Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...

[EACarlson]

Booked today using LUV Vouchers for six weeks from now. So I can cancel those on Thursday and get flight credits, which I'll then eventually use for the next MCO flights I have to pay for in September. Just have to make sure I book before Memorial Day so I get checked bags, that I'm going to need for that trip.
This may be my last flight on SW unless their prices fall back to what they once were. I have to drive 75 miles to get to the airport that has SW, and usually have to get a hotel the night before since I generally fly at O Dark Thirty. I probably won't do that just to skip a connection if the prices are the same and I don't have to pay for my bags on American or Delta.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I could save $180 by redoing my flights for a non-Disney trip, but I think I'm just going to leave them now that there's going to be a time limit on the credits. I've been using Delta more lately for the flights to MCO anyway.

 

[EACarlson]

I could save $180 by redoing my flights for a non-Disney trip, but I think I'm just going to leave them now that there's going to be a time limit on the credits. I've been using Delta more lately for the flights to MCO anyway.

Expiration dates on credits begin with any created or changed after 5/28/25.

 

[LadybugsMum]

Expiration dates on credits begin with any created or changed after 5/28/25.

Right, but if I'm not flying them as much then I don't want the credits sitting out there forever either.

 

[han22735]

Right, but if I'm not flying them as much then I don't want the credits sitting out there forever either.

Not making the change makes zero sense. Even if you dont use them for a few years

 

[kristenrice]

2 questions...
1) If I book a flight now (for October) with the WGA+ fare category, will the transferable credit expire, or is it still subject to the no-expiration terms?
2) If I pay for a ticket for my adult daughter using my SWA Visa card (she is an authorized cardholder) will she be subject to baggage fees if her ticket is booked/changed after May 28?

Here's the scenario: I already have a trip planned with my friend and our flights are booked. My "adult" daughter (21) was invited from day 1, but at the time, she did not have a steady job and could not commit to anything. Now, she has a full-time job and she is in a financial position that she can join us if her vacation time gets approved, but she is still a little on the fence. It would be her first "grown up" vacation (i.e. the first one that SHE is paying for) and even though she has the money saved up, it is still a big sticker shock for her. I was thinking that she could book the WGA+ fare and then if she decides she does not want to go (or cannot get the time off), then she could transfer the credit to me, but I will not be able to use it until next October. I would not want it to go to waste. Right now, even the WGA+ fare is about $450 R/T which is still cheaper than Delta ($700!).

I think I know the answer to #2...she should get the free baggage as long as I pay for her ticket with my card, or even if she pays for it with "her" card. I'm more concerned about question #1 because we are on a deadline with that one.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

If I book a flight now (for October) with the WGA+ fare category, will the transferable credit expire, or is it still subject to the no-expiration terms?

Booked before 5/28 is still non expiring. If you were to change after 5/28 (like to get money back) it would switch to the new rules.

) If I pay for a ticket for my adult daughter using my SWA Visa card (she is an authorized cardholder) will she be subject to baggage fees if her ticket is booked/changed after May 28?

It is not based on where the ticket is charged. The language states that cardmembers get the bags. She is not a cardmember so she wouldn't get free bags if it is booked or changed after 5/28.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

OK, who wants to play, "Guess How SW Will Handle It"?

Ticket is purchased 05/27/25 and subject to old bag rules. Companion is added to reservation closer to travel date, let's say Oct 2025 for a Nov trip. For the sake of the question, the Companion Pass Member does not have any status, credit card, or ticket type that would have gotten free bags anyway. The only reason they have free bags is because they booked before 5/28.

Does the companion get free bags?

The language reads:
If a Companion Pass Member qualifies for a checked baggage benefit, will the benefit apply to their designated Companion when traveling together?

Yes. If a Companion Pass Member qualifies for one or two free checked bags (based, for example, on tier status or the fare purchased), the benefit will apply to their Companion.

So, in this case, the companion pass member qualifies for two free checked bags as a result of being on a pre 5/28 ticket. Do you think that will still carry over to a companion booked under the new schedule and subject to the new fees? Thankfully, we'll have a cardholder on the trip, so it'll be a moot point for us. But this whole switch happening based on tickets booked on/after a certain date is going to put SW in a weird limbo with folks on the same flights having different baggage rules for 6 months, maybe longer depending on when the next fare drop hits after the March one.

