Changing From Regular Booked SWA Flight To Ding

[wee-haggis]

I've read about this several times in previous posts...but I sometimes see slightly different answers.
So...again I ask,
If I have 4 flights booked to MCO (booked online ...Fun Fare going out and Refundable Fare coming back),if I see a Ding for the same dates...
1)Is it true that I cannot book the Ding through the Travel Centre?
2)If true,what is the "safest" way to rebook with Ding (without taking the chance of losing the original booking if the Ding is sells out during the booking process)
3)Is it suggested that if I see Internet Special fares come out (not Ding) then the easy Travel Centre "Change of Itinenary? method should be used?
Thanks

 

[DonnaL]

Have you checked the current online fares as opposed to Ding fare? I noticed this evening it appears a lot of sale prices went up. I can't use Ding since I have MacIntosh and Ding isn't set up for Mac, however, I have on many occasions changed a flight from a more expensive fare to a sale fare at the Travel Center. The main thing you need to be sure of is that there are seats available at the sale fare on the flights/dates you want. If they are showing as unavailable for a particular flight or date at the lower fare you really take a chance by cancelling your current fare that it will open up a seat at the lower fare. However, I also have had very good luck even if seats are showing initially as unavailable at beginning of the sale. It seems a day or so after the sale begins SW begins to open up more seats at the sale price. We're traveling to WDW on 12/10 and return on 12/17. A few weeks ago I was able to get the $49 fare on 12/10 but not on 12/17. Sure enough, I kept checking several times a day and by the next day (even though initially all the sale fares were showing as unavailable) those seats opened up and I was able to change to the sale fare for the return also. So, keep checking and good luck.

 

[Poorman]

If I need 4 seats , I will check for 8 seats and if they are available at the ding fare, I feel confident that I can open up the 2 screens and cancel and rebook at the same time. It is taking a chance but it is a calculated risk. If you are traveling a lot on SWA the safest way is to book and cancel. Using your credit on the next trip. Also try booking one way each way, if the fares change for each leg you can change as needed.

 

[treloarf]

I just did this w/a flight to Las Vegas (but only 1 seat) - canceled current reservation & rebooked on the Ding site, but put in my confirmation # (instead of credit card #) & SW took the money from my 1st reservation & applied it to my new reservation & then credited me for a future flight.

But I guess you'd want to make sure there were 4 seats availabale, but if you did it right away, the 4 seats you cancelled would be available.

 

[wee-haggis]

I just did this w/a flight to Las Vegas (but only 1 seat) - canceled current reservation & rebooked on the Ding site, but put in my confirmation # (instead of credit card #) & SW took the money from my 1st reservation & applied it to my new reservation & then credited me for a future flight.

But I guess you'd want to make sure there were 4 seats availabale, but if you did it right away, the 4 seats you cancelled would be available.

Thats actually a good point.
If I do cancel the original 4 seats, does the now available seats show up immediately in the system as available to be booked using DING ?