Round-trip to San Jose this weekend:
Lowest fare: $290 SW, $312 AS
Fully refundable: $300 SW, $372 AS
I can see where you’d pick Alaska if you were hung up on frequent-flier miles and advance seat assignment (and unaware of what’s going on with them flying out of Seatac).
21st-22nd
Lowest fare: $238 SW, $258 AS
Fully refundable: $300 SW, $372 AS
…
Feb 11-12
Lowest fare: $158 SW, $183 AS
Fully refundable: $300 SW, $317 AS
Two reactions:
I’m surprised that SW is actually less competitive as date-of-travel approaches. I’d have thought Alaska would really squeeze those travelers and SW would have a huge cost advantage, but it’s not showing up. But it actually looks like you have to get further out, where Southwest’s crazy internet-only specials are available, before they start to beat Alaska on price.
Alaska’s cost to operate a flight is so much higher than Southwest’s I don’t understand how this is possible. I wonder how the two evolved in pricing to compete on this route, and why each is where they are. Also, I wish I could look up what their loads are… baffling.
Isn’t that Alaska’s slogan, “You just get more”?
I think what you’re missing though is Southwest gives you full credit even on their lowest fares for cancellations – no change fees, ever, no matter the fare level. W/ Alaska you get a minimum $50 change fee for cancelling a trip and then trying to use the credit later. My mom has switched to using SW b/c she got so annoyed when Alaska charged her $100 in change fees on $300 tickets when she had to cancel a trip due to a medical issues with my dad. That was more than a year ago, Alaska’s change fees may be higher now – so maybe that’s how they make up some of the difference.