(Edited) Southwest Issue Resolved

[sonofanarchy]

Beyond ticked off right now at Southwest. I had a weekend trip booked with a buddy of mine back in October. Unfortunately, my son had a medical emergency the weekend before and ended up in the hospital for a week. So, I cancelled the trip and was given credits on Southwest. My friend and I just were able to find dates to rebook the trip. Unfortunately, my credit with SW expires on March 6, but the trip isn't until March 17. I called and asked for an extension and was informed they couldn't grant me an extension until AFTER the expiration date. No exceptions. Nothing they can do about it.

 

[bumbershoot]

I called and asked for an extension and was informed they couldn't grant me an extension until AFTER the expiration date. No exceptions. Nothing they can do about it.

It has been that way for years.

 

[sam_gordon]

Beyond ticked off right now at Southwest. I had a weekend trip booked with a buddy of mine back in October. Unfortunately, my son had a medical emergency the weekend before and ended up in the hospital for a week. So, I cancelled the trip and was given credits on Southwest. My friend and I just were able to find dates to rebook the trip. Unfortunately, my credit with SW expires on March 6, but the trip isn't until March 17. I called and asked for an extension and was informed they couldn't grant me an extension until AFTER the expiration date. No exceptions. Nothing they can do about it.

So you want them to make an exception for you? Call on March 7, get your extension, take your trip. Where's the problem?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Next time read the fine print before purchasing a ticket. IT tells you on the screen when the ticket expires before you commit to buy

Oh BTW it will cost $100 to extend the expiration date.

 

[sonofanarchy]

So you want them to make an exception for you? Call on March 7, get your extension, take your trip. Where's the problem?

The problem is, we're restricted to when we can go due to my friends work schedule. We can only go mid March. I'm not going to book the hotel on the off chance that the airfare might still be available for 10 days away. Even if it was, it would most likely be 3 times as expensive.

Sorry - I guess I'm too nice with my customers. We do anything and everything we have to to make our customers happy, as long as it's within reason. I don't think what I'm asking is unreasonable at all.

 

[freewill]

Given those circumstances, I would be totally shocked if they did not reinstate the travel credits for you after they have expired. But they are not able to do so until that time. We just went through this process with SW this month and that's exactly what they did -- and our circumstances were nothing by comparison.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Given those circumstances, I would be totally shocked if they did not reinstate the travel credits for you after they have expired. But they are not able to do so until that time. We just went through this process with SW this month and that's exactly what they did -- and our circumstances were nothing by comparison.

They'll reinstate them after that time. I'm just VERY restricted to when I (or my friend I should say) can travel. It just seems like a weird policy.

I could understand the policy if I was asking them in advance for a 6 month extension. I'm just asking for 2 weeks. And our reasoning for cancelling was simply beyond our control. Emergency's come up.

I guess I'll know better next time.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Next time read the fine print before purchasing a ticket. IT tells you on the when the ticket expires before you commit to buy

Not that it matters much, but this is all it says in regards to that:

Anytime

These fares are refundable and changeable and may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't fly SW.

I know if you change your ticket, you have one year from when you PURCHASE the ticket to use the credit.

I know if you can't use it in that time, you can request an extension (for a cost) AFTER your time frame expires.

This is not a new policy. I'm sorry if you don't like the policy, but it is what it is.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Southwest is just following their written policy, which you agreed to when you purchased your ticket.

They let you cancel and rebook with no penalty. Most airlines charge $200 for a change to a domestic ticket. You have nothing to complain about.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

They'll reinstate them after that time. I'm just VERY restricted to when I (or my friend I should say) can travel. It just seems like a weird policy. . .

1) I guess I misread the posting.
2) For a while I thought you were mad because SW would not bend to YOUR schedule.
3) After all, it is not SW's fault you voluntarily select travel dates outside of the time limit.
4) Companies should always ignore/change rules due to customer preferences.

 

[DebbieB]

Most airlines don't extend past the year, you just lose it.

 

[sam_gordon]

They'll reinstate them after that time. I'm just VERY restricted to when I (or my friend I should say) can travel. It just seems like a weird policy.

I could understand the policy if I was asking them in advance for a 6 month extension. I'm just asking for 2 weeks. And our reasoning for cancelling was simply beyond our control. Emergency's come up.

I guess I'll know better next time.

The bolded is why there is something called "trip insurance".

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Not that it matters much, but this is all it says in regards to that:

Anytime

These fares are refundable and changeable and may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines for the originally ticketed passenger only.

If it actually says "refundable" for the Southwest Airlines tickets you bought, then you bought "Business Select" or "Anytime" tickets. If so, excellent! You can request a full refund from Southwest. No need to worry about applying the funds to a future flight or paying to reinstate a credit.

"Business Select" or "Anytime" tickets cost a lot more than "Wanna Get Away" tickets, which is what most leisure passengers buy. "Wanna Get Away" tickets are nonrefundable, but their value can be applied to future tickets for the same passenger (within one year of the original purchase date). Unlike other airlines, Southwest does not hit passengers for a huge change fee.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Southwest is just following their written policy, which you agreed to when you purchased your ticket.

They let you cancel and rebook with no penalty. Most airlines charge $200 for a change to a domestic ticket. You have nothing to complain about.

It's a moot point, but nowhere (that I can see) on the website does it say anything in regards to time frame at all.

I agree that SW is better than most in the regard that it doesn't charge you a change fee. That's one reason why I have always flown with them.

As it turns out, after speaking with their guest relations department, they informed me that if I had proof of a medical emergency (which I did) that caused the delay in the first place, they could refund me and I could re-purchase. So, it worked out in the end. Not sure if this is their policy or not, but the first employee I spoke with never mentioned this or gave me the option.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Airline tickets are generally valid for one year after issue on every airline. I hope Southwest mentions this somewhere on their site. This is the only mention of the year deadline I found after a quick search (and it refers to refundable tickets):

http://www.southwest.com/html/custo...nd-info-pol.html?int=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-REFUNDS

Unused, fully refundable tickets that do not carry restrictions may be applied toward future travel or refunded within one year from the date of issue.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It takes a little digging, but if you start to search for a flight (or investigate while booking), then click on any of the three fare categories, you get a chart showing the conditions for each fare group. Then click on Restrictions and you get a more explanatory chart http://www.southwest.com/flight/pop_fareCompare.html?airline=both

Business Select and Anytime fares are fully refundable to the original form of payment "If you cancel your flight, you are eligible to receive 100% of your ticket value as a refund to your original form of payment. "

Wanna Get Away fares are only eligible for Reusable Funds: "If you cancel your flight, 100% of your ticket value can be applied to future travel for up to 12 months." Anytime and Business Select passengers have this as an option; Wanna Get Away fares don't get a choice.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]