Questions about changing SWA flight times!

[leebee]

DETAILS: I have a reservation on Southwest from MHT-CLE that leaves at 8:20am, arrives at 12:50pm. If I change this to an earlier flight, I can save 5760 frequent flyer points, but this means the flight departs at 6:40am and arrives at 10:20am. The glitch here is that my rental car pick up time is at 2pm, and if I change it to an earlier time in the day, it'll cost me an additional $100 (goes from being a daily rental to weekly). I am the only one flying, and I will be at my sister's, which is about an hour's drive from MHT so would have to leave her house by about 4am for this flight.

QUESTIONS: Will SW charge me to change this flight? It's on the same day, same departure/arrival cities, just at an earlier time of day.
Is there a rule of thumb to help me figure out how much SW's points are worth in dollar value? It might be worth the extra money on the rental car if I'd be saving more in frequent flyer points.
If push comes to shove and I decide to do the earlier flight, is there anyplace at the Cleveland airport that I can hang out (after getting my luggage) comfortably while waiting to pick up my rental car at 2pm?

I know this sounds crazy, but that's a LOT of points to get back! TIA for opinions/input.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

SW does not charge a change fee. So you pay the difference between your current airfare and the airfare of the flight you want to change to. If your new flight is cheaper you would get a credit (no idea how that works with thier points, haven't used them yet)

As for dollar value of points.. ZERO. Really they aren't currency. You just have to decide if the "points for later use" are worth the additional rental car cost. It's a value decision.

 

[DebbieB]

DETAILS: I have a reservation on Southwest from MHT-CLE that leaves at 8:20am, arrives at 12:50pm. If I change this to an earlier flight, I can save 5760 frequent flyer points, but this means the flight departs at 6:40am and arrives at 10:20am. The glitch here is that my rental car pick up time is at 2pm, and if I change it to an earlier time in the day, it'll cost me an additional $100 (goes from being a daily rental to weekly). I am the only one flying, and I will be at my sister's, which is about an hour's drive from MHT so would have to leave her house by about 4am for this flight.

QUESTIONS: Will SW charge me to change this flight? It's on the same day, same departure/arrival cities, just at an earlier time of day.
Is there a rule of thumb to help me figure out how much SW's points are worth in dollar value? It might be worth the extra money on the rental car if I'd be saving more in frequent flyer points.
If push comes to shove and I decide to do the earlier flight, is there anyplace at the Cleveland airport that I can hang out (after getting my luggage) comfortably while waiting to pick up my rental car at 2pm?

I know this sounds crazy, but that's a LOT of points to get back! TIA for opinions/input.

They will return the points to your rapid rewards account with no penalty. It's not like when you change a cash ticket where you have a limited time to use the credit.

 

[LisaS]

Is there a rule of thumb to help me figure out how much SW's points are worth in dollar value? It might be worth the extra money on the rental car if I'd be saving more in frequent flyer points.

The conversion rate is 60 points to the dollar. (That's why the number of points required for a flight is always divisible by 60.) Your 5760 points are equivalent to 96 fare dollars.

Another interesting point is that sometimes when the fare for flights on a given day differs a bit in price (say $140 vs $151) the cost in points for those flights is the same (7440 points which is $124, the cost before fees are added).

 

[mamamary]

The conversion rate is 60 points to the dollar. (That's why the number of points required for a flight is always divisible by 60.) Your 5760 points are equivalent to 96 fare dollars.

Another interesting point is that sometimes when the fare for flights on a given day differs a bit in price (say $140 vs $151) the cost in points for those flights is the same (7440 points which is $124, the cost before fees are added).

Good to know.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Who are you renting from? There maybe a weekly rental coupon that would help offset the price a bit. Also what are your travel dates and times.