Anyone use Southwest Ding! fares?

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Has anyone downloaded and used the Ding! fares on Southwest Airlines? Are there really some very low fares that are available for purchase? I understand that the Ding fare is only for a few hours to book.

Any experience would be appreciated.

[cluemeister Member Find all posts View Profile Close cluemeister]

A few things I like about Ding:

1. When new flight dates are opened by Southwest, Ding alerts you.
2. I'm in their Rapid Rewards program, and I received 2 points for keeping Ding installed for 30 days on my computer
3. You can now customize Ding so only specials from your specific airports show up. For instance, you may only want Orlando or Vegas flights.

Here are just a few flight options that Ding showed today. This is probably 4 flights out of 300 that you could find. I'm not sure if it's cheaper than what you can find on their website, but at least Southwest has found the lowest fares for you, and then given you the dates they are available.

Las Vegas to Philadelphia for $119 One-Way!
- Fare is valid for travel Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, September 1 through October 27, 2006 only
Las Vegas to Philadelphia for $99 One-Way on Flight 1296 Only!
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Friday, September 14 through September 30, 2006
- Fare may not be offered each way
- Fare is valid for travel on Flight 1296 only
Las Vegas to Sacramento for $79 One-Way!
- Fare is valid for travel Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, August 1 through October 27, 2006 only

Currently we're waiting for November flights to open up, so I have Ding ready to let me know when that occurs. Hopefully all the cheap seats don't disappear quickly for Thanksgiving!

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Thanks cluemiester! I think I will sign up and download it.

[longhorngreg Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longhorngreg]

Ding

I saved $100 with ding by rebooking a flight to San Diego. One of the great things about Southwest is the ability to re-book at no penalty if fares drop

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

longhorngreg,

I didn't know that SW did that. Is that true on their non-refundable fares also?

Thanks

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Mike, you can rebook on the non-refundable fares but they only give you a credit, and the credit must be used within 12 months of the date you booked the fare, not the travel date. Nevertheless, it's a great deal. I had to cancel at the last minute and used the credit to book a flight for my daughter a couple of months later.

[funtime2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close funtime2]

Thanks for the post. I will have to give it a try.

[travelfan Member Find all posts View Profile Close travelfan]

I love SWA because of the credit they allow. I just recently completely lost ~$80 on Hawaiian's really cheap interisland fare because we had a change in schedule (first time I've ever had to change one of our Hawaiian flights). No credit at all!

I always book my mother using their "Senior" fares (over 65). They are close to the discount internet fares and are fully refundable.

Now, if they would only start flying to Hawaii

[pagosajim Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pagosajim]

Now, if they would only start flying to Hawaii

Southwest partners with ATA to many destinations. I just checked some dates from Albuquerque to Honolulu and came up with about $550 fares.

Looks like you need to start booking

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

I had downloaded it last year, but never used it, and because of this thread I went back and tried it out. Turns out my firewall had been blocking it, so I never got any offers. I fixed it, and today got nice offers on several areas. Too bad I can't take advantage of any of them this time...

[SOS8260456 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close SOS8260456]

I have it downloaded and have twice gotten cheaper deals that I was able to rebook. I then got credits to be used later.

Lisa

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

I LOVE Ding. We flew last December for $62.00 round trip to Orlando on a Ding fare. We took our son-in-laws and daughters down for a long weekend in December and did the Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. Total spent on 6 round trip flights from Indy to Orlando was $372.00.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

That's incredible! I have signed up and have seen some good fares from Houston to various cities I am interested in.

[bigrick Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigrick]

Mike, you can rebook on the non-refundable fares but they only give you a credit, and the credit must be used within 12 months of the date you booked the fare, not the travel date.

Is this true for all rebookings?

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Mike, I believe it is true. I've done it a couple of times and it's been the case.