Southwest Air

[BarCol]

Isn't it almost time for their next timetable extension to come out - I'm looking for something just after May 10?????

[happybaby]

I heard they are to post Thursday Feb 8. I also am looking for airfare for May 11

[Patti]

I do not fly much, hardly at all. But I am looking to book with Southwest from either Providence or Hartford, to Orlando in June. Is it true that the fares posted as soon as they open up are the cheapest, and I should book right away?

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by happybaby

I heard they are to post Thursday Feb 8.

That's correct. The Southwest Lead Schedule Planner has taken the unusual step of announcing that this Thursday ("on or about" that date) is the probable date for the next schedule extension - through most of August. Expect it at 11:00 a.m. EST.

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by Patti

Is it true that the fares posted as soon as they open up are the cheapest, and I should book right away?

For Southwest, definitely!

[catwgirl]

Wow, thanks for the heads up! I have been checking everyday to book a trip for May 11. Looks like maybe tomorrow is the day!

[happybaby]

received a ding at 10 40 am EST but still not air fare beyond May 10

I've been sitting here all morning waiting !!!

[Dave M]

happybaby -

The extended schedule was released during the same minute that you posted.

[Dave M]

The new schedule goes through August 24.

[happybaby]

Originally Posted by Dave M

happybaby -

The extended schedule was released during the same minute that you posted.

Yeah my luck I still got an ok deal PIT to MCO 5 of us @142.00 each
I missed the early 7am departure arrv at 9am, so took the 11am and arrv 1p

On return we have a 9 30 am dept. arrv back in Pgh around noon. Want the 3pm and home at 5 30 pm but hubby happy with the early return cuz he may have to work that night and our gr. d will have time to rest before she goes back to school on Monday.

This time tho, we are driving to Daytona for our condo and only do WDW everyother day and the rest is beach and relax, not like last year 8 days at HGVC to include 5 WDW and 1 US. We did it, but whipped LOL

I'll keep watching now for a ding special or a different time to open as I did last year. At least we are booked

[riverdees05]

As of about 10:06 AM Central Time, Southwest's schedule is now open through August 24, 2007, as noted it was going to be yesterday by Dave.

[ladycody]

Thank You for the info!!! I wasnt even going to check Southwest til March because I didnt think they'd post the summer months until then and I wanted to go visit my family in NE. Just picked up flights for all 4 of us from Portland Oregon to Providence RI for under $800!!!

Thanks again for the head's up!!!

[barndweller]

I went online within minutes and missed out on the bargain fares from SMF to SEA. Moved it by a few days to get the $79 fare. So now I'm looking at booking a hotel in Seattle. YIKES!!! Oh well, all my savings will buy 1 night there anyway!

[happybaby]

Originally Posted by barndweller

I went online within minutes and missed out on the bargain fares from SMF to SEA. Moved it by a few days to get the $79 fare. So now I'm looking at booking a hotel in Seattle. YIKES!!! Oh well, all my savings will buy 1 night there anyway!

barndweller:

same here I should have been sitting on Soutwest with my dates and number in party and destination and as soon as I saw the ding light up click to check flights. Then I may have got my early departure. DARN now I arrive at MCO at 1pm instead of 9am Drive to Daytona will be 3 30 instead of around noon

Shoots the whole day now. But I will keep watching You never no.... my 7am departure may open up again

I still beat last years fare for the same time by about 10 or 15 dollars

Just checked SW to see if anything opened for my time. Never know, someone may change their mind

WOW my base rate of $48.00 and $68.00 is now at $117.00 one way The 49 and 79 internet specials are now at the 117.00 fare

[barndweller]

I booked my flights even though they weren't at the best fare (still darn good.) So how does this work? If I get a better DING later I book that one & cancel the other for a credit, right? Never used SW before but have several trips on routes they fly lined up so decided to try them. Enrolled for Rapid Rewards & the whole shebang. So do I keep checking as my trip gets closer?

