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

[nlenguyen]

It looks like to me that they already changed their point redemptions. I used to get at least 1.4cop for each redemption now my flights are getting around 1.1 cpp

 

[hsmamato2]

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.

Yeah.... I don't care about checked bags, THIS is the rotten stinkin' change that I am so is probably going to happen

 

[hsmamato2]

I've got to say I'm currently confused also. Like I said I only really cared about the ability to use points and change them as I wanted- it was the main reason I stuck with SWA. Now the wording is unclear- will all fares be cancellable ? I can;t figure out any other way that points could work for SWA, what if I book basic (IDK what that really means at this point) and cancel? Where do my points go then?

 

[focusondisney]

I can;t figure out any other way that points could work for SWA, what if I book basic (IDK what that really means at this point) and cancel? Where do my points go then?

From my post on Monday

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. ”

Doesn’t look like anything will change with the way points work.

 

[focusondisney]

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.

The Basic fare ticket specifically says No Changes. If you intend to look for price drops, you probably shouldn’t book that ticket. Because yes, it seems you’d have to cancel & rebook.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

The Basic fare ticket specifically says No Changes. If you intend to look for price drops, you probably shouldn’t book that ticket. Because yes, it seems you’d have to cancel & rebook.

Right, I'm just saying a think a lot of folks do have that intention, they want the lowest price and the flexibility to recoup points if it goes down. It looks like that's going to become much more cumbersome because you would have to full on cancel and rebook.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

It looks like to me that they already changed their point redemptions. I used to get at least 1.4cop for each redemption now my flights are getting around 1.1 cpp

I noticed this morning when I checked flights that things have definitely changed compared to yesterday. I'm used to see point redemptions that are very specific (14067, 5083) and now they're all in multiples of 500. Also, same day redemption rates at 1.2, 1.3, etc.

 

[focusondisney]

Right, I'm just saying a think a lot of folks do have that intention, they want the lowest price and the flexibility to recoup points if it goes down. It looks like that's going to become much more cumbersome because you would have to full on cancel and rebook.

There intentionally isn’t flexibility with the basic fare anymore. If you’re looking for flexibility, probably better to just book WGA+ in the first place.

 

[Lori74]

I'm booking some family members flights for Sept soon. Normally I book one way flights and just reprice up until their trips. They don't fly that often. With travel funds expiring is there any reason I should book them one ways, and reprice? It would be a waste of time to reprice their flights if they aren't traveling for a couple of years. Does that make sense?

 

[EACarlson]

I'm booking some family members flights for Sept soon. Normally I book one way flights and just reprice up until their trips. They don't fly that often. With travel funds expiring is there any reason I should book them one ways, and reprice? It would be a waste of time to reprice their flights if they aren't traveling for a couple of years. Does that make sense?

Yes, if they aren't going to be able to use the credits or use them quickly enough, it might make more sense to wait. There is the chance that the flight will be sold out or the fares will be higher, but for the most part booking SW will become the same as booking with any of the legacies.

 

[Lori74]

Do we know if credits made before the end of May expire? And thank you for your answer

Yes, if they aren't going to be able to use the credits or use them quickly enough, it might make more sense to wait. There is the chance that the flight will be sold out or the fares will be higher, but for the most part booking SW will become the same as booking with any of the legacies.

 

[EACarlson]

Do we know if credits made before the end of May expire? And thank you for your answer

Everything I've seen has said that any flights changed or booked after 5/28 would be with the new rules. I had a couple of LUV vouchers that were going to expire before my next trip so I booked a throwaway and cancelled it to get a non-expiring credit last week. I just checked and the flight credit shows no expiration date. At some point in the next few days I need to book my September flight to MCO, but I would expect that the remaining credit will still show no expiration date.

 

[han22735]

I noticed this morning when I checked flights that things have definitely changed compared to yesterday. I'm used to see point redemptions that are very specific (14067, 5083) and now they're all in multiples of 500. Also, same day redemption rates at 1.2, 1.3, etc.

Saw this as well during my normal look for point drops this morning and thought it was weird.

Right, I'm just saying a think a lot of folks do have that intention, they want the lowest price and the flexibility to recoup points if it goes down. It looks like that's going to become much more cumbersome because you would have to full on cancel and rebook.

I'm still wondering since you can cancel and get all the points back then maybe if booked on points it may be different than a cash booking when trying to make a change. Since technically you're not "changing" your flight just "repricing" it...but i guess we will have to wait a couple months to figure this out.

 

[EACarlson]

Saw this as well during my normal look for point drops this morning and thought it was weird.


I'm still wondering since you can cancel and get all the points back then maybe if booked on points it may be different than a cash booking when trying to make a change. Since technically you're not "changing" your flight just "repricing" it...but i guess we will have to wait a couple months to figure this out.

What you're going to lose is EBCI. You'll be able to cancel the ticket, get the points back and purchase the new one. Probably all at once if you call in. But for the rest of this year if you purchased EBCI, that will be lost, no refunds and it won't carry over. Beginning next year it will be seat assignments, if you paid for a seat assignment, when you cancel that will be lost.

 

[focusondisney]

Do we know if credits made before the end of May expire? And thank you for your answer

https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/policy-changes?clk=HC_DOT_P2079_SouthwestPolicies

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

What time does SWA typically release fares? There is a new batch coming out tomorrow.

 

[eticketplease]

What time does SWA typically release fares? There is a new batch coming out tomorrow.

It is usually around 7 to 7:15 EST.

I’m sorry I can’t remember who but someone on this thread made a post with the DP for the release dates and times.

Edit:
Looks like it was @LadybugsMum

Post in thread 'Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...'

Mar 21, 2024

Updated release time

Release Date | Time (eastern)
03/21/24 | 7:09am
02/08/24 | 7:40am
12/14/23 | 7:57am
10/26/23 | 7:10am
09/14/23 | 7:20am
06/29/23 | 7:35am
06/08/23 | 7:20am
03/09/23 | 7:10am
02/09/23 | 7:15am
12/15/22 | 7:15am
10/27/22 | 7:25am
09/08/22 | 7:25am
07/21/22 | 7:20am
06/16/22 | 7:30am
03/30/22 | 7:30am
12/16/21 | 7:50am
12/08/21 | 6:45am
06/10/21 | 7:15am
04/01/21 | 9:10am
12/10/20 | 7:15am
08/13/20 | 9:15am

• LadybugsMum

• 

 

[Ariel620]

I know we are not yet at the 5/28 day for the SW changes, but I think I already noticed a change that maybe encouraging to the question on if we can get points back when changing the lowest fare ticket.

Instead of simply changing the lowest fare ticket to the same exact ticket and getting points back when the price dropped… today I had to go through 2 steps to do it, but it did let me do it.

I already knew the fare for the ticket I bought with points was now less (13000 to 11000 points) but when I went to change it it was not giving me the 2000 back per ticket.

But it would let me change to the plus fare and receive 1000 back per ticket, then change back to the wga fare and receive the other 1000.

So I got the whole 2000 back per ticket, just took 2 steps instead of one.

But I feel like this is encouraging. Like this might be the way in the future.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Who else is thumb twiddling waiting for this fare drop?

 

[mlittig]

Anyone else up and waiting for the next round of fares to drop this morning