[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by lovemysons

DT, I think woohoo was referring to the grounded flights/fine they were slapped with due to overdue inspections on their planes.

Oh, I read it wrong then, I thought she was worried about them filing Chapter 11. I have heard nothing but good things about SWA and how the company is run (well, except for the grounded flights this winter) so I thought I was missing something.

[quartz7]

Originally Posted by inluvwithdisney

Hey Quartz7, you are my neighbor!!! I live in Arvada!!!

I was worried too, we fly Frontier in about a month!! I read an article yesterday saying that summer should be business as usual then they would have to reevaluate come August or September depending on the gas prices!!
So I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will be fine!! I hope you will be too!

Hey Neighbor!!! That is soooo cool!!! Loving this weather??? I sure am! I think we all will be ok for the summer. It looks like they are pushing advertising, maybe try to drum up business. Lets hope it works and gets them some cash flow.
I would be very sad if we lose Frontier. This is the only airline we have flown in the past 6 years and we really enjoy the nonstop flights!!

[rlcarmichael]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

I thought SWA was solid, have I been missing something? I've never worried about booking through them but if they're in serious trouble I may think again.

SWA is as solid as any airline. It is actually making money and the stock pays a dividend. There recent problems were some maintance checks they missed. (Something that should have been done but the planes weren't unsafe to fly. There are ALL sorts of service bulletins (minor CYA issuses) that parts people put out. Every 100 hours of flight time every plane gets a through inspection. With hundreds of major and minor items, to be checked something minor falling through a crack isn't that big of deal.)

Gas prices are REALLY hurting the airlines, just like all of us that fly or drive for a living. I drive 35k miles annually in my real estate business. Gas is now my number 1 office expense. I pay more in gas now than health insurance, rent, MLS & Realtor fees combined!

MOST of the major airlines have been in and out of part 11 bankruptcy - some more than once.

[tinkerbelle24]

Im getting nervous about SWA as I read this. Whohoo is right.. NO DIngs in a while and my coming home flight has jumped very high since I purchased 2 weeks ago..

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by tinkerbelle24

Im getting nervous about SWA as I read this. Whohoo is right.. NO DIngs in a while and my coming home flight has jumped very high since I purchased 2 weeks ago..

We didn't fly last summer because we didn't find a great fare and no super deals with DING either. I just think SWA is trying to stay in the black and they can't do that at $59 a person. I'm paying just over $100 per person next month and at the price of gas I'm happy I got that.

I think there are still some good deals to be had with DING, they just haven't fit our schedule.

[tinkerbelle24]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

We didn't fly last summer because we didn't find a great fare and no super deals with DING either. I just think SWA is trying to stay in the black and they can't do that at $59 a person. I'm paying just over $100 per person next month and at the price of gas I'm happy I got that.

I think there are still some good deals to be had with DING, they just haven't fit our schedule.

I do agree SWA does have some great fares. With the cost of gas they to have to make money. we are going to Universal 12-27 1-4 . I do want to fly but if I cant find anytihng for that I will be driving.

[quartz7]

Its just down right scary for all of us. Lets hope things start to turn around for everyone!!!

[bethishooked]

I felt worrysome a couple of weeks ago when I checked airfare for my August flight and United was cheaper than Southwest by $150.00 for a family of four. I have NEVER seen that before, and wondered if they were trying to make up the fines they had to dish out. Not one good Ding for my time frame yet, but I still have time. I've already convinced myself that we will be driving this time.

[rlcarmichael]

Originally Posted by bethishooked

I felt worrysome a couple of weeks ago when I checked airfare for my August flight and United was cheaper than Southwest by $150.00 for a family of four. I have NEVER seen that before, and wondered if they were trying to make up the fines they had to dish out. Not one good Ding for my time frame yet, but I still have time. I've already convinced myself that we will be driving this time.

Dings are used primarily to fill empty seats. It cost ALMOST as much to fly an airplane that is nearly empty as one that is full. Fares will have to rise to cover fuel costs. But there are still some good dings and fares to be found.

The fines will be appealed and most likely reduced. But ultimately, the customer ends up paying for EVERY dollar. Sort of like national health care...somebody has to pay for it and they only people who can are the customers - people actually paying taxes.

"I love my country, but deal my government."

[lovemysons]

Originally Posted by bethishooked

I felt worrysome a couple of weeks ago when I checked airfare for my August flight and United was cheaper than Southwest by $150.00 for a family of four. I have NEVER seen that before, and wondered if they were trying to make up the fines they had to dish out. Not one good Ding for my time frame yet, but I still have time. I've already convinced myself that we will be driving this time.

Sort of along the same lines, I checked with Northwest, and their fares were lower than SW for August as well. I was truly surprised!

[Dopey]

I am wondering if I should book now for January or hold off. I have no experience with "flying season" do the prices usually go down in the winter?
Even if that's historically true, will it be true for this coming winter?
I priced NW and AA yesterday and I have to pay 470.00 pp for the same flight that cost me $ 278.00 in November. And the $470 is about $120 cheaper than the next one up.

I bet if I call my TA, he'll tell me to book now, cause he wants the sale. What am I to do?