Looking for SW expert advice re rebooking, online check in.

[coastgirl]

I did do a search but couldn't come up with what I was looking for...

I have booked our flights for our Feb trip. Not great prices, not great flights, but ok, and better than it has been lately.

So...I will continue to watch. What happens if I find something better and want to use the money I've already paid? I am reluctant to cancel without "a bird in the hand" as I've already lost good fares in the booking process this month. (I.e., in the few minutes it took me to check my other options and confirm with dh, the fare evaporated.)

Would this work? Put the new flights in my cart, go through with some of the booking details, THEN open another window and cancel my existing flights? Can I have two windows open? Will my flight funds show up that fast? If not, what's the process?

Check in--last time we flew I checked in from my phone 24 hrs ahead. I had something on my phone I believe to prove our boarding numbers? (It's a couple of years ago, so the details are fuzzy.) We will be en route for the 24 hours prior to our flight (we drive a long way to get to a SW airport!) so won't have access to a printer. Is that enough, or do I need paper?

Thanks!

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

The only time you have to cancel a reservation to rebook is with a DING! sale/fare. In that case, just open two windows...one where you book your DING! fare up to the point of purchase, and the other one to cancel your existing reservation. Once you cancel the existing reservation, go to the other window where you are about to purchase, and somewhere it will ask about Ticketless Travel Funds. Input your canceled reservation confirmation number and someones name on the reservation.

Otherwise, for a regular sale just go in through Change Reservatiion and it will walk you through the process...no cancelling necessary.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I did do a search but couldn't come up with what I was looking for...

I have booked our flights for our Feb trip. Not great prices, not great flights, but ok, and better than it has been lately.

So...I will continue to watch. What happens if I find something better and want to use the money I've already paid? I am reluctant to cancel without "a bird in the hand" as I've already lost good fares in the booking process this month. (I.e., in the few minutes it took me to check my other options and confirm with dh, the fare evaporated.)

Would this work? Put the new flights in my cart, go through with some of the booking details, THEN open another window and cancel my existing flights? Can I have two windows open? Will my flight funds show up that fast? If not, what's the process?

Check in--last time we flew I checked in from my phone 24 hrs ahead. I had something on my phone I believe to prove our boarding numbers? (It's a couple of years ago, so the details are fuzzy.) We will be en route for the 24 hours prior to our flight (we drive a long way to get to a SW airport!) so won't have access to a printer. Is that enough, or do I need paper?

Thanks!

As stated, if you find a lower fare or even a different flight, you can just change your reservation without cancelling it. Any credits will be under your existing reservation number to use within one year of original ticket purchase.

You can print your boarding pass at the SWA ticket counter when you check your bags. If you are not checking bags, you can use a kiosk near the security checks to print them.

 

[coastgirl]

Oh, phew, guys, that's a big relief. The ding's haven't been very good lately, so that's unlikely. Sounds easy.

Thanks for the tip about the check in counter too.