If you booked Southwest flights for the fall...

[kadiem]

My August flights which I booked the day the schedule opened have doubled in points! I do believe they will drop back down though, so I'm not worried. I do check at least once a day.

 

[CheriePenguin]

Another fall SW traveler here - Wondering if anyone knows how EBCI things work if you rebook for a lower fare. We booked our flights to be sure we got the nonstops at the times we want, but I'm pretty sure they will go down in price at some point. We booked the EBCI for the return flight (since impossible to call 24hrs prior when we'll be on the cruise!). Do you keep the same EBCI in that case? Do you only lose that if you cancel the flight?

 

[disfanforlife]

Another fall SW traveler here - Wondering if anyone knows how EBCI things work if you rebook for a lower fare. We booked our flights to be sure we got the nonstops at the times we want, but I'm pretty sure they will go down in price at some point. We booked the EBCI for the return flight (since impossible to call 24hrs prior when we'll be on the cruise!). Do you keep the same EBCI in that case? Do you only lose that if you cancel the flight?

You still keep your EBCI. You only lose if you cancel entirely. I have changed mine for lower price and it did not effect the EBCI at all.

 

[Mr. lncredible]

If you fly out of DTW check your rates today. I have been hawking them since they released and it looks like most days this fall have flights available for $95 or ~4700 points.

 

[ICF]

Another fall SW traveler here - Wondering if anyone knows how EBCI things work if you rebook for a lower fare. We booked our flights to be sure we got the nonstops at the times we want, but I'm pretty sure they will go down in price at some point. We booked the EBCI for the return flight (since impossible to call 24hrs prior when we'll be on the cruise!). Do you keep the same EBCI in that case? Do you only lose that if you cancel the flight?

You keep the EBCI -- at least you should. We did the rebook for lower fares (points) for 2 trips last year -- once on a cruise for my wife and I (and like you had no way to check in from the boat). Then last fall the 4 of us were in California and we just didn't want to have to plan to be in front of a PC at a certain time. Of those 6 "trips" -- each was probably rebooked 3 or 4 times before we went on vacation. There was 1 time -- when somehow my wife "lost" her EBCI -- she just had to call, and tell the it was gone --- save the receipt you get when you buy it, just in case -- and they added it back without issue (or extra cost).

 

[Melissa_E]

Another fall SW traveler here - Wondering if anyone knows how EBCI things work if you rebook for a lower fare. We booked our flights to be sure we got the nonstops at the times we want, but I'm pretty sure they will go down in price at some point. We booked the EBCI for the return flight (since impossible to call 24hrs prior when we'll be on the cruise!). Do you keep the same EBCI in that case? Do you only lose that if you cancel the flight?

I called SWA and the CSR was able to give me the points back without rebooking. I told her I had the EBCI and didn't want to lose my place in line if I canceled and rebooked. I got 4K back pp!

 

[4mybabes]

I don't know the ins and outs of SW like you all do! Wow! Our trip is Nov 12-19. They aren't booking for those dates yet. However, I want to be ready. I was under the understanding, the cheapest time to book flights was 3 months out. Please fill me in!
Also, what is EBCI?

 

[Mr. lncredible]

I don't know the ins and outs of SW like you all do! Wow! Our trip is Nov 12-19. They aren't booking for those dates yet. However, I want to be ready. I was under the understanding, the cheapest time to book flights was 3 months out. Please fill me in!
Also, what is EBCI?

EBCI is early bird check in. Essentially it automatically checks you in 24 hours before your flight. Since SW doesn't have assigned seating it can get you an earlier boarding position depending on how early you book it and how many other people purchase it ahead of you.

 

[4mybabes]

Ahhh yes I'm familiar with early bird check in.. Just didn't realize that's what the acronym was! Thanks!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I don't know the ins and outs of SW like you all do! Wow! Our trip is Nov 12-19. They aren't booking for those dates yet. However, I want to be ready. I was under the understanding, the cheapest time to book flights was 3 months out. Please fill me in!
Also, what is EBCI?

This past opening day is the first I have bothered with and we have flown SW for years. I didn't book that day b/c I wasn't impressed. I have been watching the fares and trying to figure out what to do. It is more that they have messed up flight times not so much the price that is bothering me.
I also need Nov flights so will look at those opening day as they are around a holiday.
Anywho, just look at prices daily and pounce when u see something u think is a good price. You can always get a credit if the cost goes down. I find that 3 weeks out is the best time price-wise but I don't wait that long to book. I just make sure and check to see if I can get points/money back around that time.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I wish the dates were released for the rest of the year. I can get our departing flight, but not our return flight. I want to wait and book it all together, but they have such a perfect departing flight time, I hope it's still there in a couple months.

What is the benefit to waiting to book both together?
There is no rule that you must use the same airline for your return flight or that it has to be booked as a RT. Price is almost always the same whether you book as 2 one ways vs 1 RT. SW is usually the last airline to release its calendar so if you now can compare your desired SW fare to fares of other airlines for your departing flight, why not just book it?
I actually find it easier. It's less $ to put out at one time. Also if your departing flight should drop, you will have a credit you can apply to your return flight.
It's all good.