Southwest and San Diego

Earlier this summer I had a couple trips to San Diego. One for business, one personal. The business trip was for a meeting on Coronado island, and the hosting company put us up at the Hotel Del, which isn’t a bad place to have to stay for business. On the other trip I stayed with friends. For both trips I flew on Southwest Airlines Sacramento to San Diego. Say what you will about Southwest, but the airline really does the short haul well. Also, there are no less than 9 direct flights available per day from Sacramento to San Diego. No doubt about it, if you want to travel from Sacramento to San Diego it’s tough to beat Southwest Airlines.

Introduction: Southwest and San Diego
Review: Southwest Airlines Domestic Coach Sacramento to San Diego (and back)
Review: Hotel Del Coronado – Ocean Towers Coastal View Room
Review: Delta Sky Club San Diego International Airport – Terminal 2

All the Southwest Airline trips are very similar and so I’m going to review all four flights into one trip report. Between the four different segments, you get a pretty good idea what’s involved with a Southwest flight. My Hotel Del Coronado stay was on the business trip and I definitely wanted to review this hotel property. On the final return flight home I went to the San Diego airport with my friend Scott and we hung out at the Delta Sky Club that is located there. I will be giving this airport lounge a complete review.

The business trip dates were set well in advance and several people from the office were traveling to this meeting.  We were able to book internet sale priced fares of $59.00 per flight and which is a great deal for business travel. Southwest seems to always have a promotion or sale going on, and their prices are very competitive. The companion pass promotion for California residents is another example of one of Southwest’s amazing promotions. Southwest Airlines offers an option called EarlyBird check-in for purchase when buying tickets – and I always purchase it. For $15 your ticket is automatically checked-in at 24 hours before departure, and this usually gives you a higher number assignment on the boarding process. With my schedule I find real value in purchasing this option.

Some details on our sale fare

Reversely, my trip to see friends was a last minute affair. For that trip I purchased a “Wanna Get Away” fare for $181.00 going SMF-SAN. The return flight only had the expensive “Anytime Fares” available. I up purchased the “Business Select” fare for which gives me priority boarding A1-A15, priority security, and a premium drink.  Cost on that one was $270.00 – ouch. In any case you can’t put a price on friendship and I paid for the flight with my Chase Sapphire card for double points.

Last minute was definitely more expensive

The Hotel Del Coronado was a company corporate rate of $238.00 per night which was a great deal (I asked). The San Diego Delta Sky Club was accessed with my Sky Club Executive Membership card.