Rookie DING User needs help!

[oldkeywestfan]

OK, found out all about DING, downloaded it, been watching. Here is my dilema. The travel dates I'm looking for are in Jan '06. I notice DING has not been running that far ahead which is understandable as I'm guessing DING is used by the airline to fill flights. I have been watching and getting a little nervous as on the dates I need the internet fares (cheapest) are starting to fill up with only a couple flights available for my return date. If I go ahead and book now at the best rates they have, can I get a discount, credit, whatever if I get a DING later on for the same flight? I'd hate to buy now and get a DING for the same flight and have lost out on that deal. Any advice?

 

[madge]

OK, found out all about DING, downloaded it, been watching. Here is my dilema. The travel dates I'm looking for are in Jan '06. I notice DING has not been running that far ahead which is understandable as I'm guessing DING is used by the airline to fill flights. I have been watching and getting a little nervous as on the dates I need the internet fares (cheapest) are starting to fill up with only a couple flights available for my return date. If I go ahead and book now at the best rates they have, can I get a discount, credit, whatever if I get a DING later on for the same flight? I'd hate to buy now and get a DING for the same flight and have lost out on that deal. Any advice?

you can re-book using travel credits, I think that's what you are asking?

you can book now, and if the fare drops (for whatever reason OTHER than Ding) you can go to the Travel Center on the SWA site and click on change flight. Instead of a refund, you'll have flight credit to use at another time.

For a Ding fare...you'll have to cancel the existing flight and then use the ticketless funds to rebook the Ding fare.

It's a very easy process, and the SWA site is user friendly. All the information you'll need is in the Travel Center.

When you book your flight, I suggest booking 2 one-ways, that way if only one leg of the flight is discounted with the Ding, you only have to rebook that portion. It sounds like that might be the case with your travel dates.

 

[mill4023]

If the internet one-way fares are available, I'd book them.
I know some people have gotten great Ding fares, but I've been watching for several months and for my routes, all the Dings I've seen have been about the same price as the internet fares.

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

Just to add a voice of encouragement, I watched Ding fares for about 3 months before one was offered for our trip to WDW in December from Nashville to Orlando, which I booked about 2 weeks ago... Just keep watching! You'll get a great fare! Southwest is awesome! As for the Ding fares not running that far ahead, I noticed that different daily Dings ran for different dates... some just until the end of November and others until February I believe... just keep an eye out! I even downloaded Ding on my computer at work so I could watch. (Actually I ended up booking our flight while I was working)

 

[Twende]

LOL now I am confused.

I need one more fare to MCO in December.

If I book the internet fare now and then a better price comes up on DING...what happens? Do I have to cancel the internet fare and is there a fee for that? Do they credit me the difference and I use it for future flights or do I get the money credited to my charge card?

I am so tired of waiting for something to come up on DING. Like this morning it is after 11 AM and not one single DING yet!

 

[disneykins]

bumping this up, I have the same question--does it cost to cancel my already booked flight and then rebook with a Ding fare. Could it happen that I cancel my flight and by the time I book the Ding the fare is gone and I cant get on the flight at all?

Thanks

Tony

 

[Twende]

A flight I needed came up cheaper on a DING yesterday so I cancelled the first flight while using a second window to take the DING flight.

It did not cost me anything to cancel it. The money was held in the Travel Center and I used the information (Confirmation # and credit card user name) to buy the cheaper flight. The excess money is held in that account, for a year I think, to be used on future flight.

I am hoping that some of our other flights come up cheaper and I can save some more money for a flight back to Disney next the year.

I bought the first DING tickets in August for travel through the end of December. But lately the DINGs have been for travel in October and just recently to the mid part of December.

I will keep waiting.

 

[Rpsemont]

Best to book OW fares to maintain greatest flexibility if a DING comes out later.

 

[DisOrBust]

I am in the same ding..y as you. FYI I check my dates and all the flights that were unavialbe for my dates 2/3-2/12 are available. I am trying to wiait for a Ding because we won't be going back until nov2006 and I would lose any credit.