiving and I'm sure Xmas is the same. WN plans to gouge you as much as UA, AA, DL if they can.
However there is a way to get revenge. Simply book full fare refundable tix and then cancel when fares drop.
However there is a way to get revenge. Simply book full fare refundable tix and then cancel when fares drop.
#14
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PIT, BWI, or IPT
Programs: Dividend Miles, WorldPerks
Posts: 1,302
We now have 2 threads on the same topic. Basically there are some routes where WN did not release cheap WGA seats when the schedule opened for peak travel days. They did not all instantly sell out at 7am like a Taylor Swift Concert. I saw nothing to/from Mexico around Thanksgiving and I'm sure Xmas is the same. WN plans to gouge you as much as UA, AA, DL if they can.
However there is a way to get revenge. Simply book full fare refundable tix and then cancel when fares drop.
However there is a way to get revenge. Simply book full fare refundable tix and then cancel when fares drop.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,653
Not true for you, true for me. Isn't this fun?