silly southwest policies! (travel funds)

[KPeveler]

I have $160 in southwest credit that I can't use! I am trying to use it, but it turns out that the funds expire 3 days before the travel would be. I thought they expired one year after the original trip. Turns out they expire one year after the original booking date!

Has anyone had any luck getting these dates extended? Or can you "sell" your credit to someone else? I am unable to use the money by Aug 1! Just don't want it to go to waste!

 

[3happydancers]

I have $160 in southwest credit that I can't use! I am trying to use it, but it turns out that the funds expire 3 days before the travel would be. I thought they expired one year after the original trip. Turns out they expire one year after the original booking date!

Has anyone had any luck getting these dates extended? Or can you "sell" your credit to someone else? I am unable to use the money by Aug 1! Just don't want it to go to waste!

Yes, you can have your date extended for a small fee of I believe $50.00 which they would take off the top of the $160.00 credit which would leave you 110.00 to spend. You would need to call SW to do this and I think you have to wait until your credit is ready to expire or the day after expiration, not really sure. You can also sell your credit to someone.

I fly Southwest and have been in this situation. My hairstylist also flies SW so every now and then we barter haircuts for SW credits.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Will they let you use the funds to purchase a SWA gift card? I'm thinking no but

Otherwise, extend your trip

 

[lds0191]

I am under the impression you can not get a gift card but I have read on the boards before if you call they will extend the expiration date. I have not heard of them charging a fee for this.

 

[KPeveler]

My parents decided to take a trip for my dad's bday, so they used the money! And i got cash for it, which is VERY useful for an unemployed recent college graduate!

 

[Taja]

 

[3happydancers]

I am under the impression you can not get a gift card but I have read on the boards before if you call they will extend the expiration date. I have not heard of them charging a fee for this.

Unfortunately, they do charge a fee. My brother recently had credit about to expire. When he called about it, they informed him there would be a fee. I guess if your credit is large enough, it is worth the $50.00 bucks.

 

[DebbieB]

One thing to watch for SW - if you buy a new ticket with a credit from a previous flight, the date for the credit on the new flight is the original purchase date of the original ticket. So for example, on 9-1-09, I bought a ticket to fly on 3-1-10. In January, the price goes down and I get a $100 credit. I buy another ticket to fly 10-1-10 and use the $100 credit from the prior flight. If the price goes down on that one, they use 9-1-09 as the basis for a credit because some funds were used from the original ticket. So if the price goes down in August for the October flight, it will only be good until 9-1-10. Or if you cancel the October flight, the entire flight credit will only be good until 9-1-10.

 

[3happydancers]

One thing to watch for SW - if you buy a new ticket with a credit from a previous flight, the date for the credit on the new flight is the original purchase date of the original ticket. So for example, on 9-1-09, I bought a ticket to fly on 3-1-10. In January, the price goes down and I get a $100 credit. I buy another ticket to fly 10-1-10 and use the $100 credit from the prior flight. If the price goes down on that one, they use 9-1-09 as the basis for a credit because some funds were used from the original ticket. So if the price goes down in August for the October flight, it will only be good until 9-1-10. Or if you cancel the October flight, the entire flight credit will only be good until 9-1-10.

Good info to keep in mind!!!

 

[mamaprincess]

Once the credit is about to expire, how far out do they let you extend your dates?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't think I'd be disappointed about any policy that SW offers in regards to travel funds, they're the only major carrier to have any such policy to offer fare drop credits without a change fee. It's like complaining about a free gift.

 

[dacky041208]

Once the credit is about to expire, how far out do they let you extend your dates?

I think you get 6 more months.

 

[NotUrsula]

SWA isn't saintly, but the issue here is that you misunderstood what the policy is. The policy isn't silly, and in fact is the most generous in the airline industry. The credit is good for one year from the original date of purchase, NOT the original date of travel.

If paying the $50 extension charge will take too much out of the credit to make it useful, and you cannot reschedule the trip a few days sooner, you can consider trading the credit to someone you know who will be travelling sooner. Failing that, watching for a good mileage run or two to do will recoup something, as that will take you closer to an award ticket.

 

[mamaprincess]

I think you get 6 more months.

Thanks!

 

[nemofans]

One thing to watch for SW - if you buy a new ticket with a credit from a previous flight, the date for the credit on the new flight is the original purchase date of the original ticket. So for example, on 9-1-09, I bought a ticket to fly on 3-1-10. In January, the price goes down and I get a $100 credit. I buy another ticket to fly 10-1-10 and use the $100 credit from the prior flight. If the price goes down on that one, they use 9-1-09 as the basis for a credit because some funds were used from the original ticket. So if the price goes down in August for the October flight, it will only be good until 9-1-10. Or if you cancel the October flight, the entire flight credit will only be good until 9-1-10.

We have credit that we have to use by 9-18-10. It's $108, so not worth the $50 extension fee. My DH asked if we buy new tickets using the credit then canceled that flight, would our credit have a new date. I came on here to find that answer & it looks like no.

 

[3happydancers]

We have credit that we have to use by 9-18-10. It's $108, so not worth the $50 extension fee. My DH asked if we buy new tickets using the credit then canceled that flight, would our credit have a new date. I came on here to find that answer & it looks like no.

Hi Nemofans, your answer is no, you will not have a new credit date. But given that you have an 108.00 credit, the 50.00 extension fee would come off the top saving you 58.00 to use toward a new flight, provided you actually use it. Now, if there is a good chance that you would not use it, then you can consider selling it, giving it to a friend or family member who can use it, or even barter (spell check) the credits with someone. I have bartered my credits with the person who cuts my hair a few times. She gets SWA credit and I get x amount of hair cuts free, everyone comes out a-head (not pun intended!)

 

[nemofans]

I was told that it was $50 for each individual credit. We have $26 each from 4 tickets. Is it $50 fee to extend each credit?

If it's only $50 total, then I may extend it so we only lose $50 instead of all $108. We will use it to fly in Feb. so it's w/in the 6 mos extension. The 6 mos extension is from the ticket purchase date, not the date you extend it, right?

 

[nemofans]

So I called SWA to ask my question & was told it is $50 total to extend that expiration date. You can't extend it til they expire though.
3happydancers, You are right. I should extend it so i only lose $50 instead of $108. We do have a trip to use it on once it's extended.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I was told that it was $50 for each individual credit. We have $26 each from 4 tickets. Is it $50 fee to extend each credit?

If it's only $50 total, then I may extend it so we only lose $50 instead of all $108. We will use it to fly in Feb. so it's w/in the 6 mos extension. The 6 mos extension is from the ticket purchase date, not the date you extend it, right?

What you need to do is use the 4 individual credits to purchase a new ticket now, and then cancel it. You need to get all of the money on one ticket before you have them extend it. It is $50 to extend each credit.

 

[nemofans]

What you need to do is use the 4 individual credits to purchase a new ticket now, and then cancel it. You need to get all of the money on one ticket before you have them extend it. It is $50 to extend each credit.

Are you sure? The SWA person I spoke to said it's only one $50 charge for all credit under 1 confirmation #, not one ticket. So I have $26 each from 4 tix from one flight. They are not credits from multiple flights. She said b/c all 4 credits are under 1 confirmation from 1 flight that it's only $50 total to extend them.