• Home
  • Hawaii Travel News
  • Travel Tips
  • Hawaii Deals
  • Culture and Events
  • Kudos
  • Featured Posts

Beat of Hawaii

Hawaii Travel News, Tips, Culture, Events, And Deals.

Hawaii Flight Price-Checker Stopped by Southwest

January 3, 2023 by Beat of Hawaii 10 Comments

Southwest's Ex-Hawaiian Exec At Congress While CEO AWOL

There was a very helpful new tool we’d begun using last year for Hawaii flights, and we loved it. The reason was that it has long been impossible to see all Hawaii flight prices in one place. And unfortunately, that’s the case once again today. Here’s why.

Previously we’ve used Google Flights (our preference for the first look) to see every airline other than Southwest. It brings everything together in one place, and then we go to the airline’s website to book. The issue is that Southwest hasn’t allowed Google or Expedia to show their fares. So that has made comparing prices more cumbersome since you also have to go to the Southwest website directly to include their fares in your research and planning.

Then last November, a new tool came to the Chrome extension store, bringing it all together in one place. We were afraid it might be too good to last.

Google Chrome extension “Wanderlog.”

Once installed, Wanderlog previously pulled Southwest fares into every search performed using a flight search engine like Google Flights, or OTA’s, including Expedia, etc. You can see the Southwest flights in Google flight search without the extension, but instead of a price, it simply says “price unavailable.”

We noticed the app wasn’t working when we were checking airfares today for these first of the year $99 Hawaii airfare deals. On looking into it further, we no longer found the app in the Chrome Store, although it is still found here on their website.

No longer available for Southwest flights.

The app’s developer says, “Currently disabled: See Southwest prices on Google Flight Search results.” They added that they are working out some “issues.” Previously Wanderlog said, “We love using Southwest. We think they’re one of the most consumer-friendly airlines out there these days. This is really what people are already doing. The data is just going between Southwest and your browser, just as if you were browsing. It’s really technically no different.”

In November, we asked: “Could Southwest determine that this app interferes with their business and decide to bring legal action against them? Sure, it’s possible, but we hope not.”

The answer is: it appears Southwest was able to stop Wanderlog.

Southwest doesn’t want to play with the other carriers in this way or help the public see their fares along side those their competitors. Southwest is the only domestic airline flying to Hawaii that requires you to go directly to their website in order to see fares. That’s fine is you’re a SW loyalist and don’t look any further. But for those who comparison shop, it will again take some additional work.

 

Disclosure: We receive a small commission on purchases from some of the links on Beat of Hawaii. These links cost you nothing and provide income necessary to offer our website to you. Mahalo! Privacy Policy and Disclosures.

Filed Under: Hawaii Travel News

Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News First

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Comment policy:
* No profanity, rudeness, personal attacks, or bullying.
* Hawaii focused only. General comments won't be published.
* No links or UPPER CASE text. English please.
* No duplicate posts or using multiple names.
* Use a real first name.
* A "please" or "thanks" is required for a reply.
* Comments edited/published at our sole discretion.
* Beat of Hawaii has no relationship with our commentors.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Comments limited to 750 characters.


Please, use first name and last initial only.

* Denotes required fields. By commenting you agree to our Privacy Policy.

Comments

  1. David F. says

    January 4, 2023 at 8:12 am

    Interesting that SW has the savvy ability to block a fare tracker yet is running their business on 1990’s tech.

    11
    Reply
  2. Debbie G says

    January 4, 2023 at 6:37 am

    We have noticed that airlines seem to know when you’re price checking. If you go back moments later on the same computer to the airline after checking aground, rates seem to go up. Interesting phenomenon. So we search on one computer then, when ready to purchase, we use another computer and usually find the original lower rate acne quickly make the purchase. (I admit my hubby figured this out, not me.).

    1
    Reply
    • Debbie G says

      January 4, 2023 at 11:14 am

      To all: Sorry about auto-correct typos.

      Reply
    • patrick says

      January 5, 2023 at 3:54 am

      I have Heard about this but have never seen any actual proof that this actually happens. If it did in fact go up between a first check an then a 2nd one, if could be that the fare bucket for the cheaper seats had sold out.
      One way to test, would be to check out the fares in incognito mode and see if you still see that happening.
      Sounds like an urban legend to me.

      Reply
  3. Alex B says

    January 3, 2023 at 8:01 pm

    The Southwest approach is understandable, given their branding approach, but naive. Google Flights is just too powerful now and not to be on there hurts them more then helps.

    7
    Reply
  4. any k says

    January 3, 2023 at 4:09 pm

    Dang, I didn’t even know Southwest was running flights to hawaii since the fares never show up, so I’m glad I found your article. thanks!

    1
    Reply
  5. deb B says

    January 3, 2023 at 1:16 pm

    Also they are going through some drastic changes to the websites- so give them a break.
    I also love SWA and I agree- the 2 items of baggage and the option to cancel at a moment’s notice is still terrific.

    10
    Reply
  6. yachtscott says

    January 3, 2023 at 1:14 pm

    SWA does not like to play with any other airlines or travel company and they think their way is the best way. See last week when their antiquated system and design blew up in their faces as over 90% of their schedule got cancelled and luggage is still lost from over two weeks ago. Yes I only will fly SWA on flights less than 90 minutes and will gladly pay more for a real airlines (choose my seat when i book, why thank you)if given the choice.

    16
    Reply
  7. Patrick says

    January 3, 2023 at 12:51 pm

    I kinda see SWA’s side only because the other carriers will charge for seats and bags and SWA doesn’t. So when u compares they appear to be similar but when you add the other Carrie’s “extras”, they can be quite a bit higher.
    Just a thought …

    20
    Reply
    • JohnW says

      January 3, 2023 at 5:48 pm

      Airplanes, fuel, employees, landing fees etc etc all cost pretty much the same. SWA cuts costs where they can. They blew it by not investing in IT and sadly it has come out it was done with the intent of increasing investor profits. You should at least wonder what else they are scrimping on.
      For example, using transpacific 737’s that are not ideal for short inter island flights. Those high bypass engines that offer great fuel consumption on long flights also require longer cooling times before being used. Is SWA pushing that envelope? I don’t know but it’s food for thought.

      7
      Reply

Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News First

Most popular on Beat of Hawaii

  • Hawaiian Airlines 789 Dreamliner $700 Fare Change On “No-Change-Fee” $100 Hawaii Airfare

    54 Comments

  • Breaking: Coco Palms Plans Explode In Emotional Hearing Infamous Coco Palms Kauai | Why It Just Won’t End

    475 Comments

  • Maui Visitors and Residents Square Off Starting Here Maui Visitors and Residents Square Off Starting Here

    262 Comments

  • Drink Driving in Hawaii Savings Guide: 2023 Hawaii Car Rentals

    672 Comments

  • Could Hawaiian Dreamliners Be Waylaid By Huge UAL Order Sneak Peek: Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliner Is On

    40 Comments

  • When three Hawaii flights to/from San Diego, all experienced flight diversions crossing the Pacific. What causes these flight diversions? Within 48-Hours, 3 Alaska Air Hawaii Flights Divert Over Pacific

    86 Comments

Home » News » Hawaii Travel News » Hawaii Flight Price-Checker Stopped by Southwest

Beat of Hawaii featured in

TripAdvisor
Budget Travel
Frommer's
USA Today
NBC News
The Seattle Time
ABC News
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Privacy
  • Disclosures

Copyright © 2023 · Beat Of Hawaii. All Rights Reserved.

sponsored