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

[Lsdolphin]

You are correct. If you use points to book a flight and then cancel that flight, the points get refunded back into your RR acct. If you change a flight booked with points and the new flight is less points than the original, the difference will be refunded to your RR acct (if the new flight is more, the difference in points will be subtracted from your RR acct). Travel credits expire 1 yr from original booking date, but points never expire.

Yes that is exactly what I thought. but today when I tried to change a May flight to make it a week later and the Red Banner was on top of top of the screen I got a message saying I could not make change as one of my flights was expiring....I am wondering if it’s because when I paid the extra charge of $11.20 that they add on to your points payment that money was from credit fund...if this is the case they should let you know that ahead of time.

 

[EACarlson]

Yes that is exactly what I thought. but today when I tried to change a May flight to make it a week later and the Red Banner was on top of top of the screen I got a message saying I could not make change as one of my flights was expiring....I am wondering if it’s because when I paid the extra charge of $11.20 that they add on to your points payment that money was from credit fund...if this is the case they should let you know that ahead of time.

That would be it, you tainted the ticket by using the Travel Fund. So the entire ticket took the expiration date of the Travel Fund. It's all there in the T&C of the Travel Fund.

 

[Lsdolphin]

That would be it, you tainted the ticket by using the Travel Fund. So the entire ticket took the expiration date of the Travel Fund. It's all there in the T&C of the Travel Fund.

So if I cancel the flight do I lose the points along with the $11.20?

 

[Gitelfor]

Ok so I just tried to change my May flights to a week later and got a message from SWA that one of my flights will expire....but I made reservations with points so how can they be expiring?

I know that flights expire in one year but I thought that if you canceled a flight booked with points your points were refunded.

I misunderstood and thought you were referring to your reservation expiring, not the points. I had a points booking originally booked in early 2020 for a spring 2020 trip. The spring trip and other rebookings ultimately were pushed back, till I received an error message when trying to move to early spring 2021. I did not understand what was happening, till I spoke to a Southwest CSR, who explained that the confirmation number only could be used for one year, from original booking date. So, I ended up cancelling that reservation with the security fee returned to original form of payment and points returned to my account. I then started from scratch.

 

[EACarlson]

So if I cancel the flight do I lose the points along with the $11.20?

If you cancel the flights, the points should go back into your account and the 9/11 fee should go back to the Travel Fund

 

[Makmak]

Is it clickable? I’ve seen something like that when the area has weather issues, and also when there is a quarantine rule for travelers.

It was not clickable and said nothing else so maybe it was that?

 

[mickeynut1]

Yes that is exactly what I thought. but today when I tried to change a May flight to make it a week later and the Red Banner was on top of top of the screen I got a message saying I could not make change as one of my flights was expiring....I am wondering if it’s because when I paid the extra charge of $11.20 that they add on to your points payment that money was from credit fund...if this is the case they should let you know that ahead of time.

Hope you were able to get it straightened out and rebook your flights .

 

[Lsdolphin]

Hope you were able to get it straightened out and rebook your flights .

Nope but I’m going to call again and speak to someone different....”unfortunately “ I may just have to make another trip to Disney three weeks after my April trip! Going to make most out of my AP.

 

[Gitelfor]

The change banner is back for late April-early May reservations.

You may change your trip date/time at no additional cost if you stay inside the restrictions below.

 

[mickeynut1]

Nope but I’m going to call again and speak to someone different....”unfortunately “ I may just have to make another trip to Disney three weeks after my April trip! Going to make most out of my AP.

Good luck! You can never have too many trips, especially with an AP .

 

[DMLAINI]

If your flight shows as unavailable in the app, does that mean it's totally full?

 

[MarBee]

I have $78 in travel funds that expire on May 31st. I have a potential trip on May 24th that costs $111, so I would use travel funds plus cash. However, I may have to cancel for work later. If I wind up cancelling, will I lose all $111 after May 31st, or just the $78 portion of it?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I have $78 in travel funds that expire on May 31st. I have a potential trip on May 24th that costs $111, so I would use travel funds plus cash. However, I may have to cancel for work later. If I wind up cancelling, will I lose all $111 after May 31st, or just the $78 portion of it?

My understanding is all $ towards that trip would take on the May 31st expiry.

 

[MarBee]

My understanding is all $ towards that trip would take on the May 31st expiry.

Bummer! That’s what I was afraid of. Thank you!

 

[Lsdolphin]

Just checked and red change banner for May is gone

 

[Gitelfor]

Just checked and red change banner for May is gone

Red “change” banner is still coming up for flights till mid-May, which is as far out as I have seen it, over the past month or so. I think it is a little too far in advance to extend beyond mid-May. Is your reservation past that timeframe?

 

[Lsdolphin]

Red “change” banner is still coming up for flights till mid-May, which is as far out as I have seen it, over the past month or so. I think it is a little too far in advance to extend beyond mid-May. Is your reservation past that timeframe?

My reservation is 5/16-5/22

 

[Gitelfor]

My reservation is 5/16-5/22

If you are wishing for the change banner, don’t give up hope. If Southwest continues to post the banner, your dates s/b in the next window. Lately, there have been fewer actual flight changes, as business picks up; but the “change” banner continues to pop up.

So, I hope that if there is a banner, it will be beneficial for you. Most often, I have found the banner very useful to change to a better flight or date, at a lower fare than the going rate.

 

[maleficent8]

Hi! I’ve been following the change banner conversation. So today I stumbled upon it for our upcoming trip and changed our outbound flight (5/13 to 5/12). Is there only one change banner per round trip? I really needed it for the return trip on 5/18 and now I’m kicking myself. Thank you!!

 

[DMLAINI]

I just found out our flight is full. Has anyone flown on a full flight? Did you feel safe? I paid for early bird so I'm praying we're not separated.