I try to always investigate the airline sites. I have found that the "Travel" sites seem to favor certain airlines and do not check all the carriers rates. The advantage to SWA is free bags and if you cancel a flute you get full credit towards future. Just got raped, yes raped, by United for changing a flute to WI. ,original tickets for two $950, after changing due to a delay in equipment, total cost for the original and charges,,,$2600!!! Do your homework and you may find a deal.
Yeah, that "No flight changes or refunds" of Basic Economy also concerned me. I always take decent trip insurance for international trips, but there are possible problems it wouldn't cover. The airlines charge a large fee to change flights, but that's better than losing big tickets totally. That makes that extra $50 seem more appealing.
If you want a real challenge try booking from up here in the Great White North. Might be -30C when you (attempt) to start your car to get to / from the airport, and it could also be blizzard conditions. Might be a serious delay for de icing the aircraft, and this year about 90% of the flights starting / returning me to my local airport feature an overnight lay over which means clearing customs, taking your luggage to the hotel or sleeping with it in the airport, & then getting in the line up to give it back to the airline an hour earlier than necessary to catch the final flight of the trip. My trip when I add in the luggage costs & seat selections works out at roughly $1000 per person Cdn which is about $767 US at the official rate right now.
You northern folks amaze me with how you survive winter. I guess if you grow up there, you learn what it takes. My ancestors who migrated here all came from climes where rain is much more common, and they had to learn to get tougher fighting Amerindians and living with frequent droughts. I flew to Mississippi last year to visit cemeteries and the growths on those headstones makes them difficult to read, but I know not to use chalk, etc. on tombstones which can ruin them. Also a problem downstate where many of our first generation Texans settled, but not a problem here.
Flying into CAN seems like too much of a hassle with all your bags....or hire a pvt driver from CAN to PDC....some poster listed his frequent driver in here somewhere.
I’m flying down on Saturday...$353rt NY/COZ!
I guess you mean Cancun/CUN. Yeah, Y'all still get the cheap fares. Chief gave me contact info for a private van guy with the lowest rates I've heard of, but getting my bags to an Ado bus is easy enough. I used him for trips to my Cancun dentist.
That sounds like a Basic Economy seat. With American Airlines, you're not allowed a carry on bag for that airfare type. Make sure you verify everything, including checked bag fees and carry on allowances. SWA doesn't charge for the first checked bag.
From AA.com:
"Customers flying Basic Economy are now allowed 1 free carry-on (in addition to a personal item) to all destinations." I think the $50 more for reserved seats and changeable flights would be worth it tho. SWA allows two free checked bags, which is their only appeal to me.
These were the types of problems I never had (or even thought about) when I was younger. Who cared if you arrived in a place at some awful hour, had to sleep in the airport or hump 100 lbs of gear, clothes and stuff to some stopover hostel and back to the airport.
But that's all changed. I have to consider how much I can carry and how long it will take me to recover once I get where I'm going....particularly if we're planning to do 3 or 4 dives a day.
I know. I do allow more these days.
Are you set on southwest?
American has flights from Lubbock to CZM (and back) with a stop in DFW for $626 including 2 bags coach 1/13-1/19. I've found it's sometimes cheaper to upgrade to business class where you get two free bags than it is to just pay for two bags, but I didn't look those prices up. Bus also gets 70lb per bag instead of 50, quicker boarding, and free booze in flight (if that's your thing).
I found that one using Expedia.
I also pack "heavy" when I go to Coz. 2 large bags, 1 personal item (backpack) and 1 carryon (pelican air case). The only time it's a problem is if they decide to inspect your bags on the way into Coz.
I enjoy Business class flying altho I get more sleep in Coach, whereas I stay awake for the amenities up front. That would be almost $270 more than Main Cabin with reserved seats tho vs $130 for luggage fees. The shorter lines at the desk and TSA are also nice, but not enough to waste that much. I always take digital scales and triple check my bags before leaving home or hotel.
