Southwest Airlines’ Wanna Get Away Fares

A TINA.org reader and Southwest Airlines frequent flyer has had enough of the airlines’ emails, specifically those advertising $59 Wanna Get Away fares that they say aren’t available at their home airport in Omaha, Nebraska.

“They know from my online profile I am out of a specific airport and their disclaimer does not say the rates are specific to an airport,” said the reader, referring to fine print in two emails they received this month. The emails carried the subject lines “$59 fares you’ll love” and “$59 sale for a getaway with Heart.”

In response to a request for comment, a Southwest spokesperson referenced the following terms:

Seats and days are limited. Fares may vary by destination, flight, and day of week and won’t be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods.

But these terms are buried in the middle of the disclaimer, which itself is buried at the bottom of the emails. (The terms also say “[t]ravel is valid Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” which seems like a significant limitation, and “[p]oints bookings do not include taxes, fees, and other government/airport charges of at least $5.60 per one-way flight,” which is another way of saying expect to pay more than the advertised fare.) According to the FTC, details that are material or essential to advertising claims must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed. And this? This doesn’t quite fit the bill.

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