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

[focusondisney]

Reports on FlyerTalk is that I was correct. Cancellation yesterday of a pre 5/28 booked WGA flight returned a travel credit with no expiration date.

Thanks! Glad I was wrong, lol

 

[dobball23]

Has anyone signed up for the Southwest credit card to get a free checked bag? It seems worth it if you'll continue to fly Southwest at least 1-2 times per year. How are you evaluating if it is worth it?

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Has anyone signed up for the Southwest credit card to get a free checked bag? It seems worth it if you'll continue to fly Southwest at least 1-2 times per year. How are you evaluating if it is worth it?

The $69 lowest annual fee means that, if you've checked one bag round trip, you've gotten your value back plus a few bucks. Any more bags/trips are added value out of the card. (If that's how you're leaning, I'd do the $149 annual fee card because, with the $75 annual credit, it works out to almost the same out of pocket cost but you get better benefits from it.) But, you have to fly SW annually and you have to need to check a bag to get the value: otherwise you're paying an AF for no reason.

Also, for those of us who try to maximize credit card value and bonuses, each application is a "slot" that could otherwise have gone to a different card. I fully understand that doesn't apply to everyone, but it's worth keeping in mind. If you're willing to open a card with an annual fee in exchange for value, there could very well be cards out there that would get you more bang for your buck.

If you 1) know for sure you're flying SW annually with at least one checked bag and 2) aren't interested in playing the credit card game, sure, open the card and get the free bags. But, if you might want to fly another airline, or you might be ok with doing a carry on only trip, or you want to come play the credit card game (hop on in, the water's fine!! ) then I would hold off on the application.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Is the hassle worth 2700 points:

My flight for later this month just dropped such that the WGA+ fare is now 913 points lower than when I booked it, times three passengers. My husband and I both have companions who are also on this flight and we added them before 5/28 so that they would have the free checked bags.

Now, we have the SW credit card, so even if we change the flights now to get the points back, we'll still each get one free bag, which is plenty. However, the language on how to get a free bag for a companion is weird and makes it look like you have to pay at first and then get reimbursed. Plus, because we've already put CPs on this flight, I either need to double cancel-change-double book or I need to call and have SW do it.

So, what do you think, is 2700 points worth the hassle of a phone call and dealing with whatever the new bag policy is for our CPs?

ETA:
It looks like the sentence about companions having to pay and be reimbursed has been removed. The page now states: If a Companion Pass® Member qualifies for one or two free checked bags (based, for example, on tier status or the type of fare purchased), the benefit will apply to their Companion.

I'm going to call and see about getting my points back.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

I understand the changes well enough, but there is one thing I am confused on....

We purchased our airfare in March. Will we get the points it would have given us for the purchase made prior to the changes (around 2000) or will we get the points it is saying we will get (less than 400 each way) if we made the purchase today?

I hope I am making sense.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

Is the hassle worth 2700 points:

My flight for later this month just dropped such that the WGA+ fare is now 913 points lower than when I booked it, times three passengers. My husband and I both have companions who are also on this flight and we added them before 5/28 so that they would have the free checked bags.

Now, we have the SW credit card, so even if we change the flights now to get the points back, we'll still each get one free bag, which is plenty. However, the language on how to get a free bag for a companion is weird and makes it look like you have to pay at first and then get reimbursed. Plus, because we've already put CPs on this flight, I either need to double cancel-change-double book or I need to call and have SW do it.

So, what do you think, is 2700 points worth the hassle of a phone call and dealing with whatever the new bag policy is for our CPs?

We were advised any changes made on or after May 28th will result in being charged bag fees, even if it is a change that gives SWA more money.

If you have the SWA credit card and those can be waived, any amount of points back is a good deal. However, if you do not, I would accept the point loss and save your bag fee money.

The amount of points you are getting back does not even cover 1 leg of a flight. Points are worth roughly 1.3 cents each. That does not even cover 1 checked bag.

 

[jcarwash]

I understand the changes well enough, but there is one thing I am confused on....

