Preparing to Buy SWA Tickets...

[kristenrice]

Like a lot of us, I am anxiously awaiting Monday morning when SWA releases our dates (October 19-24). I have only flown SWA once and that was just DH and I so there were not as many variables in play.

Currently, I am estimating each 1-way segment (GRR-MCO and back) to be about 7,500 points. There are 4 of us flying but I am the only one with a RR account. I will have enough points to buy 7 of the 8 segments with points. Here are my questions...

1. Should I book (4) one-way tickets first (thus putting them all on one confirmation number) and then put (3) of the return legs on another reservation?

2. Since I am the one with the RR account, I am assuming that any ticket I have to outlay cash for should be in MY name so that I earn points on it, correct?

3. Is there any reason to book the final one-way ticket (the one I will have to pay for) at the same time? I'm thinking that if I wait, I will earn more points over the next few months and maybe get enough to get it on points. I could also "earn" more points if any of the other fares go down. WWYD??

I have decided against EBCI. We will not have a problem checking in at the 24-hour mark and as long as we find 2 sets of 2 seats anywhere in the plane (we're not picky), we'll be OK. We don't care about overhead space since there will only be one bag between the 4 of us that needs to go in the overhead and we are just never in that big of a hurry on vacation.

TIA!

 

[JaimeA]

Like a lot of us, I am anxiously awaiting Monday morning when SWA releases our dates (October 19-24). I have only flown SWA once and that was just DH and I so there were not as many variables in play. Currently, I am estimating each 1-way segment (GRR-MCO and back) to be about 7,500 points. There are 4 of us flying but I am the only one with a RR account. I will have enough points to buy 7 of the 8 segments with points. Here are my questions... 1. Should I book (4) one-way tickets first (thus putting them all on one confirmation number) and then put (3) of the return legs on another reservation? 2. Since I am the one with the RR account, I am assuming that any ticket I have to outlay cash for should be in MY name so that I earn points on it, correct? 3. Is there any reason to book the final one-way ticket (the one I will have to pay for) at the same time? I'm thinking that if I wait, I will earn more points over the next few months and maybe get enough to get it on points. I could also "earn" more points if any of the other fares go down. WWYD?? I have decided against EBCI. We will not have a problem checking in at the 24-hour mark and as long as we find 2 sets of 2 seats anywhere in the plane (we're not picky), we'll be OK. We don't care about overhead space since there will only be one bag between the 4 of us that needs to go in the overhead and we are just never in that big of a hurry on vacation. TIA!

I am waiting for Monday also but for end of August tix.
1. Anytime we use reward pts they make each ticket it's own confirmation number. It stinks and I couldn't get them to combine them into one confirmation number.
2. Yes buy the ticket in cash in your name!
3. If you can earn more rewards for your last tix and the prices don't really change then I would wait, but I would probably have a heart attack that the flight would sell out.
We never buy EBCI either, so I agree on that point.
Enjoy!!!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would wait to get the ticket you don't have enough points for. You may get lucky and have the other flights go down and then have enough points for that fare.

Also be aware and watch the other flights because one day I noticed that the price of our flight did not go down but the require amount of points did!

Strange I know but I got 2000 points back on 2 r/t tickets. So keep a eye on the points for those flights.

Also in June SWA will have their annual birthday sale and you might get a good fare then. Historically the birthday sale covers flights from mid- Aug to mid - Dec

Also if you have some online purchases to make check on the RR shopping site to see if you can pick up bonus points. IF you are not familiar with this RR has a shopping reward page and for certain stores if you make the purchase through you RR acct you can earn extra points. For example we got a snowblower at Home Depot for $600 we bought it through the RR site and they were offering 2 points per dollar so we got 1200 points just for going through that site and we also paid with out RR credit card and got another 600 points.

 

[emilymad]

Keep in mind that on March 31st it will take more points to book a flight. 80 points per dollar vs 60 now I think?

 

[kristenrice]

Keep in mind that on March 31st it will take more points to book a flight. 80 points per dollar vs 60 now I think?

Yeah...that's a bummer.

Here's another reason I want/need to wait on the cash-ticket purchase. We are going back to WDW the first week of May 2015. If I buy the cash ticket before May 2014 and the price drops, I won't be able to use the credit. If I wait until after May, I will be fine if the price drops because I can just use it up on the next trip. We won't have very many points for that trip so it will be mostly cash.

It sure would be nice if I can get a repeat of last year! I booked DH and I at 6:15am on the day the fares were released. We got GRR to MCO, non-stop both ways for less than 19,000 points TOTAL for BOTH of us! It was something like 4,600 points each way.

 

[ibob52]

Keep in mind that on March 31st it will take more points to book a flight. 80 points per dollar vs 60 now I think?

80 points per dollar?? The last info I was aware of ...
the points increase (devalue) was going to be a change to 70 points (as per FlyerTalk)

 

[emilymad]

80 points per dollar?? The last info I was aware of ...
the points increase (devalue) was going to be a change to 70 points (as per FlyerTalk)

That is probably it. I couldn't remember exactly. Thanks for letting us know!