4 Adults versus 3 Adults

[rquimby1965]

Just trying to figure out why airfare is higher for a family of four per person versus a family of three per person?  Was searching for a flight and noticed that I entered 3 instead of 4.  When I corrected to 4, the airfare changed to an additional $47 per person for the same flight.  Went back to 3 and it changed back to the lower cost.  Total cost was $188 higher for booking as a family of 4.

[chgoflyer · Accepted solution]

Southwest has many fare "buckets," each contain several "seats" at a specific price. Once those are sold out, the system jumps up to offer the next higher fare. Unfortunately, when you enter more than one passenger, it prices everyone at the same fare. So if there are only 3 "seats" at a certain fare available, it will jump all 4 passengers up to the next highest one. (Yes, it's a bad and unfair system. Southwest isn't known for having the best technology.)

To avoid this situation, your best bet is to book everyone individually. (Or, in your case, since you know there are 3 seats available at the lower price, book those three then the last seat separately.)

[LindseyD]

Hi @rquimby1965,

Sounds like there are only three seats left at the lower fare, so you can book those together, then book the fourth ticket separately. @chgoflyer did a good job of explaining how the system works - there are only a given number of seats available in each fare bucket, so once one bucket is sold out, the next one becomes available.