To Fly or Not to Fly: Making the Best of it With Southwest
With gas prices continuing to go up, and excess baggage charges (among the ten other airline fees) continuing to slim our wallets every time we head to the sky, it is nice to know that the discount airlines have the same experience as the other guys.The Southwest Example: To Fly
Southwest airlines is by no stretch of the imagination the only player in the discount airfare game.
Southwest was certainly one of the first major airlines to offer discounts, and also to push discount airfare as the number one reason to fly with Southwest. Before Southwest, it was all about plush seats and good meals, but it turns out most people are willing to settle for closer contact with their neighbors and salted peanuts. Just so long as they save a few bucks in the process.
The Facts about Southwest Airlines:
- Southwest has over 500 aircraft
- They are more than 36 years old
- They rank one of the highest in customer satisfaction since 1987
Five Things to Check for with "Southwest" Type Airlines:
- Look for the discount deals on their websites, specifically the vacation packages that go to popular destinations and offer savings with airfare and hotel packages.
- Check the search engine travel sites like Kayak, Mobissimo and Side Step for straight-up airfare deals.
- Check out the three big travel websites, Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz for other package deals with these discount airlines (this will probably include hotel rooms and three night stays).
- Make sure to book your flight weeks in advance. You can actually use different alert services like FareAlert or Air Fare Watchdog to make sure you timing is perfect for the cheapest airfare price.
- Do the homework and check out all the discount airlines that you are thinking of using for your travels. You never know who is going to have the best deals at any given time and the big travel websites won't always show the best deals.
Airlines like Southwest, who have your wallets in mind and know that you would rather save a few bucks then have the extra leg room, also seem to have the same experience as the other airlines. The thing to remember about Southwest airlines and its competitors is that they are all trying to do the same thing: make sure you get to your destination so you still have money to spend when you do.
In conclusion I say fly it up, and do it with the discount airlines: your wallet will thank you later.