 

[EACarlson]

OK, who wants to play, "Guess How SW Will Handle It"?

Ticket is purchased 05/27/25 and subject to old bag rules. Companion is added to reservation closer to travel date, let's say Oct 2025 for a Nov trip. For the sake of the question, the Companion Pass Member does not have any status, credit card, or ticket type that would have gotten free bags anyway. The only reason they have free bags is because they booked before 5/28.

Does the companion get free bags?

The language reads:
If a Companion Pass Member qualifies for a checked baggage benefit, will the benefit apply to their designated Companion when traveling together?

Yes. If a Companion Pass Member qualifies for one or two free checked bags (based, for example, on tier status or the fare purchased), the benefit will apply to their Companion.

So, in this case, the companion pass member qualifies for two free checked bags as a result of being on a pre 5/28 ticket. Do you think that will still carry over to a companion booked under the new schedule and subject to the new fees? Thankfully, we'll have a cardholder on the trip, so it'll be a moot point for us. But this whole switch happening based on tickets booked on/after a certain date is going to put SW in a weird limbo with folks on the same flights having different baggage rules for 6 months, maybe longer depending on when the next fare drop hits after the March one.

I don't believe the companion will get a free bag online, but will if they raise the point with a check in agent. I don't believe that SW will spend the money necessary to program that for a limited time issue. I'm not sure how confident I am that they will get the companion baggage benefit for status holders programmed correctly. I'm half expecting that you'll have to plead your case when you drop your bags to get the fees waived, or call in after the fact to get reimbursed.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I don't believe that SW will spend the money necessary to program that for a limited time issue.

That's a very fair point. I'm genuinely interested in how much more money they expect to be making by assigning this as tickets booked after DATE instead of flights starting 1/6/26 (which will be the next release after this one). I have to assume it's a huge cost to be able to manage the dual ticketing for those 7 months, versus just building out the platform for everyone to cut over 1/6.

 

[EACarlson]

That's a very fair point. I'm genuinely interested in how much more money they expect to be making by assigning this as tickets booked after DATE instead of flights starting 1/6/26 (which will be the next release after this one). I have to assume it's a huge cost to be able to manage the dual ticketing for those 7 months, versus just building out the platform for everyone to cut over 1/6.

A lot. Most people haven't booked for the holiday season yet, and those that have, I figure half of them are going to make a change to their itinerary one way or another between booking and travel. They may get me, I'm booking a trip to MCO for the end of September. If the price drop is enough I'll consider it.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

A lot. Most people haven't booked for the holiday season yet, and those that have, I figure half of them are going to make a change to their itinerary one way or another between booking and travel. They may get me, I'm booking a trip to MCO for the end of September. If the price drop is enough I'll consider it.

It had better be a lot for the amount of headache they're going to put their staff through managing the change! These schedules that are out there now were released under the assumption of free checked bags where plenty of folks (our family included) just check everything they can and only carry on what they have to. Suddenly, there are going to be tons more people using overhead storage, which we know slows down boarding. It's going to be rough.

 

[kristenrice]

It had better be a lot for the amount of headache they're going to put their staff through managing the change! These schedules that are out there now were released under the assumption of free checked bags where plenty of folks (our family included) just check everything they can and only carry on what they have to. Suddenly, there are going to be tons more people using overhead storage, which we know slows down boarding. It's going to be rough.

^^^THIS is me too!
I am actually looking to buy a "full-size" (checked) piece of luggage since all I own is carry-on bags. Now that SW will be charging for bags, I'm not sure that I am going to invest the money in a checked bag. I have the SW Visa, but I don't know if I am going to keep it much longer. Right now, SW is still much cheaper (around $450 R/T) than Delta, American and United (which all run > $600 R/T) from my airport and it's the only one that offers non-stop to MCO, although it is VERY rare. After all of the changes that SW is rolling out, we will see what happens to the prices around here when the playing field is leveled. I'm really not expecting any dramatic changes. Heck, once you factor in the costs of one carry on, one checked bag and a reasonable (not middle) seat selection, Allegiant and Frontier still cost about $350 R/T around here too, and they don't even have daily flights.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I used my SWRR points to purchase 4 x $100 Target gift cards.
Still have more points

 

[titojackson84]

I may have missed it somewhere but will basic fare booked with points also not be refunded if there’s a price drop?

