More Southwest questions

[nervous1sttimer]

Sorry - I know the board is full of SW questions, and I've picked up a ton of information, but I have a few more questions.

We are planning to travel Feb 20-Mar 1, 2014 and SW will be releasing those flights on Monday. It seems most people buy right away - is there a reason other than getting the first EBCI tickets? I've noticed the fall fares have gone down quite a few times since they were first released. Doesn't it make more sense to see how prices move rather than jump on them immediately (we have never flown SW before and have no RR points. I can see why you might want to book immediately if you are using points).

I know that SW doesn't charge change fees so you can call and be credited for the difference if your flights get cheaper, but does that work even if only one half of a round-trip ticket gets cheaper? Ie, is there an incentive to buy two one-ways instead to make it easier to save on future reductions?

Thanks!

 

[helenk]

Sorry - I know the board is full of SW questions, and I've picked up a ton of information, but I have a few more questions.

We are planning to travel Feb 20-Mar 1, 2014 and SW will be releasing those flights on Monday. It seems most people buy right away - is there a reason other than getting the first EBCI tickets? I've noticed the fall fares have gone down quite a few times since they were first released. Doesn't it make more sense to see how prices move rather than jump on them immediately (we have never flown SW before and have no RR points. I can see why you might want to book immediately if you are using points).

I know that SW doesn't charge change fees so you can call and be credited for the difference if your flights get cheaper, but does that work even if only one half of a round-trip ticket gets cheaper? Ie, is there an incentive to buy two one-ways instead to make it easier to save on future reductions?

Thanks!

Generally the prices change constantly, I like to book right away so that is one thing taken care of. I book round trip, you can change your reservation on line even if only on leg of your trip goes down in price. You go in to change reservation and you check which trip you want to "change" and you get the credit right away. Keep in mind though the credit is good for travel made within 1 year of the original purchase date.

 

[gmeh1]

Generally the prices change constantly, I like to book right away so that is one thing taken care of. I book round trip, you can change your reservation on line even if only on leg of your trip goes down in price. You go in to change reservation and you check which trip you want to "change" and you get the credit right away. Keep in mind though the credit is good for travel made within 1 year of the original purchase date.

More like travel completed within one year of the original purchase date.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Generally the prices change constantly, I like to book right away so that is one thing taken care of. I book round trip, you can change your reservation on line even if only on leg of your trip goes down in price. You go in to change reservation and you check which trip you want to "change" and you get the credit right away. Keep in mind though the credit is good for travel made within 1 year of the original purchase date.

Yes, but if the OTHER flight goes up...You're stuck and can't get a credit for the one that went down! Unless I am using a discount code, I always book as one way flights so you can get the benefit of reduced flight prices. I have had where one direction went down, but the other went up. So with a R/T ticket, I would not have been able to get a credit! But do what you are most comfortable with.... Good Luck!!!

 

[jayhawk74]

You can book roundtrip and only change the flight that goes down, even if the other flight goes up. I have done this many times before. Just remember any credits must be used on flights that are flown within one year of the original purchase.

 

[helenk]

Yes, but if the OTHER flight goes up...You're stuck and can't get a credit for the one that went down! Unless I am using a discount code, I always book as one way flights so you can get the benefit of reduced flight prices. I have had where one direction went down, but the other went up. So with a R/T ticket, I would not have been able to get a credit! But do what you are most comfortable with.... Good Luck!!!

You can change one leg of the trip without changing the other, I do it all the time. You go to travel tools, change flight, your trip is brought up with a check box at each of your flights, you can check just one of the boxes or both, whichever you want to change, very easy.

 

[helenk]

More like travel completed within one year of the original purchase date.

Made, completed, same thing, at least it is according to the Thesaurus

 

[gmeh1]

Made, completed, same thing, at least it is according to the Thesaurus

Many people think they can make the reservations within that year for sometime in the future. IE: You make the original reservation 1/1/2013, you cancel and you have one year to make another reservation. When you say that you have to make a reservation within one year, many think that they can make the reservation prior to 1/1/2014 and travel after that date. Which, regardless of what your Thesaurus says, is not what SWA has in mind, hence the reason I made sure it was totally clear. Made and completed within that one year time. Funny, if you make reservations today, is your trip completed? Not quite the same thing.