Help with Southwest miles usage

[mickeyhereicome]

So I just got the SWA Credit Card and have to spend the $2000 to earn the bonus miles. My question is can I book the flight we want for November with cash and then change it to miles when I earn them?

 

[Marionnette]

So I just got the SWA Credit Card and have to spend the $2000 to earn the bonus miles. My question is can I book the flight we want for November with cash and then change it to miles when I earn them?

No. Cash Wanna Get Away fares are nonrefundable. You will get a credit which will need to be spent within one year of the date that you bought the ticket (not one year from the date that you intended to travel) if you make changes to your travel that results in a difference in price that favors you.

If it's your intention to use RR points to pay for all of your airfare, then you should wait until you have the points in your account. If you plan to partially pay for your trip with RR points, then book the cash tickets whenever you feel comfortable with the price and then book the remainder of your travel with the RR points when you have enough to cover your fare.

 

[mickeyhereicome]

No. Cash Wanna Get Away fares are nonrefundable. You will get a credit which will need to be spent within one year of the date that you bought the ticket (not one year from the date that you intended to travel) if you make changes to your travel that results in a difference in price that favors you.

If it's your intention to use RR points to pay for all of your airfare, then you should wait until you have the points in your account. If you plan to partially pay for your trip with RR points, then book the cash tickets whenever you feel comfortable with the price and then book the remainder of your travel with the RR points when you have enough to cover your fare.

Thanks! We are looking to travel the week of Thanksgiving. Is SWA like other airlines and the price goes up as seats sell? Is it the same for points?

 

[kamik86]

Thanks! We are looking to travel the week of Thanksgiving. Is SWA like other airlines and the price goes up as seats sell? Is it the same for points?

Prices change. Sometimes they go up sometimes they go down. Hard to know what it will do. The points required follow the price in general (sometimes I have noticed that very small changes in price, like a dollar or two won't be reflected in points... they seem to round off on points) so if the price goes up so will the points.

 

[hsmamato2]

it's going to be tight honestly for Thanksgiving fares- you can try, but fares will go up and up on holiday periods. your best bet is to hit that 2000 spend asap and pay it all,and then hope they award your points sooner rather than later. In most instances,(in my experiences) I had to hit the spend and then wait till AFTER the statement close date to see my points awarded,it took a few days after that to get them.

 

[hsmamato2]

and you can keep an eye on fares easily by inputing your dates on SWA and seeing how many points they require.