Need help with canceling/rebooking SW flight using RR points

[IDoDis]

Ugh. I messed up and overpaid for a flight.

I was booking 4 RT airfare tickets to Orlando for our June trip (the price dropped by almost $100 on one-way of the flight so I wanted to grab it).

I had 56,000 Rapid Rewards points and $400 in flight credit from a canceled trip back in October that DH and DS were going to take travel to watch a football game.

I booked my ticket, DD, and DS's tickets using the Rapid Rewards points. I was short 6500 points so I had to pay $175 to buy those points so that I'd have enough to book the flights using points. I didn't see an option to just pay the difference. Maybe I missed something.

After I booked the first three tickets for myself, DD, and DS, I booked DH's flight thinking I could use all of the flight credit money which would pay for his entire flight except for about $30.00. I forgot that southwest would only let me use the credit for DH's portion of the flight credit since I was only buying a ticket for DH (Remember, I used points to buy DS's ticket). So I still have $200 of flight credit money that can only be spent on DS yet I paid $175 for extra points so that I could book my flight and the kids' flight.

Aside from our June trip, DS won't be traveling anywhere where he could use his flight credit before it expires! Is there a way I can cancel his flight I used points to buy, and then rebook his flight using his $200 credit AND points to cover the balance of his ticket? I realize I will still have points left over, but at least they don't expire like the flight credits will.

I feel like I just threw money out the window! How can I fix this? I'm also worried that the ticket prices are going to jump back up again before I can cancel and rebook. Help!

 

[phred52]

Thats a tough one! If I've wrapped my brain around it ...

I'd start by canceling just your son's round trip ticket. The points will go back into the account they came out of. You'll just have to forget about the extra $175 you already paid to get more points the 3 of you. At least those points will be able to be used, eventually.

Then rebook your son's ticket using up the credit in his name. I don't know IF it is an option to book with credits AND points. Never saw that option. I'd guess you'll likely have to pay the remainder with cash. But at least you'll have used up that $ 200 credit that otherwise would have gone to waste.

You can always call SW and ask the customer service rep.

good luck!

 

[Ariel224]

Points reservations have to be paid all in points; they can't be combined with any type of "cash" transaction or credits. Like previous poster stated, you will need to cancel the points reservation & rebook using the fare credit & a credit card for any difference.

As for the $175 in points that you purchased......try not to think of it as money wasted....you just prepaid a future flight.

 

[mlittig]

Give Southwest customer service a call They are very helpful

 

[eeyoreforever]

Why can you only use part of the credit that you have on you husbands ticket? Maybe I'm not fully understanding what you are saying, but I've used credits that came from my tickets to purchase tickets for my brother and my kids before. Has something changed that I'm not aware of maybe?

 

[Ariel224]

Why can you only use part of the credit that you have on you husbands ticket? Maybe I'm not fully understanding what you are saying, but I've used credits that came from my tickets to purchase tickets for my brother and my kids before. Has something changed that I'm not aware of maybe?

Credits can only be used by the original traveler booked on the ticket, regardless of who actually purchased the ticket. OP had $200 to use for her DH and $200 to use for her DS. The amounts, in this case, can't be combined since the original reservation was for two travelers.

 

[phred52]

Why can you only use part of the credit that you have on you husbands ticket? Maybe I'm not fully understanding what you are saying, but I've used credits that came from my tickets to purchase tickets for my brother and my kids before. Has something changed that I'm not aware of maybe?

Yea, SW changed the rules. You used to be able to use the credits for anyone. We got spoiled! Now, though, only the person named can use the credit. No exceptions.

BUT if you use points to purchase a flight .... THEN if you cancel, the points go back into the original account it came out of, SOOOOooo you could then purchase another flight using those points and it ~could~ be in a different name.

 

[eeyoreforever]

Ariel224 - thanks for that info, I didn't know they had changed their policy.

IDoDis - hope you got everything straightened out. This post probably saved me from making the exact same mistake as I will be purchasing 3 tickets soon, using RR points for 5-one way tickets and a travel credit for 1-one way. Now I know to be sure to use the credit on my ticket.