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

[mamamary]

Thank you all for the credit explanation. If I may ask one last question.

I booked a flight this morning for Sept of this year. Do I still check in 24 hrs ahead for a boarding group? Thx in advance

 

[eticketplease]

Thank you all for the credit explanation. If I may ask one last question.

I booked a flight this morning for Sept of this year. Do I still check in 24 hrs ahead for a boarding group? Thx in advance

Yes you will need to check in 24 hours in advance to obtain the best available boarding position.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I can't find that info anywhere on SW. What you said certainly aligns with other carriers and since SW is trying to shift their biz model in their direction I'm sure you are right but I just can't find it.

4Flight Credits
You must cancel your flight at least 10 minutes prior to the flight's original scheduled departure time. If you do not cancel, your points and funds may be forfeited. Learn more. Business Select®, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away Plus® Transferable Flight Credits™ created from reservations booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025 expire twelve months from the date the fare was purchased and ticketed. Basic fare flight credits expire six months from the date the fare was purchased and ticketed.

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

Definitely the date the fare was purchased and ticketed.

Since flights go on sale more than 6 months out, if you book a basic fare on opening day, you can potentially be putting yourself in the position that, if you have to cancel last minute, you will already be past the 6 months on the flight credit and those funds are just gone.

For instance, on 5/28/25, you buy a basic ticket to fly 1/1/26. At some point, you realize you need to change to a different flight time that day. The 5/28/25 booking date means, if you cancel, your flight credit must be used by 11/28/25. So, you can't cancel and rebook even for a same day flight if you bought your basic fare that far in advance.

Also, since SW switched where taxes and fees on a points flight are returned as flight credit instead of refund to payment method, the same would potentially be true for folks booking on points opening day and hoping to cancel/rebook if they see points going down. For domestic flights, $5.60 per person per direction isn't a huge loss, but those fees can really add up if you were booking a trip to the Carribbean and had to pay various international fees with your points flight.

 

[eticketplease]

4Flight Credits
You must cancel your flight at least 10 minutes prior to the flight's original scheduled departure time. If you do not cancel, your points and funds may be forfeited. Learn more. Business Select®, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away Plus® Transferable Flight Credits™ created from reservations booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025 expire twelve months from the date the fare was purchased and ticketed. Basic fare flight credits expire six months from the date the fare was purchased and ticketed.

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

Definitely the date the fare was purchased and ticketed.

Since flights go on sale more than 6 months out, if you book a basic fare on opening day, you can potentially be putting yourself in the position that, if you have to cancel last minute, you will already be past the 6 months on the flight credit and those funds are just gone.

For instance, on 5/28/25, you buy a basic ticket to fly 1/1/26. At some point, you realize you need to change to a different flight time that day. The 5/28/25 booking date means, if you cancel, your flight credit must be used by 11/28/25. So, you can't cancel and rebook even for a same day flight if you bought your basic fare that far in advance.

Also, since SW switched where taxes and fees on a points flight are returned as flight credit instead of refund to payment method, the same would potentially be true for folks booking on points opening day and hoping to cancel/rebook if they see points going down. For domestic flights, $5.60 per person per direction isn't a huge loss, but those fees can really add up if you were booking a trip to the Carribbean and had to pay various international fees with your points flight.

Thanks I could not find it.

Could point about the flight credit on taxes now for point bookings.

 

[Lewisc]

Also, since SW switched where taxes and fees on a points flight are returned as flight credit instead of refund to payment method,

Am I the only one who has an issue with a business pocketing tax charges? Refund to the original form of payment or remit to the correct entity

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Am I the only one who has an issue with a business pocketing tax charges? Refund to the original form of payment or remit to the correct entity

I don't love it, but there are worse things they could do: there could be a redeposit fee on the points, they could expire with inactivity, etc. In the grand scheme of annoying business practices, them being icky about $5.60 isn't that obnoxious.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't love it, but there are worse things they could do: there could be a redeposit fee on the points, they could expire with inactivity, etc. In the grand scheme of annoying business practices, them being icky about $5.60 isn't that obnoxious.

A PP mentioned international taxes which can be hundreds of dollars.