Please explain SWA price adjustments to me

[HappyCamperToo]

Sorry to be so dense, but I'd appreciate it if someone would please clarify how to work with Southwest airlines for me. I've got some time to get this all understood....

I just learned there are no "change fees." That's great!

Now, let's imagine sometime in August I'm able to book a RT from Chicago to Orlando for, say, $200.

Then let's further imagine that in November, a ding fare which is lower comes out. (I can dream, right?)

Would someone please explain exactly how, if at all, I would take advantage of this?

Would I first have to cancel the first trip in order to get the credits with which I would pay for the other? Ding fares have to be booked online, right? If that's so, wouldn't there be the risk that the ding fare might be gone before I got to it and then I'd be out of luck?

If someone would kindly explain it all to me.... I just don't get the mechanics of how one takes advantage of the price lowering.

Of course, I'll be grateful just to get a reasonably priced flight to begin with---the rest is just frosting o the cake---but could help to pay for a few Mickey bars...

Thanks.

 

[zurgswife]

1] I found a great DING for the exact flights that I wanted. In fact it was the same flights we originally had but for 1/2 the price. $39 ea way cannot be beat!

2] I picked my flights and went thru the process of 'booking' them right up until the point where it asked for form of payment.

3] In a seperate window I opened up my email confirmation from the original [higher priced] flight that I had booked with SW a month or so earlier.

4] I found my confirmation number [which is actually a combination of numbers and letters] on my email and wrote it down.

5] I scrolled down my confirmation email and found this information -
REFUND INFORMATION
For Southwest Airlines Refund Information please visit:
www.southwest.com/travel_...ation.html

You can skip the step #5 and just click on the link I have in step #6.

6] When I clicked on the link in #5 it brought up a page with this information -

If your outbound flight has not departed, you may submit a refund request:
online at southwest.com. To begin this process, you will first need to Cancel your flight Reservation. The words in bold are a link to cancel the original flight reservation.
Click on that link.

7] They will ask for your original Confirmation Number and the credit card holders name - as it appears on the card. This would be the card that you used for the original reservation.

To save alot of time. Have your confirmation number and credit card holder information in a handy spot at all times. This way you can grab it quickly if you get DINGed.

8] enter the information - and click 'Retrieve Flight Information'. At this point [in the next screen] you will be clicking to cancel your reservation. BUT - before I clicked to cancel - I went back to the DING window and checked to be sure my DING flights were still available.

9] after I was sure they were still available I clicked to cancel my original flight.

10] In the screen to book the DING flight I stated that I wanted to use funds that I had in reserve. [I'm not sure of the exact wording it used]. Here is where I entered the confirmation number from the original flight. It showed my new flight as paid in full and also showed my credit remaining on the original flight.

It sounds complicating but it really only took less than 5 minutes from start to finish.

Warning ~ ~ ~ ~ I guess there is always that small chance that in the seconds it takes to cancel the original flight and book the new one that the DING fares could become booked up and no longer available. If you know without a doubt that you will be flying often within the next year [and you have the extra funds available], a sure fire way would be to book the new flight and pay for it. Then cancel the old flight and have the entire original amount as a credit to be used on an upcoming flight.

 

[HappyCamperToo]

zurgswife,

Wow! Thank you for taking the time to type out that level of detail. It's exactly what I wanted to know!

I thought the answer would be something like that. Even though it would probably be fine, I'm going to think about this long and hard before deciding to do anything, should the pportunity arise. A bird in the hand might be better....

You're terrific! Thanks again.

Anyone else ever do this?? Anyone ever get shut out?? I'd love to hear more stories if anyone else wants to share.

 

[Drake]

I don't know if this applies to the 'Ding' fares...but, when I have checked and found that a lower fare was offered on my same flights...or even a different flight...I just go to the Southwest page.....click on Travel Center....then look for Change Itinerary....and take it from there. If the fares are lower, you end up with a credit. You don't have to cancel your old reservation first, etc.
I also seem to remember that as you proceed with the changes you always have the chance to not go any further..and just keep your reservation how it was originally.

But, as I said, I've never done this with 'Ding' fares....just lower fares at the Southwest site.

Good luck!

 

[DonnaL]

Drake,

I've done the same thing with a lower fare and the travel plan page, just simply change the itinerary. I've never used Ding, but, for some reason I seem to remember someone here on the boards saying it's different when booking a Ding fare.

 

[tinroad66]

The only way to change to a "DING" fare is to use the method described by Zurgswife... for all other online fares you can just change your itinerary from the Southwest Travel Center, Change Air Reservation link.

 

[HappyCamperToo]

The only way to change to a "DING" fare is to use the method described by Zurgswife... for all other online fares you can just change your itinerary from the Southwest Travel Center, Change Air Reservation link.

Thanks everyone.

Is it risky? Are your seats at that price sort of momentarily held for you once you've opened the reservations window and begun to pay for your ticket? Has anybody done this, and has it always worked for you, or has anyone lost out?

 

[pplasky]

I'd like to know if anyone has lost their original seats and not gotten the ding fare as well. I know many times you have two minutes to complete a transaction, so having to cancel, get a new ressie, and rebook sounds risky.

 

[bridget]

We've had good luck with DIngs. We are getting ready to book with their 67 ow special (I think that is what it is), and wait for a ding! We always end up with a credit- but that just means we will have to go back!!!!