[happybaby]

Originally Posted by barndweller

I booked my flights even though they weren't at the best fare (still darn good.) So how does this work? If I get a better DING later I book that one & cancel the other for a credit, right? Never used SW before but have several trips on routes they fly lined up so decided to try them. Enrolled for Rapid Rewards & the whole shebang. So do I keep checking as my trip gets closer?

barndweller

If a ding comes up that is cheaper then your reservation now....

DO NOT CANCEL !!!! you may loose your entire reservation

Go to your account and click on change air reservation Put in your confirmation number and name (on charge acct you used for booking)

Get all your dates and fares together At the same time, you call Southwest and tell them you want to change your reservation with the ding.

They will inturn release your funds that you paid for the original booking and immediatly make it available to you to use on your ding fare. You then click apply funds. The remaining money (that you saved) will be applied toward future travel with SW.

You will have 1 year to use this credit. That is from the original booking of today not when you make the change. That means travel has to be done by Feb 8, 2008 not just booked by then

They will extend your credit. I had mine expire on Jan 13, 2007 cuz in March 2006 I did a ding special and recvd a credit. I called SW and told them I could not fly until May 2007 and they gave me an extention til the end of June of 2007.

If you don't understand, maybe another tugger can explain better.

In the meantime you can even now go to your acct and follow the steps by going to change air reservation, but just look around and don't do anything This will give you an idea what to do if you receive a good "DING"

[barndweller]

Happybaby
Thank you! By Jove, I think I've got it. Have a great time in Daytona.

[happybaby]

Originally Posted by barndweller

Happybaby
Thank you! By Jove, I think I've got it. Have a great time in Daytona.

barndweller:

Thank you hope I helped and we hope to have a good time in Daytona. Hope the weather and water is warm enough in May. Be more relaxing then our trip last year 6 trips between WDW and US in 8 days. This time only 3 trips to WDW everyother day Beach and the mouse

Soon I will be looking for SW air fare to Portland OR to visit our dd that just recently moved there. I'm kind of watching the fares now, but FL going to bust my bank.

You have a good time also

[cheter]

I've been working 10-12 hour shifts at JCPenney due to another Corporate Visit next Tuesday. This is a BIG one, we will have Stock Analyst, CEO, President, etc.... So when I got home last night around 9pm, I remembered today is the day. My flight from MCO to Denver were $99 each way, straight flights, about 3 1/2 hrs long. I'm happy. I could have waited and maybe found a cheaper flight on another airline, but like many I like Southwest, and thrilled we don't have to change planes with layovers! Well, got to get ready for work!

[jzsackst]

We are looking to fly to Hawaii spring 2008. How do you figure out when SW will release the schedules for certain time periods. I know they only release a few months at a time but where do you find the release dates.
Thanks in advance for any info.

[Dave M]

You can follow the FlyerTalk predictions and historical announcements, which have generally been quite accurate.

See this link for historical info, although it hasn't been updated for the last few announcements. Click on the link in the first paragraph ("a.") and go to the last pages of that thread to check on the latest prediction. Look for posts by user "nsx". It's not likely that a meaningful prediction for the next extension will be posted for at least another few weeks.

Schedules for your Spring (March/April?) 2008 dates aren't likely to be released until October-December of this year.

[jzsackst]

Dave M

Thanks so much for the information on SW schedules.

[riverdees05]

I noticed that Southwest internet fares listed today are higher than the ones listed when they originally opened up their schedule. I had not noticed this before, has anyone else? From what I remember before they had just blacked out the availability of those fares, but you could still see the prices.

Also I have followed the directions on the "DING" for installation, but it doesn't seem to work. Are there tricks to making it work?

[Dave M]

I think you'll find that the fares are the same as when they opened up the new schedule on Thursday, but some of the lowest fares are no longer available, because people have already purchased the very few seats available at those lowest fares.