Southwest opening flights on May 18th.......................

[McKelly]

I didn't buy. Prices were REALLY high. I expected higher, but not THAT high. My family talked me into biting the bullet at 1800 for four tickets (have 400 in travel funds), but by the time I got to checking out, they went up to 2300. Nope. We are going to Disney in July - good enough. The only reason I was considering December was Free Dining - don't need to go.

How's Christmas in Disneyland? I can get airfare there much cheaper!!

 

[PSULion]

So much anticipation for today and I didn't book. The only thing worse than the flight schedules out of BWI are the prices. I'm just going to wait and keep my options open.

I was looking for BWI too. I was actually ok with the schedules, but they were more than double what we paid last year! I didn't book either.

 

[rileyz]

Spent $1400 for 3 to fly down 11/17 at 7 pm from Pvd to Mco and back on 11/25 at 7:40 pm! And that's with one way for my husband on points! Hate the times. Now I remember why I don't go away at thanksgiving LOL

 

[amomma23]

Done and done.
PIT-MCO 12/20-12/27
Earliest flight down, latest flight back (we prefer)
$130pp ×5 each way
+fees & early bird check in
Booked with cash/points $703 all in
Hopefully will put some points back in the pot over the next few months.

 

[MaleficentRN]

I was fairly happy. R/T to SNA for $376. $80 less than Jet Blue with shorter layover. Used points for one ticket so that's a savings as well. And I have free drink tickets to use.

 

[Anal Annie]

So much anticipation for today and I didn't book. The only thing worse than the flight schedules out of BWI are the prices. I'm just going to wait and keep my options open.

I was torn on what to do since they were so high but the trend lately has been that they go up, up, up after booking so I went for it. I went ahead & booked first non-stop flight of the day from BWI on Jan. 3rd but NOT happy with the price @ $132...I also didn't really want the 6:15 - would prefer a couple hours later but they were even higher. I am packing to go out of town today so I am busy - I peeked on my phone at 6:20 and they weren't released yet. Looked again at 7:05 and saw the dates were open so I just came down to my computer to book and was SHOCKED at the prices. Did they really go up THAT much since they opened 40 minutes earlier? Geeze Louise?! I booked our Sept. F&W trip right at opening time and got $85 for me & $72 for DH (we're traveling on diff. days) but had to pay $131 pp for our return on Oct. 1st (last flight of the day). Those flights have done nothing but increase since then. I will keep hawking the site as often as I can to watch for something better (later flight for same time) but not holding my breath that the prices will be any better. Will cross my fingers for a better deal for our return when they release those dates...

(I compared to Jet Blue for the same date and nothing any better - they only had 1 non-stop and it wasn't until evening although it WAS less than $80. They used to have a mid-morning direct but I refuse to fly NORTH to go south....)

 

[MimiOfTwo]

Booked non stop flights for 4 out of Birmingham. Had points for all, prices were good. I was pleasantly surprised!

 

[JLitfin]

I just booked out of BWI for 12/8 - 16. We got direct flights on pts 6884 each way. Our return flight has already gone up to 7889.

 

[klk77]

I think I missed the opening time by less than 10 minutes, and didn't see anything less than $200 out of Buffalo fro December 31 to January 7. Could prices have been cheaper before? Would they have jumped that much in less than 10 minutes?

 

[Tink Fans]

Gosh that was stressful! I swear the dates came through at 6:30 am but when I put all my info in, it said they weren't open past 11/3 so I kept refreshing and back to ONLY open through 11/3! Finally, a little past 7 am they opened and within minutes my departure price increased. I just booked the flights bc I know I will regret all day if I don't (had to keep reminding myself WHY i like SW). Maybe the flights will come down...oh than I'll have travel funds and will have to book another vacation...

 

[Astryd]

I was looking for BWI too. I was actually ok with the schedules, but they were more than double what we paid last year! I didn't book either.

