Question about SWA and purchasing tickets?

[Pixeldust Fairy]

My question is.. I have read that some people are purchasing tickets and then if they find a ding later they get the sale price? how does that work? I saw that SWA released their rates through August, I need July and I am tempted to purchase now because they are the lowest I have found in my months of searching. But I am reading that other people are getting much better rates. the lowest I have been able to find is 2100.00 for the 6 of us round trip... YOUCH. I was hoping to spend around 200 ish per person RT. Dis experts, should I wait, should I book, should I go crazy planning this Disney trip. How does purchasing now and waiting till a lower fare work with a non refundable ticket?

 

[mommyrom]

I would book now and watch your DINGs to see if your flights happen to come up. I booked yesterday for August and today, the same flights are TWICE what I paid ($152/pp vs. $316/pp)...If you end up cashing in on a DING fare, you can hang onto that credit with SWA for a future trip, which is what we did! We only paid $340 outright on our August reservations yesterday because we had a $450 credit with SWA from accumulated DING savings from Dec. '06...

 

[Pixeldust Fairy]

One other question.... Can I use DME when I am flying SWA? And if I can does it mean that I have to collect my own bags and take them to the magical express?

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

I would book now and watch your DINGs to see if your flights happen to come up. I booked yesterday for August and today, the same flights are TWICE what I paid ($152/pp vs. $316/pp)...If you end up cashing in on a DING fare, you can hang onto that credit with SWA for a future trip, which is what we did! We only paid $340 outright on our August reservations yesterday because we had a $450 credit with SWA from accumulated DING savings from Dec. '06...

Quick question- does the credit expire? How long do you have to use it?
Thanks!

 

[drivencrazy]

I booked with SWA yesterday and while on the phone with the SW lady I asked her if the price goes down if I could get $$ back... She said NO, but you do get a credit and it is good for ONE YEAR.

As for DME... yes you can use it. I also looked into that!

 

[mary174]

I just purchased my tickets yesterday. If I get better rates through Ding, what do I need to do to transfer my credit in my current tickets to pay for the Ding rates? Thank you.