Re SWA i often will use points on the schedule release day to secure a fare that seems high. When it drops & it typically will to some degree, i purchase then cancel the original reservation.
We added on to one of our memberships this year with intent to be able to book Thanksgiving weekend. Resale, process stretched on & on, missed the 7 month window opening but didn't want to buy our airline tix JIK the deal didn't close.
Lucky to grab SSR when the dust settled, but had to settle for trip to start 11/25, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I had to look twice when i saw the price of airfare PIT-MCO, just the flight down was far more than double a normal RT!
I was ready to just bank the DVC points. DH stepped up & said he'd cover it. I check my flights daily. It finally dropped, then dipped again last week to $87 PP woot! It's to the point the credit should cover our next round of travel.
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Our F&W dates center around Columbus Day. This year SWA cut back the # of NS flights in October from PIT & removed return flight options after 5:30 pm for several weekends. I complained and was told the first two weeks are a very slow time from our market...they decided to consolidate flights. Ha, and create demand for those they offered grrrr! The middle of February next year has more NS options than October. Hope that trend doesn't continue.
We are fans of those late evening flights home for a full last day in the parks. Typically, our flight down (first Sunday of October) has only gone up since the booking window opens. Same experience thus far this year, other than the late flights on Saturday night dipping in half.
DH only staying a week this time in Oct. He's on the last flight (an afternoon) back home. It's been sporadically lower, especially the am flights, but still not as low as they were on the release date.
I extended my stay a month ago, dismayed at the rates/times offered. booked Spirit since one of my kids along. Spirit, including all nuisance fees, was 1/3rd the SWA fare. Not thrilled to be dealing with Spriit again, will be thinking happy thoughts we get home that day as only one flight/day offered.