Fare war: American Airlines matches Southwest $25 airfare sale
Just what we like to see. American Airlines joined the frenzy that took over online travel booking yesterday when Southwest started its $25 national 4th Quarter Sale. The main difference I found when looking for flights on American is that it doesn’t spell out where you’ll find the savings. Southwest very clearly shows which destinations you could get for $25, $50, $75 or $100 each way. But when I got to the American Airlines website, I had to just type in destinations and guess.
That said, when I applied routes similar to the $25 sale on Southwest, I was able to find the same prices on American. For example, it was easy to find $25 fares between Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). American is offering the same dates for travel—Monday through Saturday. Prices are each way based on round-trip purchase, and pre tax.
When: Buy your tickets by Oct. 29, 2009 with a 14-day advance purchase and travel Dec. 2-16, 2009, and Jan. 5 - Feb. 10, 2010
Contact: American Airlines, (800) 433-7300
– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
[Photo: Rick Gershon / Getty Images]
9 Comments on “Fare war: American Airlines matches Southwest $25 airfare sale”
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October 28th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Does the American fare include two free bags? or are they still ripping you off for checked luggage?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Two great things about Southwest:
1. Two checked bags for free
2. Can change reservations without any extra fees. Only pay if the fare is more than the original reservation. If it’s less, you get a credit.
Now, why can’t the other airlines have that flexibility?
October 28th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
just checking what kind of ID I need to air travel these days
October 28th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Hmm…if they’d match Southwest’s free baggage I might actually be impressed.
October 29th, 2009 at 2:31 am
Yeah, add American’s $20 per bag and Southwest is easily a better deal. I almost never fly American specifically because of their baggage policy and have switched to Southwest wherever I can.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Ngan Says:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Two great things about Southwest:
1. Two checked bags for free
2. Can change reservations without any extra fees. Only pay if the fare is more than the original reservation. If it’s less, you get a credit.
While the free checked bag thing is true about SouthWest, the change reservation for free is NOT TRUE. I have been dinged more than once by SouthWest for changing a reservation.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:35 am
Ngan Says:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Two great things about Southwest:
1. Two checked bags for free
2. Can change reservations without any extra fees. Only pay if the fare is more than the original reservation. If it’s less, you get a credit.
While the free checked bag thing is true about SouthWest, the change reservation for free is NOT TRUE. I have been dinged more than once by SouthWest for changing a reservation.
October 29th, 2009 at 8:00 am
United has also matched the fare on the routes covered by Southwest’s sale.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Southwest does NOT charge to change your reservation unless the fare you are going to is higher than the one you already have. Common sense for that one. If you just want to change your date or time of flight and the price is the same, there is no charge. Southwest rules.