Credit Extension with SW

[mickeyluv]

I have a SW credit question that I'm hoping someone can help me with. We have a credit but it has expired. I called SW and the nice guy told me that I could extend the credit but they would take $50 from each ticket (we had 3 tickets) and it would be good for 6 months from the date that they actually put in that extension. I told him we were not looking to fly until April of 2011 and asked if I could call back in November and have it extended but he said he couldn't guarantee that this extension policy would still be going on in November. We are planning a trip to Florida in November this year (week of thanksgiving) but the prices are so high for that week that we were just planning on driving. I don't know what I should do! If I wait until November do you think they will still be offering the extension for $50 per ticket? We have 3 tickets that we paid $115.60 each for; so if we extend it we'll have 3 tickets at $65.60 each. I'm just afraid that if we wait we'll lose that money!

 

[pooch]

has been around for at least several years so, yes, I think they'll still be doing it in November. My question would be how long after the credit expires will they ALLOW you to do it? Can you wait until November to extend? I've never done that. The 2 times I needed to extend, I did so immediately after they expired, not months later. That is the question I would ask SWA.

Also, for future reference, if you have credits on multiple tickets, for which each would be charged the $50 fee, find one fully refundable flight (to anywhere, doesn't matter) for as close to the total of all the credits as you can get. Buy it using all the credits. Get a new confirmation #. Now cancel the flight. The credits are now all on one ticket and, although the expiration date of the credit has not changed, its now 1 ticket and you will only be charged 1 extension fee! Got this helpful info from a SWA cust. service rep. Gotta love SWA!!

 

[Lewisc]

Keep in mind if your credits have different expiration date your new combined credit will have the oldest date. That can be an issue if you have a small credit with an expiration date that's older then the rest of your credits.

 

[alwaysmom]

As of my conversation with SW Customer Relations a few days ago. You actually have 6 months after your expiration date to ask for an extension. The extension is also 6 months.

Hope that makes sense