Change flight time on SW

[tink15823]

We purchased our tickets earlier and got a good deal . I want to move my flight to an earlier time on the same day . Right now the price for each flight is equal if purchasing them today . So will they just change them or is it an up charge per ticket? I think it's an upcharge per ticket my sil said they will just change them because the cost is equal to each other today . To me that doesn't make since they would lose money . TIA.

 

[AmyAnne]

We purchased our tickets earlier and got a good deal . I want to move my flight to an earlier time on the same day . Right now the price for each flight is equal if purchasing them today . So will they just change them or is it an up charge per ticket? I think it's an upcharge per ticket my sil said they will just change them because the cost is equal to each other today . To me that doesn't make since they would lose money . TIA.

To change your flight, you will need to cancel your original flight and then re-book at the current price. If the price you paid is the current price, then it will in effect be an equal exchange.

 

[tink15823]

Thank you that's what I thought . We have been on hold for 3 hours . I said I would just go here and get the info .

 

[AmyAnne]

Thank you that's what I thought . We have been on hold for 3 hours . I said I would just go here and get the info .

It's super-easy to change a flight on the SW website. It will ask you which flight you want to cancel, will show you the options, and then show you the price for making the change.

Now, I suppose it's possible that you might get a sympathetic SW agent who might offer you something better. Personally I have never had that happen, and I can't think of reading of any such account here or on other travel boards I read, but the official policy is what happens on the website: cancel the current flight, get the refund for that flight, and apply it to the cost of the new flight.

 

[Alexle2007]

We purchased our tickets earlier and got a good deal . I want to move my flight to an earlier time on the same day . Right now the price for each flight is equal if purchasing them today . So will they just change them or is it an up charge per ticket? I think it's an upcharge per ticket my sil said they will just change them because the cost is equal to each other today . To me that doesn't make since they would lose money . TIA.

It’s easy peasy on the SW website to make the change yourself. On the home screen, there is change/cancel option. Select it and follow the process. At the end, it will tell you if you owe anything or it will be refunded/credited. I use this option all of the time when the price of the flight drops to get the lower point fare and refund of my previous points.

 

[DizMe]

Be careful about the taxes/fees. For the flights I normally take, these are around $11. As of last spring, they no longer transfer those fees from one flight to the other, but you can cancel (fee is refunded) and then rebook. In other words, if you click the 'change flight' option, you will change flights straight across but they will charge you for the fees for both. If you cancel, you get those fees refunded, and then when you rebook you are charged for them but only have to pay for them for one flight. The tricky part is that if you cancel, you have the uncertainty of not being positive you can rebook the new flight. I'd read about that but never gave it much thought until I looked at my last cc bill and saw that I was indeed charged twice for the fees when I changed flights rather than cancelled/rebooked.

 

[focusondisney]

We purchased our tickets earlier and got a good deal . I want to move my flight to an earlier time on the same day . Right now the price for each flight is equal if purchasing them today . So will they just change them or is it an up charge per ticket? I think it's an upcharge per ticket my sil said they will just change them because the cost is equal to each other today . To me that doesn't make since they would lose money . TIA.

So the price of the other flight is higher than what you paid for your current flight? And you're wondering if you can change to that flight without paying any more? Then the answer is no. You will pay the current price for the new flight. Doesn't matter if the flights are currently equal price. The value of your ticket is what you paid, not what it is currently priced at.

 

[supersnoop]

Sounds like you want to “bridge” your ticket, to use a disboards phrase. No, that’s not how it works. In southwest, you get credit for what you paid.

 

[anita46]

Pretty sure you don't want to "cancel" but "change" the current reservation...

 

[MikeNamez]

You can switch the flight right on the app on your phone. Its free and only takes a second. Just make sure you dont cancel and simply CHANGE the flight. I did this twice for the same flight just recently.

 

[DizMe]

Pretty sure you don't want to "cancel" but "change" the current reservation...

You can switch the flight right on the app on your phone. Its free and only takes a second. Just make sure you dont cancel and simply CHANGE the flight. I did this twice for the same flight just recently.

While this is the easiest and safest way to make the change, as I said above the tax portion will not go back to your credit card like before. It goes to a travel voucher instead, so if you change your flight, be prepared to add the travel voucher for the tax portion or it will charge your card again.

 

[MikeNamez]

While this is the easiest and safest way to make the change, as I said above the tax portion will not go back to your credit card like before. It goes to a travel voucher instead, so if you change your flight, be prepared to add the travel voucher for the tax portion or it will charge your card again.

