Parents- Southwest has their SALE FARES promotion on now for travel through Feb 14.
so check college calenders and grab some cheap air fares while you can!
Make sure you check the exam schedules, bus from airport to campus schedules, and holiday rules about student housing. Our student had to vacate her dorm for the whole week of Thanksgiving. She returned to campus that Saturday night (well, Sunday at 1:00 a.m.) and couldn’t get into her dorm until Sunday morning at 9:00 or so. She didn’t know anyone living off-but-close-to-campus well enough to crash at their place at that hour. By the time I realized the timing problem, seats on a different flight were hard to come by and at least $250 more. Thankfully the on campus hotel had one of their cheapest rooms available, and allowed me to pay in advance over the phone.
Also consider paying for Early Bird check in when flying Southwest in case your student ends up being in an exam or rehearsal at check in time. Makes it easier to put a carry on or instrument in the overhead compartments.
Blackout dates wipe out good preferred holiday travel dates.
In our particular case, the “wanna get away” fares for Thanksgiving have been sold out for months.
@wayneandgarth, Southwest doesn’t have blackout dates (one more thing that makes them the best airline currently by far). Now… they might sell out. But they don’t have blackout dates.
I forgot to get them until just a coup,e of days ago, and the better flight times were sold out or way too expensive. My child will be getting on a plane before 7 the Sunday after Thanksgiving, unless more times become available.
@intparent - The following looks pretty clear to me.
14-day advance purchase required. Blackout dates apply: September 3; September 4; September 7; November 24 - November 25; November 28 - December 1; December 26 - December 28, 2015; January 2 - January 3; February 11; February 15 - 16, 2016. Travel not valid on Fridays and Sundays. Travel to/from Florida or Nevada is valid only on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Travel to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico is valid only Mondays through Thursdays. Restrictions and exclusions apply. Nonrefundable. Select markets. Seats and days limited. See complete terms, conditions, and exclusions below.
Ah, the sale has blackout dates. Although those dates don’t look like problems for college students for the most part. My kids always are done with finals and out of the dorms before Christmas, and don’t go back until mid-January. Southwest never has any blackouts on using their frequent flier points, that is probably what I was thinking of. If the flight is available to buy, you can also use points for it.