 

[leebee]

I'm confused, but I'm really glad our family trip is in early May, with everything already booked.

I am going to be booking my November solo on 3/27; new changes go into effect on reservations made on 3/28 and later, so I'll book just in time. I will book the cheapest fare that I can, which right now is Wanna Get Away, using RR points. If a sale comes into being and I change this reservation (basically roll it over) will I get the points back? If I roll it over to a cheaper rate, will the reservation become subject to the "new" rules? I think the answers are 'yes' and 'yes" but it's really hard to tell WHAT Southwest is doing these days.

I already have a new Delta-linked AmEx card. The closest airport that SW flies into is Portland, which is a 2+ hour drive. Now that they've made everything so challenging, I'm gonna ride out the points we have, but stop using the SW card. We'll swap over to Delta and/or American. While I don't love either of these, I can fly out of BGR, which is 15 minutes from home. No sense in leaving my house 5-ish hours before flight time, if SW policies are gonna be just like all the others'.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

new changes go into effect on reservations made on 3/28

It's 5/28, just to be clear.

If a sale comes into being and I change this reservation (basically roll it over) will I get the points back? If I roll it over to a cheaper rate, will the reservation become subject to the "new" rules? I think the answers are 'yes' and 'yes" but it's really hard to tell WHAT Southwest is doing these days.

Yes, the first change that you make after 5/28 will be with a ticket subject to the old rules, so you will be able to change it and get your points back.

At that time, it becomes subject to the new rules, which, for the lowest fare, mean no changes and travel funds expiring in 6 months. We *think* that means that, in order to get back points on this new Basic fare, you'd have to cancel and then immediately use your travel funds to rebook the ticket. Everyone is assuming that the days of just logging in and changing the ticket to get points back will now be for only the three higher ticket types.

 

[leebee]

It's 5/28, just to be clear.



Yes, the first change that you make after 5/28 will be with a ticket subject to the old rules, so you will be able to change it and get your points back.

At that time, it becomes subject to the new rules, which, for the lowest fare, mean no changes and travel funds expiring in 6 months. We *think* that means that, in order to get back points on this new Basic fare, you'd have to cancel and then immediately use your travel funds to rebook the ticket. Everyone is assuming that the days of just logging in and changing the ticket to get points back will now be for only the three higher ticket types.

Man, how did I confuse this? Thanks!!
If I can't roll over my booking to get the points back at the lowest price point... well, I guess I don't really care about saving points anymore, and I KNOW that Delta and American will be happy to have my business.

 

[focusondisney]

Man, how did I confuse this? Thanks!!
If I can't roll over my booking to get the points back at the lowest price point... well, I guess I don't really care about saving points anymore, and I KNOW that Delta and American will be happy to have my business.

I don’t think we know how points bookings will work. Currently any changes to points bookings the points go back to your account, you don’t get travel funds for those. I haven’t read anything that says that will change. Unless I missed something, but I think I’ve seen all the announcements.

Edit… this is on the SW site with information on the new policy changes. Looks like points get returned to your account,,same as now.

“For travel booked with Rapid Rewards points, if canceled, points will be returned to the Rapid Rewards account holder who booked the ticket. ”



https://support.southwest.com/helpc...t-changes?clk=HC_DOT_P2079_TermsandConditions

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Edit… this is on the SW site with information on the new policy changes. Looks like points get returned to your account,,same as now.

“For travel booked with Rapid Rewards points, if canceled, points will be returned to the Rapid Rewards account holder who booked the ticket. ”

If cancelled, yes, you get the points back. What's unclear is if the lowest ticket type will still have the option to go change a flight, pick the exact flight you're on, and just get the points refunded, the way the current system works. Or, if you see that the flight two hours later suddenly dropped, you change your schedule a bit, grab that one, and get points back. Since that ticket type isn't eligible for changes, only cancellations, it seems unlikely.

It seems like, with the lowest ticket type, you would have to all out cancel your flight and then book again if the points go down. And the taxes refund would be a travel credit with a six month expiration date. If you have to actually cancel to rebook, instead of just changing, there's the chance that something happens in that time when you're cancelling and you lose the lower point ticket. Probably not a high likelihood, but always a possibility. It makes it a riskier proposition than the current system, where you know you still have your current booking at your current points level if there's an error when you go to change to the new, lower ticket.