Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...

[Simba's Mom]

More surprised there’s another release scheduled on May 8 for travel dates through January 26.

Figured they’d just hold everything till May 28

So I'm assuming that for booking a flight to take place after January 26th, people will get charged for luggage, etc. I have hotel reservations to arrive at WDW on the 27th. I'm thinking that in order to get the "old" rules, I'm considering flying in on the 26th (I'm DVC, so I can't reserve a hotel yet). Any DVC will do for the one night-that way I'll get free luggage, and if the fare goes down, all the "old" advantages. I'll have to fly back under the "new" rules (including not free luggage), but at least I'll save going to WDW. How does that sound?

 

[EACarlson]

So I'm assuming that for booking a flight to take place after January 26th, people will get charged for luggage, etc. I have hotel reservations to arrive at WDW on the 27th. I'm thinking that in order to get the "old" rules, I'm considering flying in on the 26th (I'm DVC, so I can't reserve a hotel yet). Any DVC will do for the one night-that way I'll get free luggage, and if the fare goes down, all the "old" advantages. I'll have to fly back under the "new" rules (including not free luggage), but at least I'll save going to WDW. How does that sound?

If you make a change to your ticket after 5/28, your ticket will then be governed by the new rules. That means that if you take advantage of a price drop after 5/28 you'll not get free bags unless you qualify a different way.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

So I'm assuming that for booking a flight to take place after January 26th, people will get charged for luggage, etc. I have hotel reservations to arrive at WDW on the 27th. I'm thinking that in order to get the "old" rules, I'm considering flying in on the 26th (I'm DVC, so I can't reserve a hotel yet). Any DVC will do for the one night-that way I'll get free luggage, and if the fare goes down, all the "old" advantages. I'll have to fly back under the "new" rules (including not free luggage), but at least I'll save going to WDW. How does that sound?

How many bags do you think your party will need to check? The points cost of adding a night and the physical hassle of switching rooms for that next day probably wouldn't be worth the (presumed) $35 a bag you'll save.

And, as PP said, getting anything back if the gate goes down will kick you into the new rules after 5/28 and you're back to paying for bags.

 

[Ariel620]

My internet went out a couple of minutes after 7. I wasted time trying to figure out what was wrong. I had to use celluar data. By this time it was 7:21. The prices are ridiculously high to BWI to MCO (total 48000)and BWI to ISP (total 37500 points) anytime fare. I think they are near double what I paid in 2024. Thank goodness we have a companion fare. Were they lower when first dropped?

I got BWI to MCO for 11000 and return for 11000 too (22000 round trip), but we are going early Nov...not sure your dates. I didn't check for the holiday season, but I expect it would be higher.

Edit: Mine are still 11000 so missing the 7am drop wouldn't have changed it for early Nov.

 

[Ariel620]

OK, all done, time to parent.

Interestingly, I must be booking low demand flights because my redemption value was high. 10,000 points for a $171 flight in both direction. If you pull of the $6 in taxes, $165 for 10,000 points is a 1.65.

Yeah, that's what I got too, that's a little better than I remember (I remember it's usually $0.015 per point and I'm getting $0.016 per point now.) I know small difference, but at least it didn't go the other direction with these changes.

Edit: it is now variable. TPG has an article out about it. New range seems to be $0.011 to $0.017

 

[Lsdolphin]

If you make a change to your ticket after 5/28, your ticket will then be governed by the new rules. That means that if you take advantage of a price drop after 5/28 you'll not get free bags unless you qualify a different way.

So I guess that means that Southwest will begin dropping the prices on flights on May 29th.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

So I guess that means that Southwest will begin dropping the prices on flights on May 29th.

Wouldn't that be awesome? I'm curious if they have to do any adjusting because they are now competing on a more even field with legacy carriers. Right now, they can get away with sometimes being the higher base fare because people know another carrier is $70 per bag round trip. But, they've obviously lost that advantage. I'm worried that it's all wishful thinking, though, and SW is going to be as expensive as ever, with the addition of bag fees on top of that.