I looked at BWI, flights going down for our December trip weren't bad, but coming home were expensive. So I booked one way tickets DCA to MCO and then coming home to IAD. Much closer to home for us and better prices. I had a credit from a price reduction for my October flights, so paid less then $250 for both my DH and I in total.

 

[X and G's mom]

I was surprised at the flight costs from MKE to MCO! I booked on points, but our trip down on a Saturday was $94! That's a good price from MKE! Doing the happy dance!

 

[rileyz]

I think I missed the opening time by less than 10 minutes, and didn't see anything less than $200 out of Buffalo fro December 31 to January 7. Could prices have been cheaper before? Would they have jumped that much in less than 10 minutes?

My flight home went up $230 pp in 10 minutes so yep

 

[Lisa0620]

Wow was that ever not worth the wait, terrible times and prices. Especially interesting how all but one of the wanna get away fares was sold out for our return flight when I booked as soon as was humanly possible after refreshing for over an hour! I know prices will come down and I can rebook, but for me the whole point of getting up early opening day was to get a good price so I didn't have to play the game of obsessively rechecking prices for the next six months. Major thanks to jimandami for posting about being able to see the flight schedule ahead of time, that was super helpful and the one bright spot this morning!

 

[HeatherC]

We were also one of the crazies looking for flights when they opened. I think they must be holding back seats. I was looking for Dec. 26 or 27 from BDL or PVD or BOS to Ft Lauderdale or any airport in FL really.

Flights weren't open...then when they opened they were IMMEDIATELY all sold out on most of the best fares. I mean they came up sold out...there was NO way they sold that many tickets in under three seconds. And what was strange was that all the connecting flights were the ones gone. I was able to book using points for a nonstop out of Hartford...when I wanted. Unfortunately, the points were over DOUBLE the same flights last year.

So nonstops had openings but connecting ones were sold out...all day. And I even had my dh simultaneously checking other airports in Florida and it was the same thing. Every single connecting seat from Boston, Providence, Manchester and Hartford? Really. And we even looked at different dates that week too. Same thing for each day.

Now my flight is 10,000 more points than it was an hour ago!

I know it's Xmas week, but I do think the fares will fluctuate and a lot more seats will open up in the weeks ahead.

Just not believing all connecting flights from several New England airports sold out instantly.

Update...just looked again and now there are seats open all day for ridiculous amounts.

 

[ToddlerMom311]

No wanna get away fares at all the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I had to push our trip up a day, which I actually don't mind.

 

[Marionnette]

My flight home went up $230 pp in 10 minutes so yep

Logged on at 7:05 and all WTGA non-stops were sold out for PHL-> MCO on the date I wanted to leave. The remaining flights were over 17K RR points. I ended up scheduling a departure for the day prior for a fraction of the cost and better times.

 

[rileyz]

Logged on at 7:05 and all WTGA non-stops were sold out for PHL-> MCO on the date I wanted to leave. The remaining flights were over 17K RR points. I ended up scheduling a departure for the day prior for a fraction of the cost and better times.

Yep we are leaving Saturday night instead of Sunday morning. Luckily I was planning a pool day Saturday (we have a house at Windsor hills rented) so the kids can still swim till about 2/3 and then the flight is at 7:40. Not thrilled though.

 

[jewelspirit]

Played around with airports and days, and ended up booking ONT-MCO one way at 13k pts. Higher than I like, but it is New Years time, so kinda expected. Was hoping for out of LAX or SNA, but that was nearly double, and ONT is only a 30-40 min ride away for me.

Will keep watching though.

 

[greenclan67]

I think I missed the opening time by less than 10 minutes, and didn't see anything less than $200 out of Buffalo fro December 31 to January 7. Could prices have been cheaper before? Would they have jumped that much in less than 10 minutes?

Please wait. I have never ever booked this route opening day. We are looking for dec 28th and back jan 5th. Last year the 5th was $79 in Oct. I didnt book cause they will drop. Xmas has been cheaper for me then March the last 4 years.