We purchased our airfare in March. Will we get the points it would have given us for the purchase made prior to the changes (around 2000) or will we get the points it is saying we will get (less than 400 each way) if we made the purchase today?

I hope I am making sense.

I'm looking at my reservations for upcoming August 2025 flights, which I booked in April, and the estimated points all look like the new lower accrual rate.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

We were advised any changes made on or after May 28th will result in being charged bag fees, even if it is a change that gives SWA more money.

If you have the SWA credit card and those can be waived, any amount of points back is a good deal. However, if you do not, I would accept the point loss and save your bag fee money.

The amount of points you are getting back does not even cover 1 leg of a flight. Points are worth roughly 1.3 cents each. That does not even cover 1 checked bag.

As indicated in my post, we do have the card and one bag per person is sufficient for our group.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

I'm looking at my reservations for upcoming August 2025 flights, which I booked in April, and the estimated points all look like the new lower accrual rate.

Okay, that is what I was wondering.
Thank you

 

[hsmamato2]

I'm looking at my reservations for upcoming August 2025 flights, which I booked in April, and the estimated points all look like the new lower accrual rate.

what does lower accrual rate mean?

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

what does lower accrual rate mean?

They reduced points earnings on the cheaper tickets back in March:

• Wanna Get Away: 2 points per dollar spent (down from 6 points)
• Wanna Get Away Plus: 6 points per dollar spent (down from 10 points)
• Anytime: 10 points per dollar spent (unchanged)
• Business Select: 14 points per dollar spent (up from 12 points)

With the bag fee change, WGA has now been renamed Basic, but those earning structures remain in place.

 

[hsmamato2]

They reduced points earnings on the cheaper tickets back in March:

• Wanna Get Away: 2 points per dollar spent (down from 6 points)
• Wanna Get Away Plus: 6 points per dollar spent (down from 10 points)
• Anytime: 10 points per dollar spent (unchanged)
• Business Select: 14 points per dollar spent (up from 12 points)

With the bag fee change, WGA has now been renamed Basic, but those earning structures remain in place.

ahhh thanks! I have (up til now) just paid using points for fares on SWA....still not sure of future plans

 

[Craig Larson]

At least for travel between pvd and MCO it looks like they finally adjusted prices to reflect basic being extremely limited and having to pay for checked baggage.

Even before the new "wow" sale I am seeing some mid-week prices of $79-89 and then with the sale it is closer to $55-60. That is much closer to what I think fares needa to be for it to be successful for them and not be a total shock to the consumer. Upgrading to wga+ and adding one bag would be around $140 which is maybe a modest increase over what you would have paid just a few weeks ago.

 

[hsmamato2]

does anyone yet know what happens to taxes paid on a points
flight if you cancel?

 

[Dakota731]

If I change SW flight today for a cheaper price, will I then have to pay for bags?

 

[jcarwash]

If I change SW flight today for a cheaper price, will I then have to pay for bags?

Yes.

 

[LoveMMC]

How are they handling people who bought their tickets before May and seat assignments? I keep reading it starts mid 2025 but no exact info. We are flying in August.

 

[Craig Larson]

How are they handling people who bought their tickets before May and seat assignments? I keep reading it starts mid 2025 but no exact info. We are flying in August.

Seat assignments don't start until next year, so you won't need to worry about that for an August flight.

 

[Simba's Mom]

How are they handling people who bought their tickets before May and seat assignments? I keep reading it starts mid 2025 but no exact info. We are flying in August.

I'm hoping that they don't start seat assignments until they extend the schedule beyond 1/26 on July ? (I forget the date) Right now you can't book beyond 1/26, so no one can book a flight that will have assigned seating.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

How are they handling people who bought their tickets before May and seat assignments? I keep reading it starts mid 2025 but no exact info. We are flying in August.

If a flight has been released with open seating, it won't get switched to assigned. At some point, they'll do a new drop with assigned seats. We're assuming that's the next drop but that hasn't been officially confirmed.