 

[EACarlson]

Yeah, that's what I got too, that's a little better than I remember (I remember it's usually $0.015 per point and I'm getting $0.016 per point now.) I know small difference, but at least it didn't go the other direction with these changes.

Edit: it is now variable. TPG has an article out about it. New range seems to be $0.011 to $0.017

It's been 1.4 cents per point for the last couple of years. About 10 years ago it was 1.7. This change will work out for me as I only book the cheapest fares anyway, which will also result in the best points value.

Wouldn't that be awesome? I'm curious if they have to do any adjusting because they are now competing on a more even field with legacy carriers. Right now, they can get away with sometimes being the higher base fare because people know another carrier is $70 per bag round trip. But, they've obviously lost that advantage. I'm worried that it's all wishful thinking, though, and SW is going to be as expensive as ever, with the addition of bag fees on top of that.

I think you're mistaken in that being an advantage for SW. SW including bags along with Google Flights showing basic fares resulted in SW looking much higher than the legacies in some cases. People did not recognize that the SW fare included checked bags, that was part of the impetus in this change. I just looked at a flight I booked yesterday MKE-MCO for the end of September. I paid $446 RT, the legacies all show $447, what isn't clear is that all three of them are displaying Basic Economy fares. Looking at an American routing by the time I get done choosing main cabin and adding 1 bag each direction, the price is $627. It also requires a connection at CLT whereas the SW flight is non-stop. I think you'll see that it does make the prices look much more competitive as at least it will be a fair comparison.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

People did not recognize that the SW fare included checked bags, that was part of the impetus in this change.

Interesting take. I wonder if I'm giving people too much credit or you're not giving them enough.

I assume that anyone looking at, Google Flights, knows that you need to go through and actually look at what price you're getting after you pick seats and add bags. I mean, I know I always mentally add $100 to Spirit/Frontier when I'm comparing because of those fees, and I was mentally adding bags to legacies as well. Southwest used to be the only airline where I trusted the price I was being quoted on an aggregator. In my mind, Southwest is known for it's all-in fare, no extra fees here and there, and I assume most people pricing out flights are aware of that reputation, just like they know Spirit would charge you for the air you're breathing if they could only figure out how to ration it.

 

[EACarlson]

Interesting take. I wonder if I'm giving people too much credit or you're not giving them enough.

I assume that anyone looking at, Google Flights, knows that you need to go through and actually look at what price you're getting after you pick seats and add bags. I mean, I know I always mentally add $100 to Spirit/Frontier when I'm comparing because of those fees, and I was mentally adding bags to legacies as well. Southwest used to be the only airline where I trusted the price I was being quoted on an aggregator. In my mind, Southwest is known for it's all-in fare, no extra fees here and there, and I assume most people pricing out flights are aware of that reputation, just like they know Spirit would charge you for the air you're breathing if they could only figure out how to ration it.

And for every one of you that pays attention, there are probably 10 that don't seem to have a clue. How many complaints and bad reviews that the ULCCs get are because the customer didn't bother to read or understand what they were actually purchasing? That's how Spirit and Frontier make money on charging exorbitant bag fees for a carryon at the gate. They know that some portion of the travelling public isn't going to learn the policies and they they get hit with a stupid tax when they bring a carryon they aren't allowed. People think they know and understand a whole lot more than they actually do, I would bet that many people, especially infrequent travelers look up flights on Google and buy whatever is cheapest.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

T

More surprised there’s another release scheduled on May 8 for travel dates through January 26.

Figured they’d just hold everything till May 28

The only change hitting 2025 (that we know of) is the bag fees. The assigned seating is 2026. That process may not be available on Jan 1, per SWA agents. And, that Jan 26th date could change. That happens several time throughout the year.

 

[Simba's Mom]

If you make a change to your ticket after 5/28, your ticket will then be governed by the new rules. That means that if you take advantage of a price drop after 5/28 you'll not get free bags unless you qualify a different way.