Its only $11.... Why would any of this even matter?

 

[AmyAnne]

Its only $11.... Why would any of this even matter?

Are you sure you're posting in the correct forum? This is the BUDGET Board

 

[DizMe]

Its only $11.... Why would any of this even matter?

A few reasons. First, I often make multiple changes on my reservation before my flight. Second, it's $11 from Sacramento to Orange County, CA; not sure how much it would be on other people's flights. Third, it's per person, so if you're traveling in a group of 5 (which I am), that $11 becomes $55 for every flight change you make.

ETA: and if you have the money anyway in a travel voucher, why not use it instead of spending another $11?

 

[RajunCajun]

To change your flight, you will need to cancel your original flight and then re-book at the current price. If the price you paid is the current price, then it will in effect be an equal exchange.

NO NO NO - OP do no listen to this, this is the wrong answer.

Southwest will not charge you a change fee. You will have to pay a fare difference if there is one. You simply have to change the flight from your dashboard. PLEASE do not cancel your flight.

 

[AmyAnne]

NO NO NO - OP do no listen to this, this is the wrong answer.

Southwest will not charge you a change fee. You will have to pay a fare difference if there is one (you stated there is not). You simply have to change the flight from your dashboard. PLEASE do not cancel your flight.

Why do you say it's wrong to cancel and re-book? What is the advantage of "change" rather than "cancel"? SW is not going to give the OP the current value of the flight, only what was initially paid. This is true regardless of whether the flight is changed or cancelled.

 

[RajunCajun]

Be careful about the taxes/fees. For the flights I normally take, these are around $11. As of last spring, they no longer transfer those fees from one flight to the other, but you can cancel (fee is refunded) and then rebook. In other words, if you click the 'change flight' option, you will change flights straight across but they will charge you for the fees for both. If you cancel, you get those fees refunded, and then when you rebook you are charged for them but only have to pay for them for one flight. The tricky part is that if you cancel, you have the uncertainty of not being positive you can rebook the new flight. I'd read about that but never gave it much thought until I looked at my last cc bill and saw that I was indeed charged twice for the fees when I changed flights rather than cancelled/rebooked.

Are you referring to SWA? When I redeem points, the only fee I pay is the 9/11 fee which is $5.80. I've changed flights probably a dozen or so times through SWA and I NEVER had to pay anything additional or get a refund of any sort when the ticket prices have been the same

OP - Phone service is the pits, go through facebook messenger next time.

 

[RajunCajun]

Why do you say it's wrong to cancel and re-book? What is the advantage of "change" rather than "cancel"?

Because it's terrible advice. There are a myriad of things that could go wrong plus you're taking all those extra steps when you simply have to hit "change flight > new time > confirm". Cancelling requires a process, funds to re-deposit and then going through the entire booking steps again and then let's hope the flight price is the same.

SW is not going to give the OP the current value of the flight, only what was initially paid. This is true regardless of whether the flight is changed or cancelled.

If OP paid $100 for the flight then he/she would receive a $100 credit if she were to cancel. If the flight he/she wants is now $100 then there is no cost difference and it's an even exchange so again there is no point in canceling the flight when he/she can simply to an even exchange. If the flight she wants is now $125, then she simply pays the fare difference.

 

[DizMe]

I have to admit that I don't completely understand the new system which was implemented in the spring of 2017. Basically, though, the fares most of us generally purchase are the cheapest 'Wanna Get Away' fares which are non-refundable but will give you a travel voucher if you change or points back into your account if you booked on points. If you booked a refundable fare, then they say it's better to cancel and rebook because the fare will remain refundable or something like that. Here are a couple of sources for info along with step-by-step how-to's. https://millionmilesecrets.com/2017/09/14/step-by-step-how-to-change-or-cancel-a-southwest-flight/ and http://dealswelike.boardingarea.com/2017/05/13/not-change-southwest-flight/. If the flight is popular, I never want to risk canceling and rebooking in case the fare disappears while I'm trying to rebook, so I always use the 'change flight' option. Do remember to keep track of the original confirmation number if there is anything that goes on a voucher for future travel because you will need it to access the money.

 

[RajunCajun]

If the flight is popular, I never want to risk canceling and rebooking in case the fare disappears while I'm trying to rebook, so I always use the 'change flight' option.

This x 1000000