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

[thanxfornoticin]

You can not. Recommendations would be to buy both tix one way with points and the other with cash, that would allow you to be on one PNR each direction.

Thank you. Funny - this is only a one-way fare!! But I understand what you're saying. As mentioned above, I'm pursuing info for the points+cash for reservations. That might work, if it's a decent enough value. Else, I'll be paying for a bag on Southwest - something I was pretty sure I'd never have to say!

I already miss the old system.......!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Does anyone know whether Choice Preferred pricing will approximately equate to the current Anytime fares? I'm trying to get some idea how much more I'll have to pay tomorrow. But I'm equating Wanna Getaway fares to the new Basic fares, and I thought some people said that the Basic Fares are, in most cases, less. I hope so. I want to get the Preferred Seating.

 

[nekonekoneko]

I'm pursuing info for the points+cash for reservations.

As @TheOneWithTheTriplets said:

the conversion rate they offer is terrible.

Booking with only points is 1.2-1.4 cents per point. Booking Points+cash is a straight 1 cent per point. That's 20-40% of the points value lost when booking combined.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thank you. Funny - this is only a one-way fare!! But I understand what you're saying. As mentioned above, I'm pursuing info for the points+cash for reservations. That might work, if it's a decent enough value. Else, I'll be paying for a bag on Southwest - something I was pretty sure I'd never have to say!

I already miss the old system.......!

I couldn't find info on paying with points and cash for the flight. It just gave me the option of all points or all cash. Is "points and cash" only available on round-trip flights?

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I couldn't find info on paying with points and cash for the flight. It just gave me the option of all points or all cash. Is "points and cash" only available on round-trip flights?

I believe you search cash and then can select Cash plus Points in the checkout process: https://www.southwest.com/rapid-rewards/cash-plus-points/

That said, if this account will be earning more SW miles, better to just pay all cash now and then pay all points on the next one. Really only good to do cash plus points in very limited circumstances.

 

[mrsstats79]

If the SW card holder is going it doesn't matter if they buy the flights with points or cash you you do. The only thing that matters is that the Primary card holder be on the reservation(s) and then 8 people plus the card holder would get 1 bag for free.

If you pay with points, what happens when you check you bag? How do they know you have the Southwest Credit Card? Or do they charge for the bag and you are reimbursed from the CC company?

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

If you pay with points, what happens when you check you bag? How do they know you have the Southwest Credit Card? Or do they charge for the bag and you are reimbursed from the CC company?

It's not how the flight is paid for, it's whether Chase has informed SW that a person holds a current credit card.

SW knows which RR accounts are associated with cards and, if a person on the reservation is a cardholder, they her that free bag for themselves and up to 9 people. That's why they say that the RR account must be listed on the booking for the free bag benefit to be available.

 

[focusondisney]

If you pay with points, what happens when you check you bag? How do they know you have the Southwest Credit Card? Or do they charge for the bag and you are reimbursed from the CC company?

When you apply for the card, you link your RR number. That’s how the points from the card get deposited to your RR account. So SW has the CC info linked to your RR account.

 

[MarBee]

Just mentally preparing for tomorrow despite a massive headache-
Can anyone double check my thinking?
DH and I have each have Premier and Plus cards. Was going to book flights on points.

-Is it still the most beneficial to book 2 one ways instead of a round trip?
-If I’m booking on points and book the lowest tier, will I still be able to cancel for a full refund later (if a better price comes up)?
-Do we know yet if the price of seat selection can be paid in points? Or is it cash only?
-Which card should I use for the free seat selection?

I think I have all of my questions posted if you don’t mind answering. I know you’ve all been discussing this a ton on this thread, but I’ve stepped away from SW for a few years, so I haven’t been paying much attention. Now I’m afraid the end is near, so I’m looking to burn my points ASAP, but I don’t have it in me to read pages of info tonight.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

 

[nekonekoneko]

Looks like flights are up, but they're doing system maintenance until 6:00 AM CDT. So things may go up and down.