Good point-I hadn't considered that. So even if I buy my ticket prior to May 28th (such as the May 9th I was thinking of), if the price goes down after May 28th, so I cancel and rebook, now my ticket will reflect that I purchased after May 28th, so "New rules".

 

[HokieRaven5]

T

The only change hitting 2025 (that we know of) is the bag fees. The assigned seating is 2026. That process may not be available on Jan 1, per SWA agents. And, that Jan 26th date could change. That happens several time throughout the year.

The January 26th part of my post is moot. My surprise was that Southwest is doing another release of flights on May 8th, just 20 days prior to the baggage policy going into effect

 

[scrappinginontario]

What isn't clear to me (yet) is if rebooking for the same flights will be considered a change. I know that I've taken advantage of sales and changed my fare for a cheaper one at a better time- with a fare that wasn't the cheapest when I booked but is cheaper with the sale. Different flight numbers, different time of day, sometimes even different connecting city than what was originally booked; that's definitely a change, to me. However, if I am keeping the same, identical itinerary, would that be considered a change? That's what I need clarified.

I booked the airfare for my November solo trip (3rd-8th) just now. Prices are pretty high, for my route, about 33K points total. However, that's about the "price" I paid for our upcoming May trip (36 days to go, WAHOO!!) when I purchased back in Nov. 2024, but I've since rebooked the same flights for less than half the cost. I'm hoping that happens with these flights, too. Overall, I am not too worried about the price: First, I'm paying with points, and second, if the ability to rebook without charge isn't available after 5/28, our days as SW customers are probably numbered, so I'm not as concerned with banking points. It's a 2+ hour drive to the nearest SW airport, and why do that when I have points with Delta and American, and can fly from the airport that is 15 minutes from my house?

My experience has been even rebooking the same flight to a lesser price has still been done by me clicking 'change' so I would anticipate even making changes to the same flight if prices drop would be considered a change.

Called SW and changed one of our Aug flights from one stop to direct and used up some of our travel credits. Just not sure it will be best for us to continue to fly SW to want to use up as much of our travel funds and RR credits as possible. Making all changes at this point prior to May 28th.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

What would be the reason this flight price is so much higher than all of the others for that same day?

Flying from Dallas to Orlando

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

The January 26th part of my post is moot. My surprise was that Southwest is doing another release of flights on May 8th, just 20 days prior to the baggage policy going into effect

What I said still stands...all of that could change in the coming months. It has many times in the past.

 

[snacks]

What would be the reason this flight price is so much higher than all of the others for that same day?

Flying from Dallas to Orlando

View attachment 952390

A lot more people have already booked that flight compared to the other choices.

 

[RedHead0186]

What would be the reason this flight price is so much higher than all of the others for that same day?

Flying from Dallas to Orlando

View attachment 952390

Clearly it's in high demand, if WGA is already sold out. More in-demand flights are usually priced higher.

 

[AussieFan8]

What would be the reason this flight price is so much higher than all of the others for that same day?

Flying from Dallas to Orlando

We fly often at the holidays, and in recent years, I have seen all or certain flights on particular days around the holidays have Wanna Get Away fares unavailable, especially right after the dates are added as they recently were, thus increasing the cost. Later, WGA is added for those flights. I have always speculated that Southwest sees it's a desirable flight, pulls the WGA option, then adds it back if the flight doesn't sell out at the higher price or the demand drops. For us, the WGA fare has showed up again within a few weeks. I don't want you to think this is guaranteed, especially since your date is not immediately adjacent to a holiday, but just be aware that there is a possibility the WGA fare could show up again.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

Clearly it's in high demand, if WGA is already sold out. More in-demand flights are usually priced higher.

Yes and that makes sense, except it is available and then not available and then available and then not available. I figured it was a good time for business travel, but the fact that WGA comes and goes so much is why I thought it was odd .