Cheapest southwest fare you have ever paid? (Cash or points)
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,909
$29 MDW-CLE about 20 or more years ago. I think that was the lowest.
Back then you got one credit per one-way (nonstop or otherwise), another for booking online, and another for going through SWABIZ.
16 credits got you a RT redemption, with no restrictions as I recall, though that later changed.
$1000 on the WN CC also got you a credit.
So if I remember this right, 2.5 RTs plus spending $1000 got you the most expensive WN RT in the system.
100 credits in a year (actually a bit more) got the CP.
The good old days.
Now get off my lawn.
Is that still the case?
Back then you got one credit per one-way (nonstop or otherwise), another for booking online, and another for going through SWABIZ.
16 credits got you a RT redemption, with no restrictions as I recall, though that later changed.
$1000 on the WN CC also got you a credit.
So if I remember this right, 2.5 RTs plus spending $1000 got you the most expensive WN RT in the system.
100 credits in a year (actually a bit more) got the CP.
The good old days.
Now get off my lawn.
Is that still the case?
#19
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/SMF/PDX
Posts: 1,228
I was still pursuing my beef with the airline for the bait and switch fares and took it to Continental. I had zero hope that we were going to be reimbursed. But, the Continental rep listened to my story and said, "Hmmm...what do you think we should do?" I suggested she give us round trip vouchers on Continental. DONE!
Continental ("The Proud BIrd with the Golden Tail") was one of the great airlines. I miss them.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,909
#25
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA MM /Gold ; AS MVP Gold; SWA A LIst and CP; HH Gold; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 581
SJC - SAN - SJC 1,016 points ($29) each way booked in Feb for memorial day weekend travel. Though it remains to be seen whether USS Midway activities will still be taking place... We are hopeful!
#27
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/SMF/PDX
Posts: 1,228
~$54 in 2020 dollars. But this was a dirt cheap fare in 1972 and was six years before the federal deregulation of airlines. PSA was not federally regulated and, thus, not bound by the fixed fares dictated by the Feds. PSA operated only within California and was regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC). I presume the PUC did not care about fares.
The midnight flyer was very popular with college kids. I flew it for business. If I recall correctly the northbound route was SAN-LAX-FAT-SFO-SMF. It took a while but was really the only carrier serving the route at that hour, even if it resembled a bus route. I tried to avoid the Midnight Flyer and take a non-stop flight, if possible. Note that the non-stop LAX-SMF flight would be scheduled for 45 or 50 minutes, verses today's 1 hour 15 or 20 minutes. I guess you can firewall the throttle on the jet if the fuel is costing pennies a gallon.
The midnight flyer was very popular with college kids. I flew it for business. If I recall correctly the northbound route was SAN-LAX-FAT-SFO-SMF. It took a while but was really the only carrier serving the route at that hour, even if it resembled a bus route. I tried to avoid the Midnight Flyer and take a non-stop flight, if possible. Note that the non-stop LAX-SMF flight would be scheduled for 45 or 50 minutes, verses today's 1 hour 15 or 20 minutes. I guess you can firewall the throttle on the jet if the fuel is costing pennies a gallon.
#30
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Dubai
Programs: SPG, HHonors
Posts: 104
Are you guys quoting the fares with taxes and fees included, or just the base fares?
When I first stared flying for fun in 1987 I bought bunch of $19 tickets throughout the Southwestern US that included the taxes and fees. It was $19 total out of pocket! I flew LAX-LAS LAX-PHX PHX-ABQ PHX-ELP PHX-LAS ELP-ABQ on WN at those prices.
In addition, I bought 10 of those $19 tickets on America West (HP) during their HNL inaugural promotion and got their points PLUS a FREE ticket JFK-PHX-HNL-LAS-JFK (no taxes or fees on that HNL ticket neither!).
Everybody in the southwestern US was matching these crazy $19 fares in those days (late 1980's) I flew also on Delta and Alaska airlines for those prices, total out of pocket.
When I first stared flying for fun in 1987 I bought bunch of $19 tickets throughout the Southwestern US that included the taxes and fees. It was $19 total out of pocket! I flew LAX-LAS LAX-PHX PHX-ABQ PHX-ELP PHX-LAS ELP-ABQ on WN at those prices.
In addition, I bought 10 of those $19 tickets on America West (HP) during their HNL inaugural promotion and got their points PLUS a FREE ticket JFK-PHX-HNL-LAS-JFK (no taxes or fees on that HNL ticket neither!).
Everybody in the southwestern US was matching these crazy $19 fares in those days (late 1980's) I flew also on Delta and Alaska airlines for those prices, total out of pocket.