A Little Bummed Out By Southwest

[Bowen9475]

We are a family of 5 flying this summer Boston to Nashville. I had bought one way tickets two weeks ago. A few days later the price went down a total of $40 so I got the credit. Today the price was down a total of $310 so I got this credit and wanted to use it to buy our tickets for the other way. It was all under one confirmation number but broken down into 2 credits per person for a total of 10 credits. I was hoping to be able to book all 5 tickets together, use the entire $310 and get one confirmation number. Instead, in order to use all 10 credits, I had to book 5 one ways and we now have 5 different confirmation numbers. This bummed me out a little bit

Now a question. If I want to make any other changes (possibly Nashville to Orlando and then Orlando to Boston) will each person now have 3 credits or do they all become one? Hope this makes sense.

[anonymousegirl]

Sorry that you're bummed out that you got a credit and that you could use it. Try flying a legacy airline like United. No air credit except on super expensive non refundable tickets, $200-$300 per ticket change fees, and baggage fees. Then you really feel shafted.

[eeyoresmom]

Have to agree with pp. SW is very accomodating with credits. No other airline comes close.

[LSchrow]

if you fly SWA often enough - even once a year, it might pay to use rapid rewards (using their CC helps the points add up quickly).
unlike monetary bookings, RR points are deposited back into your account, without person specific restrictions or expiration (as long as you have activity to keep the acct active).

booking and rebooking using RR points is soooo much easier (we've had the same situation as you in the past when using "cash" - it can get a little heart-racing checking everyone in at 24 hours, kinda like sniping on ebay)

always try to book initially at a price you consider reasonable, and if can't use the credit from rebooking, it doesn't hurt so bad.

[Bowen9475]

We do fly Southwest, almost exclusively, usually a couple times a year. We do belong to Rapid Rewards and have their credit card. We have flown several times on points. I just assumed that when all 5 travelers were on one confirmation number and the only change made was to the price, that the credit would stay as one lump sum. I did not realize that after two prices drops, it would be broken down into 10 different credits. I had hoped to book the other flight with the credit and have us all be on the same confirmation number but instead ended up with 5 different confirmation numbers. This is why I am "a little bummed".

[DebbieB]

Originally Posted by Bowen9475

We do fly Southwest, almost exclusively, usually a couple times a year. We do belong to Rapid Rewards and have their credit card. We have flown several times on points. I just assumed that when all 5 travelers were on one confirmation number and the only change made was to the price, that the credit would stay as one lump sum. I did not realize that after two prices drops, it would be broken down into 10 different credits. I had hoped to book the other flight with the credit and have us all be on the same confirmation number but instead ended up with 5 different confirmation numbers. This is why I am "a little bummed".

This is because the credits are attached to each person's name individually. You can't lump them together and they can't be used by anyone else.

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I guess its easier for them to keep track.

[M&C]

If the price of the ticket goes down, you can get a refund/credit? I did not know that. Can someone please explain to me how this works?

So glad I read this thread. I might learn a thing or two!

[jmartinez1895]

Originally Posted by M&C

If the price of the ticket goes down, you can get a refund/credit? I did not know that. Can someone please explain to me how this works?

So glad I read this thread. I might learn a thing or two!

For SW it is a very simple process. If you book a flight for $100 and then a month later you see the flight is only $70 you call and they will give you a credit of $30 that you can use for future flights ( you have a year to use the credit).

[SteveMouse]

Originally Posted by jmartinez1895

For SW it is a very simple process. If you book a flight for $100 and then a month later you see the flight is only $70 you call and they will give you a credit of $30 that you can use for future flights ( you have a year to use the credit).

To be precise, for wanna get away fares, you will receive a credit with southwest, not a refund to you in cash, check, or to your credit card. The entire value of the credit must be used within a year of when the original reservation was made, not the original date of travel. If there are multiple people on the reservation, each person receives their own credit, and it is not transferable. To anyone. If you combine credits from multiple cancelled flights, the amalgamated credit inherits the earliest expiration date. Travel must be completed by that date, and any future cancellation of that ticket will also have that date.

[jayhawk74]

Call SWA Reservations and they should be able to put all 5 reservations under one. You just can't do it on-line

[M&C]

Awesome, thank you! I just don't know how to do multiple quotes and gave up on that one.

I'll have to look at the rates on SW!

[kristenrice]

Originally Posted by SteveMouse

To be precise, for wanna get away fares, you will receive a credit with southwest, not a refund to you in cash, check, or to your credit card. The entire value of the credit must be used within a year of when the original reservation was made, not the original date of travel. If there are multiple people on the reservation, each person receives their own credit, and it is not transferable. To anyone. If you combine credits from multiple cancelled flights, the amalgamated credit inherits the earliest expiration date. Travel must be completed by that date, and any future cancellation of that ticket will also have that date.

Great explanation.

Can you explain how it works with points? I have a RR account and DH does not. We use the SWA Visa (I am the primary account holder and he is a cardholder) and we have about 55,000 points. If I book 2 R/T on points and the "price" drops, I understand that the credits will be refunded back. Since DH does not have a RR account, would they go back into my account? Also, do any refunded credits then have an expiration?

I'm curious because the flights for our November trip will be released tomorrow and I am chomping at the bit to book them. If there is a price drop, I would prefer the credits to expire later than sooner so perhaps I do not want to book this early. I am new to SWA as they are starting service here in GRR in August. I've always flown AT or Delta so this is unfamiliar territory.