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Love Southwest, but disappointed......

Scanlooneytunes
Explorer C

 

We are traveling to Disney as a family, my husband and I, our two daughters and son-in-law's and are four grandchildren ages six, five, 4 1/2 and four. I waited for Southwest to release their flights for April and then rather quickly proceeded to book airfare for all 10. As you can only book 8 flights at a time, I chose to book my children and grandchildren and their round-trip fare from Hartford to Orlando was at a cost of $450 per ticket. These were the best prices I could get, utilizing the cheapest fare offered at the time, the 'Wanna Get Away' fare. I then booked 2 tickets for my husband and myself and was able to get them for $400 each. It seems to me that when booking larger groups, you're penalized.  I also paid an additional $15/per person/per trip, at a cost of a total of $300, for the privilege of possibly boarding early.

 

Because of a family problem, I neede to change the reservations to 2 days later, resulting in an increase for all 10 tickets from $450 and $400 to a whopping $770 - at an additional $3000 cost to me. What bothered me the most was that when those tickets I originally purchased were cancelled, they were not offered as 'wanna get away' fares so that someone else would have reaped the benefit of my misfortune.

 

In addition to that, a family member who booked a month later than me, on Delta, was able to get a round-trip ticket, with a direct flight, for the same time at a cost of $243.20!! Granted, we are leaving from Hartford, and my nephew will be leaving from NY. But the difference per ticket is $320 and $370, not counting the extra money I shelled out -$15/per person to be able to have the privilege of boarding earlier than the people that did not pay that, for a grand total of an additional $3300.  In addition I lost the $150 I paid for all 10 people to board early on the flight down - because the only flight available was the 'business select' class that boards early anyway.  Southwest does not refund that.  And whereas I was originally leaving at great times for both flights, we will now be traveling late at night.  Otherwise my fares would be even more expensive.

 

I have flown Southwest with my family for a very long time. I will likely try another airline in the future, because the warm and fuzzy feeling I used to have for this airline has faded.  I look forward to hearing back from Southwest when I email this to them.  Although I look forward to going, I will get on that plane with different feeling.  

 

Happy new new year to all!

 

 

 

2 REPLIES 2

Re: Love Southwest, but disappointed......

chgoflyer
Aviator A

When you email them, what is it you expect to happen?

Re: Love Southwest, but disappointed......

Scanlooneytunes
Explorer C

I did email them and expected nothing, I only wanted to vent.  In fairness to Southwest, I must tell you they did respond and agreed to refund the $15 charge for early check ins per each of the 10 tickets, because I am paying $481, one way, for business select.  It is not Southwest's fault that I had to change my flights.  I wanted them to know I felt it unfair they did not release those 10 seats back to the community for the price I paid. 

 

I also wanted them them to know the price difference of $500, for my nephew to fly non-stop on Delta, with a guaranteed seat.  I still am am stunned to be paying +/- $750 per ticket, for flights that both leave and return very late at night, certainly not prime times.  But I never asked for a price reduction, I understood their policy when I originally purchased tickets.  

 

I wanted Southwest to know I was frustrated.  They responded with a kind letter.  All is well with the world.