According to their website, Southwest plans to open up the flight schedule on Monday, June 4th, 2012 to allow bookings through January 4, 2013. Most airlines allow new bookings around 330 days out whereas Southwest generally opens up their schedule around 90-180 days. The importance of this particular schedule opening is that it covers 3 of the busiest travel holidays where airfares usually spike and airfare gouging inevitably occurs. If you haven’t booked your holiday travel yet, there is still hope for a good deal!
What makes being first to book even more attractive on Southwest is that you can book speculatively on both revenue and awards reservations! Southwest will refund your money in the form a Southwest dollar credit if you choose not to take the flight. Similarly, if booking a flight on points, Southwest will refund all points to your account. All taxes are refunded in full to your credit statement. This can be very useful if your holiday plans are not completely finalized at this point.
Keep checking the airfare even after you book
Most people are used to checking airfare until it is at a number they are comfortable, making the purchase, and then stopping their interest in the transaction. Southwest is the opposite. The first fare you pay is only the starting bid. Those seeking a better fare can continue to check the same flight and take advantage of fare sales, fare reductions due to capacity, rebooking to be included in promotions, and in one case I rebooked all my tickets to reduce taxes because lawmakers were squabbling over the FAA and let a tax expire temporarily. Southwest does not charge any change fees so when you see a lower fare on your route, you can rebook (call or online) and take the difference as a credit for a future flight.
I plan to book my tickets on Monday for flights that I believe will be at high demand to try to score a lower fare and avoid the inevitable holiday airfare gouging that takes place.
- Formula 1 US Grand Prix weekend in Austin, TX
- Thanksgiving weekend to see family
- Christmas weekend to see family
- New Years Day weekend to meet up with friends
Anyone else jumping on this to find lower holiday fares?
About alex
Alex loves to travel and does so a lot. Logging 100,000 flight miles each year over the past 4 years, Alex uses points and miles to power his passion. Alex is continuously striving to experience the far reaches of the globe. In his day job, Alex is a Management Consultant frequently on the road advising Technology organizations. I love thinking about, reading about, and talking about all things travel. Feel free to reach me at pmmalex@gmail.com
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Are you going to F1 Austin? All the hotels are clocking in at least at 500 a night unless you already made a reservation? Seems like a huge price gouge for an inaugural event. I want to go, but that’s just annoying that prices are so high.
@C – Yes. I noticed that. Fortunately I have some friends who are willing to lend their couch. Speaking of gouging, they should be releasing the ticket prices soon.
I thought I knew a lot there is to know about this stuff, but seems we are never to old to learn..;)