Dilema Need Opinions Please

[maciec]

OK currently I have 50,000 points sitting in my SW RR account (thank you credit card bonus!)

I need to get a round trip ticket for my infant son (he wasn't born when I bought the other 4 tickets, hence the reason for one now).

Here are my options:

pay $279.12 RT

pay $158.63 OW from BWI -> MCO
use 9,265 OW miles from BWI -> MCO (it will take me 3 months to get these miles back)

pay $120.49 OW from MCO -> BWI
use 6,809 OW miles from MCO -> BWI (it will take me 2 months to get these miles back)

or use 16,074 miles RT (this is the option I don't want to do)

Would you pay the higher fare to save on miles or the lower fare and use up more miles and pay the lesser fare? UGH!!

The next time we will be flying SW won't be until August of next year.

Ok, I think after typing all of this I am going to use the higher miles and pay the lower fare.

LOL!

 

[taitai]

Each and every option values your miles at $.017. So, it really doesn't matter which option you take. You are not getting a better deal on your miles in any scenario.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Gee, guess I would use the points if I had them. [Wish I had as many RR points as you ] The only reason to save points is to use on someone that you think might cancel and not rebook within the period of time for the travel funds to still be used. I hate the new rule that only the original ticket holder can reuse the travel funds. You can use points for anyone and if they cancel, your points go back into your account....rather handy if you have a friend that is unpredictable with their travel plans and you are responsible for their ticket.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Aren't children 2 and under free if on a parents lap?

Here is the info from SWA.
Infants:
One child over 14 days and under two (2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried free of charge when traveling with an adult (12 years of age or older). Although a boarding pass is not required for the infant, you will need a Boarding Verification Document.
Affordable Infant fares are also available allowing a Customer to reserve a seat for an infant and use his/her FAA-approved car seat. Online checkin is available if the infant is traveling on an Infant fare and is age verified.
A copy of the child's birth certificate is required to validate the age of all infants under two.
A medical release for travel is required for any infant under 14 days old.
For more information, please see Baby On Board.

 

[goofy4tink]

Aren't children 2 and under free if on a parents lap?

Here is the info from SWA.
Infants:
One child over 14 days and under two (2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried free of charge when traveling with an adult (12 years of age or older). Although a boarding pass is not required for the infant, you will need a Boarding Verification Document.
Affordable Infant fares are also available allowing a Customer to reserve a seat for an infant and use his/her FAA-approved car seat. Online checkin is available if the infant is traveling on an Infant fare and is age verified.
A copy of the child's birth certificate is required to validate the age of all infants under two.
A medical release for travel is required for any infant under 14 days old.
For more information, please see Baby On Board.

True, but many parents are comfortable (both the philosophy and the actual comfort) with lap babies. I wouldn't fly with a lap baby. And it wouldn't be a safety issue. I like to be comfortable on the plane...holding a baby for that long isn't comfortable.
Also, if there were to be any kind of emergency, I wouldn't be happy putting my child on the floor at my feet.
This shouldn't turn into a 'parents who fly with lap babies are bad' or a 'parents who insist on paying for an infant are either stupid or uber cautious'. Each parent makes a choice that fits their family.

But, perhaps the OP didn't realize lap babies fly free on most airlines. And she may be very grateful to get this info.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

But, perhaps the OP didn't realize lap babies fly free on most airlines.

Just a caveat - they fly free on domestic flights as a lap baby, not on international flights.

OP - why not use the miles? What are you saving them for?

 

[maciec]

I have no desire to have my 7m old sit in my lap for 2hours and 20 minutes. I feel much better with him having his own seat.

I ended up cashing out miles for the flight down and paying cash for the flight back.

What am I saving my miles for - may sound silly, buy I don't have a clue. Maybe for a time when we don't have as much cash for 5 people to fly.