changing flight for lower fare

[bkcwilliams]

Call me a newbie at this, but Seeing as this is my first time flying, I have a question...

We have booked our airfare through Southwest ($95 one way) and I just noticed that they have an internet special for $67 one way. Am I able to change to that rate? If so, what are the penalities, etc.

I know $28 per tickey may not seem like a lot, but it is more money for us to spend at Disney!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I don't know about SW but the same thing happened to me with USAirways. I booked our flight, it was 1 rate about a month later the rate dropped. As long as its the same flight as ours was, we were issued a flight voucher good for 1 year on a future flight. We ended up using them to lessen our change fee when we decided to extend our trip. Good Luck!

 

[Firedog]

I booked five seats with Airtran. The very next morning, the prices went down. They have a $50 charge per change, per ticket. Because the price difference was less than $50, it didn't benefit me to change. It is their policy not to issue any vouchers for the price difference in these cases.

 

[CarolA]

SW does not have a change fee, but unless the $95 was on a refundable ticket all you will get is credit towards a future flight. You can either go on line to the travel center and cancel your original flight or call them.

In either case they will tell you if you get any money back or only credits. If you only get credits, go online and book your new fare using the credits. When you get to the pay portion you will see the use credits prompt. Any monies you don't use will still be available for future travel. Hope this helps.

 

[sramille]

I've had two experiences with this in the last 6 months...

If the new/cheaper fare is an internet special SW will not issue a credit. The reservationists cannot touch an internet special. This is what I was told recently when I called about this.

Earlier this year, I had purchased SW tickets that later were valid for the "friends fly free". Since that was not an internet special, I was able to get a credit issued.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

We also had experience with this this year, three times.
We cancelled our flights on line and immediately rebooked them online. Just remember your first reservation number. Before you do this, make super dooper sure that there is availability on the lower fare flights. You can change days, change hours and in general rebook the entire trip if you want to. There is no change fee. If the price is less they will apply your cancelled airfare to the new ticket and hold a credit for you for one year for future flights. You can allow someone else to use this credit, btw. I did just that for my daughter's ticket. SWA is VERY liberal. They explain most of this in detail on their site.

 

[ttfn3]

We're flying Southwest and just did this. I thought I had a great fare, but then they really dropped. I called Southwest and they explained exactly how to cancel the original fare and book the new fare all online. It was extremely easy. I was issued a portion of the amount as a direct refund and a portion will remain on my account for up to a year BASED ON THE ORIGINAL TICKET PURCHASE DATE. You must keep the ORIGINAL Confirmation number in order to use the credit.

Don't hesitate to call Southwest for step-by-step directions on how to cancel and rebook a flight using your credit. They were great!

 

[SusanU]

We also recently did this, though not for a lower fare, but better connection at $5.00 per ticket more. SW was great as I had the internet site up & ready to book the new tickets. She talked me through the whole thing, booked new tickets, then she cancelled the old and gave me # to use as credit toward the new tickets. She wouldn't hang up until the whole thing was completed. They are very easy to work with.

 

[bkcwilliams]

thanks for the advice