Bought SW ticket yesterday, got a credit today...

[buzzrelly]

So I booked our April flights yesterday and today saw they were $23 less each. I changed them and now each of the 4 of us has a $23 credit. Now what? We usually only fly once per year. We will be flying April 2015 (tickets just purchased), and then not again until April 2016.

Thanks!

 

[JasonDVC]

You have to use the credits within 1 year of the purchase date or you lose them

 

[buzzrelly]

Boo! Thanks…I definitely don't see that happening.

 

[JasonDVC]

Yeah, it definitely stinks. I usually try to purchase my airfare based on when my next trip is.

For example, next year we are planning on an early December trip so I won't buy airfare for our April trip until right after our planned return date next December. (ex. I plan on coming home from our Dec. '15 trip on Dec 8, 2015 so I'll buy airfare for my April '15 trip on Dec 9, 2014. I hope that make sense.)

It's a bit of gamble some times but it has paid off so far.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

If you call Southwest within 24 hours of your original ticket purchase, you can get an actual refund against your credit card, not just a credit toward a future ticket purchase.

You always have a 24-hour window to change your mind after buying Southwest tickets. So, because you could get a full refund and then buy the tickets back at a lower price, Southwest allows you simply to request a partial refund if the price went down within 24 hours.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to provide either either a 24-hour courtesy hold period or a 24-hour cancellation/change window. Southwest does the latter, and has been doing so since long before it become a government regulation.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If you call Southwest within 24 hours of your original ticket purchase, you can get an actual refund against your credit card, not just a credit toward a future ticket purchase.

You always have a 24-hour window to change your mind after buying Southwest tickets. So, because you could get a full refund and then buy the tickets back at a lower price, Southwest allows you simply to request a partial refund if the price went down within 24 hours.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to provide either either a 24-hour courtesy hold period or a 24-hour cancellation/change window. Southwest does the latter, and has been doing so since long before it become a government regulation.

Yes, this is true for all airlines, with the exception (for some) of tickets purchased within a certain amount of time before a flight. These will not be refunded within 24 hours of purchase.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Yes, this is true for all airlines, with the exception (for some) of tickets purchased within a certain amount of time before a flight. These will not be refunded within 24 hours of purchase.

American Airlines is different. If you buy a regular ("Choice") nonrefundable ticket online, and you change your mind or there's a price decrease within 24 hours, you're out of luck.

American complies with the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations by offering a 24-hour hold period instead. With American, you can reserve flights and put your reservation on hold without paying a dime. Then you have up to 24 hours to pay, with the reservation and price guaranteed.

But if you buy right away, instead of using the 24-hour hold feature, you do not get a 24-hour cancellation/change window with American.

 

[DISNEYD14]

Can you use the credit to pay for early bird check in?
Thats what we did

 

[buzzrelly]

Yeah, it definitely stinks. I usually try to purchase my airfare based on when my next trip is. For example, next year we are planning on an early December trip so I won't buy airfare for our April trip until right after our planned return date next December. (ex. I plan on coming home from our Dec. '15 trip on Dec 8, 2015 so I'll buy airfare for my April '15 trip on Dec 9, 2014. I hope that make sense.) It's a bit of gamble some times but it has paid off so far.

That works out great if you go twice a year. I wish I could!

 

[buzzrelly]

If you call Southwest within 24 hours of your original ticket purchase, you can get an actual refund against your credit card, not just a credit toward a future ticket purchase. You always have a 24-hour window to change your mind after buying Southwest tickets. So, because you could get a full refund and then buy the tickets back at a lower price, Southwest allows you simply to request a partial refund if the price went down within 24 hours. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to provide either either a 24-hour courtesy hold period or a 24-hour cancellation/change window. Southwest does the latter, and has been doing so since long before it become a government regulation.

And of course, it was after the 24 hour period. I was up getting these at 6 am yesterday.

 

[buzzrelly]

Can I use the credit for anything else? Food? A gift card?

 

[nacho113]

Can I use the credit for anything else? Food? A gift card?

How about a short haul flight for just you and your spouse (a romantic weekend getaway perhaps). The credit will probably pay for at least one of the tickets for somewhere not too far away. How about a shopping weekend in NYC or skiing in Vermont. I hear Boston has great clam chowder.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[sam_gordon]

How about a short haul flight for just you and your spouse (a romantic weekend getaway perhaps). The credit will probably pay for at least one of the tickets for somewhere not too far away. How about a shopping weekend in NYC or skiing in Vermont. I hear Boston has great clam chowder.
Just my 2 cents.

Each person only has $23 credit. I doubt that's going to purchase any ticket on its own.

 

[bumbershoot]

Each person only has $23 credit. I doubt that's going to purchase any ticket on its own.

But the total could equal a ticket depending on the when and where. Not while paying SW but later, when putting it into the checkbook.


Only recheck SW prices (or Alaska) if you will have a use for those credits! Otherwise it's just useless.

 

[DebbieB]

But the total could equal a ticket depending on the when and where. Not while paying SW but later, when putting it into the checkbook.


Only recheck SW prices (or Alaska) if you will have a use for those credits! Otherwise it's just useless.

You can't use the total. Each person's credit has to be used by that person.