I've got a kid going off to college and I'm going to be booking alot with Southwest. I know the cheap fares sell out fast on Southwest. When do they start booking for Xmas week? Currently they are booking through 12/10...anybody familiar with when they open up reservations for Xmas? I called them and they said they don't know...its "purely random."

Thanks!

I think they start taking reservations 5 months out. So try booking 5 months out from when you are trying to leave.

It is purely random, exactly....Go online and be sure to get them a Rapid Rewards Number.Also, sign up for their new program "Ding".It's primarily for low fare deals.

Yup D/L the DING is a great feature - for example I booked SWA from MISSISSIPPI to LA for early October for 3 people roundtrip at $620 for all!

Excellent savings!

I have signed up for everything (ding and rapid rewards) hoping I'll get first dibs on signing up for reservations for Xmas week, but they won't tell you the exact date that will happen. Its already less than 5 months away from Xmas (yikes!) so I know it will be soon.
I was just hoping someone would have an "in" as to when it will happen so I don't have to check my computer 2 or 3 times a day every day!

Unless you've got someone who wants to do the grunt work for you, I'm afraid that "checking your computer 2 or 3 times a day every day" is the only reliable method.

As pointed out, even SW reservation employees don't know when the reservation window will be extended. You can pretty much bet that "specials" will be virtually non-existant on the prime travel days.

RB is right. Even if you check the first day that it becomes available...if it's a prime travel day, you can forget about getting the cheap flights. They'll be all sold out already. One of the most frustrating things about Southwest!

Actually, I take that back. You MIGHT have a shot at some of the "bad" flights, like the one that leaves at like 6:00 AM!

foruntately, he's a teenager so he can fly just about anytime and it will be the week before xmas. But thanks for your input...I'll just keep hitting the SW site until it comes available!

What route is he flying? He may get decent fares on other airlines right now and don't need to play SW's "game".

He's flying from Oakland to Burbank..and I haven't been able to find anything cheaper than $49.00 one way (I think this is a great fare - its just that I have to book it super early)

whoops, sorry...he's flying from SAN JOSE to Burbank...not Oakland.

Can you tell I'm new at this? I'm just having a hard time accepting that our "one and only" child is going off to college - 500 miles from home! Sniff, sniff...

Well, if he's doing SJC-BUR, then yeah, Southwest is probably the best choice. Just check their website daily or use the DING service as others have suggested.