Please explain how DINGs work

[deedeetoo]

After last summer's fun with Delta constantly changing our flights/seats, I've decided to try SWA this year. I don't understand how DING works and have some questions.

First, if you book a flight at one price, and then a DING comes out for a lower price can you just rebook the first flight, or do you have to cancel, get a credit, and then book again? If its the second way, is there any possbility that you could lose the ability to book the DING fare while you're in the midst of this process (cancel the first one, go to book the second and find out its not there anymore)?

How quickly do these DINGs come and go? I cannot download the DING software to my computer at work. If one comes out during the day, will it be gone by the time I get home at night? Is there anyway to find out if a DING comes out while at work without the software? If I do find out, can I book the DING fare without the software or do I need to wait til I go home?

Can you get your money back if you rebook at lower price or does it just become a credit that you can use at a later date?

Thanks for your help on this!

 

[corinascot]

I'll try to answer b/c no one else has. We just booked our first DING flight for our trip next month, so I'm no expert, but I did some research beforehand and this is what I understand.

To rebook a current southwest flight to get a DING flight, you have to cancel the first flight and rebook the DING flight using the credit from the first flight. You could lose the DING flight in the meantime, so I've seen folks on this board say they have 2 session running on their computer so they can hold the DING while they're cancelling the first flight.

The frequency of DINGs varies. Somedays there aren't any, some days there are many. I can't load DING at work either, so when I was at work, I would check this board every hour b/c some kind soul has been posting the new DING fares.

Now, if I had seen a fare, I couldn't have booked it at work b/c you need a computer with DING downloaded. You usually have a few hours or more beofre the DING expires. My plan was to phone my trusty neighbor, if she was home, and have her book the trip for us. Or, I could have run home myself if I had time. Luckily, our DING popped up on a morning I wasn't working.

If you book a DING and still have your other tickets, you can cancel those for a credit to be used at another date.

We've never flown Southwest, but this fare was so good. The 3 of us are flying RT for $321. We live in Cleveland and we have to drive to Columbus to get this fare, but we have family near the airport and we can even park there.

 

[poohbear2]

Can you do this on the phone also or are Dings just for web use?

 

[plowgirl]

Can anyone explain a little further. Do I have to have a flight already booked in order for me to book a ding fare?
We want to fly down the end of Feb. the days are fairly flexable.

 

[slruud]

You do not have to have a previous booking to book via DING!.

 

[disneyldwjr]

Can you do this on the phone also or are Dings just for web use?

dings are internet only.