Okay, I will try to answer your questions...I've only flown with SW on one trip, but I happen to do exactly what you are asking.
is this available on all fares (some fares say restricted?)? Yes, I believe it is...the tickets I originally purchased were the cheapest available online...not a sale or any promo and I was able to get the travel credit from SW on those.
Can I change the flights (even to a different airport/or day and time) to get the better fare (without penalty), or is it only available for the same flight Yes, it is my understanding from the DIS board and from speaking with customer service reps from SW, that you can switch the airport, flights, dates, etc. to get a better fare and will be given a travel credit with SW.
It sounds like the refund is only in the form of a SW credit. Is that credit tranferable (can I give it to DH to use later even though he isn't going on this trip)? To the best of my understanding, yes. I haven't tried this, but remember either reading or being told by the customer service rep that you can do so. (I'm hoping because Dsis and I are wanting to head to Las Vegas at the end of May and I'm trying to burn the credit I received from SW.)
How do you get the refund if you find a better Ding price? Can't you only get those fares online? Yes, if you receive a Ding fare, it can only be purchased online.
Well, this is what I did...it may not have been the easiest way, but I wanted to be sure I did it right. Originally I purchased 3 RT tickets from Nashville to MCO at $222 (or $111 oneway) each on August 19, 2005 and about 10 days later the Ding fare came out for the same flight at $35 oneway. (Note: I didn't have to go with the exact same flight, it just happened that it was the best flight for the trip so I stuck with it.)
First, I made sure that the tickets I wanted were available for me to purchase...having a second internet browser window open helps...have the Ding window open...find the flights you want...go all the way to the step where you are ready to purchase and hold.
Second, because I had never done this before I called up SW and got a customer service rep on the line and asked them to walk me through the process...it made it even easier and provided me with peace of mind, knowing they were there.
Third, in the other browser window I went to the SW homepage and then to cancel the original flight. I was then issued a SW travel credit, which is good for travel that is completed within one year of ORIGINAL date of purchase...so for me August 19, 2006.
Fourth, as soon as the travel credit was available, I went back to the browser window with the purchase now ready for me, entered the information required...you'll need to know the confirmation number for the cancelled flight and the customer service rep can walk you through this also. Then I bought the new tickets at the lower price.
Anything else I need to know? The one thing I wish I had known when I originally booked the airfare with SW, was to do each leg as one way. It ended up that the return flight for our trip was sold out at the $35 ding fare, but I still had to cancel the entire flight (to and from MCO) since I had originally booked as RT. I then had to rebook the return flight at the same fare, to ensure I had seats. (It was better to have saved a little money than to have a great priced flight to MCO and no return flight.) I did get lucky and about a month later the return flight came up at $84, so I still saved a little money by getting the lower fare and a travel credit. So, my suggestion is to book everything on SW as one way...just in case one part of the trip isn't available if you do find a lower fare at a later date.
Well, I hope this helps and isn't too confusing. I'm sure there are folks who will tell you that you don't have to call a SW customer service rep to accomplish the task...and it's true, you don't, but for my first time doing it, I wanted to make sure that I got it right and I could remain online and talk at the same time so it was a piece of cake.
