"Wanna Get Away"
"Wanna Get Away" is Southwest Airlines' slogan for their "cheapest" tickets on flights. They market it as a great way for you to afford a quick trip to your heart's desire. I'll admit I'm normally a fan of Southwest's cheap fares. Except when it comes to the holidays. My mom recently reminded me that if I were planning to fly home for Thanksgiving, I better get on top of buying a ticket. I know, I know, I thought. Soon. Besides I thought, Thanksgiving is forever away. I have time. WRONG. I looked up ticket prices this weekend and Southwest's "Wanna Get Away" tickets have gone away. I was able to snag one for my flight home Wednesday but there were none to be found for my flight back Sunday. So I was forced to buy a flight back on Saturday (not ideal) to avoid paying an arm and a leg for a flight home to enjoy Thanksgiving with the family (which is ideal).
So yes, I am now the proud owner of a flight home for Thanksgiving. And yes, the ticket was not as expensive as it could have been. But it's no walk in the park either. And it just bothers me. I get it. Totes. Airlines can afford to charge anything they want for holiday fares because they know people will pay it. People want to visit loved ones and will do anything they can to make it happen. But it just seems so unfair to upcharge people to visit loved ones and celebrate holidays. Do you agree? Like I said, I get it. You charge more. More people fly. You make a bigger profit. Business 101. But what about all the middle class folk who had their arses handed to them on a silver platter by the economy and could use a break? What about my friends in their mid to late 20's who don't "roll in the dough" and are forced to decide whether to visit family for Thanksgiving or Christmas because they cannot afford to do both? What about all the recent college grads who live paycheck to paycheck and would love to spend the holidays with family? What about college students who have to leave the residence halls because they freaking close down (trust me, I know), but cannot afford the price of a plane ticket home? What about them!?
So I'm left slightly annoyed. I do "wanna get away" but I also don't want to eat Ramen Noodles either before or after I go away so that I could go away in the first place. If plane tickets wanted to drop $100 as a holiday gift, I wouldn't complain. No sir, I would not.
Cheers.
So yes, I am now the proud owner of a flight home for Thanksgiving. And yes, the ticket was not as expensive as it could have been. But it's no walk in the park either. And it just bothers me. I get it. Totes. Airlines can afford to charge anything they want for holiday fares because they know people will pay it. People want to visit loved ones and will do anything they can to make it happen. But it just seems so unfair to upcharge people to visit loved ones and celebrate holidays. Do you agree? Like I said, I get it. You charge more. More people fly. You make a bigger profit. Business 101. But what about all the middle class folk who had their arses handed to them on a silver platter by the economy and could use a break? What about my friends in their mid to late 20's who don't "roll in the dough" and are forced to decide whether to visit family for Thanksgiving or Christmas because they cannot afford to do both? What about all the recent college grads who live paycheck to paycheck and would love to spend the holidays with family? What about college students who have to leave the residence halls because they freaking close down (trust me, I know), but cannot afford the price of a plane ticket home? What about them!?
So I'm left slightly annoyed. I do "wanna get away" but I also don't want to eat Ramen Noodles either before or after I go away so that I could go away in the first place. If plane tickets wanted to drop $100 as a holiday gift, I wouldn't complain. No sir, I would not.
Cheers.
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