Pays to "reprice" Southwest Tickets..Pays to Check!!

[jerseygal]

When you "repriced", have you ever noticed that a flight which was previously sold out has opened back up? The original flight I wanted was sold out within 2 days of opening up. Just wondering what the odds of it opening back up are.

KEEP CHECKING, you never know! IMO, Highly unlikely, but certainly worth checking!
Good Luck!:

 

[keishashadow]

When you "repriced", have you ever noticed that a flight which was previously sold out has opened back up? The original flight I wanted was sold out within 2 days of opening up. Just wondering what the odds of it opening back up are.

if you are referring to the cheapest fares being 'sold out' and then reappearing...often for flights I've watched.

 

[Minniekins]

When you "repriced", have you ever noticed that a flight which was previously sold out has opened back up? The original flight I wanted was sold out within 2 days of opening up. Just wondering what the odds of it opening back up are.

Well, the original flight I purchased for black friday at 9:50 am was sold out in about maybe 10 hours, that was in May, I think. Now, just a couple weeks ago, that flight finally opened up again with wanna get away fares and has stayed open since then. Actually, for about 3 1/2 months, there were only a small number of flights open and then down to 3 flights open that day, now all flights are open with wanna get away fares available for black friday(day after thanksgiving). After watching for so long, I was surprised, but eventually they did reopen fully. So, they definitely can open back up, and in the future now, I'd actually be more shocked if they sold out quickly and never opened back up.

 

[zilp]

Thanks for the reminder. We just booked a last minute trip yesterday and today I was able to get a price adjustment on one ticket. Luckily that original ticket was purchased with rewards points, so no worries with leftover credit.

Thanks to PP who described exactly how to change the flight to get credit. I have seen it explained a bunch of times but I can never remember how to do it!

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

One thing to be aware of when it comes to the credits is that you can only use 4 forms of payment for a flight. Our upcoming flight has dropped 5 times since we booked it. When the prices at our local airport dropped to the point where I was willing to make the switch, I couldn't do it. We had 5 credits and the "new credit" from dropping our current flight.

Price drops are nice, but they can also come back to bite you. I guess I should have read the fine print

 

[Minniekins]

BuzzLiteYear, I'm not sure what you mean by '4 forms of payment for a flight'. I'm confused, lol, could you explain that a bit more please? So far, we've had one price drop on our return tickets, where we got points returned, and then recently, one switch of days on our trip going to wdw, for the same amount of points, just switching days.

 

[pooch]

Does not apply to flights booked with points. You can do that as much as you like. BUT when you have paid with cash/credit card and have multiple credits, all on different confirmation numbers, the system will only allow you to use 4 on any given new reservation.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

BuzzLiteYear, I'm not sure what you mean by '4 forms of payment for a flight'. I'm confused, lol, could you explain that a bit more please? So far, we've had one price drop on our return tickets, where we got points returned, and then recently, one switch of days on our trip going to wdw, for the same amount of points, just switching days.

Each credit counts as an individual form of payment, sort of like gift certificates. Since each person in my party has 5 credits and the credit for the current tickets, we can't use all of those credits to purchase a more expensive ticket. There are 5 of us with 5 credits each, we have roughly 25 forms of payment.

 

[monique5]

I saw a flight price decrease on flight to MCO & wondered about a refund. Googled. Then found Disboards link while on phone. Followed instructions on page 1 of thread. Small discount, but better than nothing. Most airlines do not allow this. Planning to go back to Disney in June, so the credit will be used. Now I'll just keep checking for another price drop & on return flight. I LOVE DISBOARDS.

 

[georgina]

Each credit counts as an individual form of payment, sort of like gift certificates. Since each person in my party has 5 credits and the credit for the current tickets, we can't use all of those credits to purchase a more expensive ticket. There are 5 of us with 5 credits each, we have roughly 25 forms of payment.

I'm confused too. You said the price of your tickets dropped 5 times. Did you get a new confirmation number each time the price dropped? My confirmation number usually stays the same when I change to the lower fare, but I have only done it once per trip so I wasn't sure what would happen if I changed to a lower price a second time. It sounds like you have all these separate credits, so I was wondering if they are all associated with different confirmation numbers, or somehow separate credits on the same number.

 

[jcarwash]

I'm confused too. You said the price of your tickets dropped 5 times. Did you get a new confirmation number each time the price dropped? My confirmation number usually stays the same when I change to the lower fare, but I have only done it once per trip so I wasn't sure what would happen if I changed to a lower price a second time. It sounds like you have all these separate credits, so I was wondering if they are all associated with different confirmation numbers, or somehow separate credits on the same number.

It's separate credits on the same confirmation number.

When you plug in that confirmation number when applying travel funds to a new purchase, you may not be able to apply all that's been accrued, because they aren't treated as a lump sum.

If you're also using a credit card for your new purchase, that takes up one form of payment out of four, leaving you three "slots" to apply entries from your travel funds.

 

[georgina]

It's separate credits on the same confirmation number.