Man these prices are awful.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Yes, just did our booking. Pricing certainly isn't what it used to be when Southwest was our go-to airline. Ouch. Then again, pricing is awful for most airlines these days. The new process seemed to work relatively well. I learned a couple things. 1) if you have RR points and don't have enough to book a particular flight, the site immediately gives you an option to purchase enough to make your reservation. It's expensive. 2) all baggage fees will be collected at the airport at check-in, which is interesting - no prepay. So they still have some work to do to bring their system up to date with most airlines.

And we enter the brave new world that is Southwest 2026!

 

[disneylover81]

I just happened to wake up (4:30am CST) and thought let me see what’s happening on SWA’s website. Lo and behold I could book our February flights. It was very simple and smooth like before. DH only has the Plus and Premier Biz cards so I opted to get the choice preferred seats for the free preferred seat selection. It was 43k points round trip. More than I wanted to spend, but hopefully they’ll come down over time. Once I got his booked, I was ready to do my CP ticket. It was also very simple and I was able to pick a preferred seat right beside him for no charge, which was a nice surprise. We are on row 6 one way & 7 on the other way. To have upgraded to rows 1-5 was around $30 each. I’m so glad it was easy and quick to get this done, although I wish I would have booked 2 one ways instead of a round trip.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I tried booking a flight with points. I did one way as not to burn through my points and we don't have an end date for our trip. You have to pay cash for seat selection. I didn't want to pay that much for whatever is behind preferred. I backed out. I need to discuss with DH, but he's still sleeping.

 

[nekonekoneko]

I tried booking a flight with points. I did one way as not to burn through my points and we don't have an end date for our trip. You have to pay cash for seat selection. I didn't want to pay that much for whatever is behind preferred. I backed out. I need to discuss with DH, but he's still sleeping.

For the flights I was looking at, the price difference between Choice (what used to be Wanna Get Away Plus) and Choice Extra (fka Business Select) is $110. Going Choice with a SW Priority Card gets me a Preffered seat right now. It would cost $66 for an extra legroom aisle or window seat, and $60 for an extra legroom middle seat. So the extra $44-$50 would be for the second checked bag, internet and premium drink?

Without the card, that would be going from a standard seat to an Extra Legroom seat and two free checked bags from 0.

 

[DGaw4]

Interesting observations this morning…

It looks like if you can get a basic fare and need a preferred seat at booking you can upgrade with cash for approximately the same amount as upgrading the fare to choice (which only includes standard seats at booking). Also, if booking with points, upgrading from basic fare to choice seems to give pretty good value for the points (between 1.8 to 2.0 cents per point), but if you were trying to upgrade to choice extra the points values drop below 1 cent per point.
My preferred airport (BNA) however doesn’t even show any basic fares available for all the assigned seat flights released so far. Maybe everybody in Nashville bought them up super early this morning??

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

I wonder how booking a Companion Pass will work now. Previously you completed the first reservation, then added the CP, but with reserved seating, will that change? I think most days chances are slim things will book up that quickly, but it's always possible.

 

[T.G.I.Friday]

I wonder how booking a Companion Pass will work now. Previously you completed the first reservation, then added the CP, but with reserved seating, will that change? I think most days chances are slim things will book up that quickly, but it's always possible.

I’m curious about this, too. I haven’t earned CP for next year yet so I couldn’t add it for my dates, but I’m betting that if I book the extra leg room seat for me, my companion won’t get the same seat option. Hopefully they offer a way to upgrade their seat because if the CP can’t even sit with me, I will be absolutely done with the Visa.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

I’m curious about this, too. I haven’t earned CP for next year yet so I couldn’t add it for my dates, but I’m betting that if I book the extra leg room seat for me, my companion won’t get the same seat option. Hopefully they offer a way to upgrade their seat because if the CP can’t even sit with me, I will be absolutely done with the Visa.

Same, as well as with Southwest. That's an absolute deal breaker for us.

 

[katallo]

I can usually get a decent fare opening day from BWI. The flight plus add ons are awful. Thankfully we have options.

 

[holyrita]

Can someone with a Priority card please test if you can select a preferred seat at booking for no additional charge, when using points to book a Basic fare?