When you plug in that confirmation number when applying travel funds to a new purchase, you may not be able to apply all that's been accrued, because they aren't treated as a lump sum.

If you're also using a credit card for your new purchase, that takes up one form of payment out of four, leaving you three "slots" to apply entries from your travel funds.

Thanks. I've never done more than one change when I've paid for tickets. It's a bummer they are all separate credits.

 

[pooch]

Hmmm. I had 1 credit from an outbound flight and 2 from the return flight. I entered the outbound conf # and it applied those funds. Then I entered the return flight conf # and it entered the 2 credits associated with that # as a lump sum not as 2 separate credits. So if your flight goes down 5 times, those 5 are lumped under one conf # and considered 1 form of payment or so it worked in my case

 

[keishashadow]

Hmmm. I had 1 credit from an outbound flight and 2 from the return flight. I entered the outbound conf # and it applied those funds. Then I entered the return flight conf # and it entered the 2 credits associated with that # as a lump sum not as 2 separate credits. So if your flight goes down 5 times, those 5 are lumped under one conf # and considered 1 form of payment or so it worked in my case

no, they would've all had the first series of numbers but followed by a dash & separate numbers for each price drop

so, I'm counting here as you describe above using:

1 credit outbound
2 credits for the return (even though it listed as a lump sum)

would equal the 3 plus CC = 4 permissible forms of payment

if you check your ticket # to which the credits pertain, you will see each & every credit listed separately.

btw, there used to be distinctions as to the number of Unused Tickets (UTs) up to 2 per & Leftover Electronic Ticket Funds (LETFs) up to 4
within credits. No idea if that has been updated or not.

 

[pooch]

Not what I remember seeing. When the window with the credits came up there were only 2 listed, the 1 from the outbound and 1 total from the return. But perhaps I wasn't paying attention.

 

[stitchlovestink]

You do realize that you aren't actually getting a refund, just a credit?

I sometimes wonder how many people are actually able to use their credits? I'll bet Southwest makes millions every year on unused credits.

I have used all of mine except one and it was only about $10.
I also don't follow most people's advice of buy it when it first comes out. my home airport has ALWAYS dropped! Today I got my flights to MCO for $97. I am pleased! And it is a Non Stop!! Yes!!

Regarding the credit, or funds, on acct to use on your next flight: I understand that the credit expires 1 yr from the original purchase date, however, I'm confused if the next ticket needs only to be purchased before the expiration date. In other words, if I have a credit that expires on June 1, 2015, can I purchase the new ticket using the credit on May 1, 2015, for a flight that will be on September 12, 2015?

OR does both the ticket purchase AND the new flight both need to take place before the expiration date?

Thanks for the help.

the new flight has to occur before the expiration. and something else to keep in mind is when you rebook, all the payment for that new flight gets grandfathered into the same earliest expiration date. I don't think that is fair but it is the way it works. So just be warned...

 

[pooch]

​

no, they would've all had the first series of numbers but followed by a dash & separate numbers for each price drop

so, I'm counting here as you describe above using:

1 credit outbound
2 credits for the return (even though it listed as a lump sum)

would equal the 3 plus CC = 4 permissible forms of payment

if you check your ticket # to which the credits pertain, you will see each & every credit listed separately.

btw, there used to be distinctions as to the number of Unused Tickets (UTs) up to 2 per & Leftover Electronic Ticket Funds (LETFs) up to 4
within credits. No idea if that has been updated or not.

Looked up just what you've said on SWA site. I never noticed that. Thanks for posting the correct scoop!!

 

[DisneyFan13US]

Great thread and great idea. I just rebooked our flights and saved 800 points. Not much but every little bit helps!!

 

[keishashadow]

Looked up just what you've said on SWA site. I never noticed that. Thanks for posting the correct scoop!!

u r welcome

it's confusing to navigate the in's & out's of working the system they have set for us.

 

[Minniekins]

Does not apply to flights booked with points. You can do that as much as you like. BUT when you have paid with cash/credit card and have multiple credits, all on different confirmation numbers, the system will only allow you to use 4 on any given new reservation.

Cool, so far I've only booked SW with points for our wdw trips, was flying AT before that. Good to know what to expect if need to do cash, Thanks!

Each credit counts as an individual form of payment, sort of like gift certificates. Since each person in my party has 5 credits and the credit for the current tickets, we can't use all of those credits to purchase a more expensive ticket. There are 5 of us with 5 credits each, we have roughly 25 forms of payment.

Ah, ok, thank you BuzzLiteyear! The cash credit thing is great, though sounds like it can get a bit complicated at times, lol!

It's separate credits on the same confirmation number.

When you plug in that confirmation number when applying travel funds to a new purchase, you may not be able to apply all that's been accrued, because they aren't treated as a lump sum.

If you're also using a credit card for your new purchase, that takes up one form of payment out of four, leaving you three "slots" to apply entries from your travel funds.

Thanks for more clarification, good to know about the 3 slots and cc pymt!