So disappointed with Southwest & Flight Credits!

[mjhd]

Due to financial reasons, we had to cancel our spring break trip. We were left with close to $600 in SW credit. I have done everything I can to try to squeeze a trip in before they expire 10/13/10. We just started planning a January trip so I figured we'd just take the extension and forfeit the $50. The dates we were looking at open tomorrow so I gave them a call to get the extension so I could book tomorrow - what do you know, they can't extend them until after they expire and then it takes another 7-10 days AND, this is the kicker, it's $50 PER TICKET! I am so upset, I guess I am going to try and get what I can back from these on craigslist and not fly SW again. I read quite a bit on their website before canceling the spring break trip, but apparently missed these rules. Hope this helps someone that may find themselves in a similar situation.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

It gets worse. After January, SWA will require that the person who has the credits, must use the credits him/herself. You will no longer be able to sell or trade your credits.

That being said, I still love SWA and think they have some of the most liberal cancellation and change policies in the industry.

 

[DebbieB]

Most other airlines it would be $150 per ticket to use ANY credit before expiration with no extensions. Also no change in names.

 

[Huff]

SWA is one of the very few airlines to give any credit at all to their lowest priced airfare. What other airlines give a 1yr credit without having to pay large sums for refundable tickets?

Furthermore, if SWA reduces fares for a flight you already booked you can get a credit for the difference. Again, not many other airlines will do that.

I fly SWA because of their very liberal credit policies and no baggage fees.

 

[mjhd]

While I understand what you are saying about their liberal policies, please realize that we chose SW for this reason and chose to drive the extra 2.5 hrs each way to get to the airport they fly out of. I just think their policies should be clearer as I was expecting this to be an easy "fix."

 

[kaytieeldr]

The dates we were looking at open tomorrow so I gave them a call to get the extension so I could book tomorrow - what do you know, they can't extend them until after they expire

That's always been the condition. Your credits are still valid, they haven't expired. Southwest's policy is to not extend them until they expire.

Think about it - okay, you've tried to use them before they expire and can't, understood. But thousands of passengers DO manage to use Southwest credits during the original twelve months. Can you imagine if the airline extended the credits early, then the problems from people who wanted their $50 refunded because they hadn't needed to spend it? Which brings me to...

and then it takes another 7-10 days AND, this is the kicker, it's $50 PER TICKET!

... which is MORE than reasonable. Passengers are given twelve months from the date of purchase to use Ticketless Travel Funds with absolutely NO penalty other than a possible fare increase. Southwest doesn't HAVE to extend the availability of these funds. They don't HAVE to allow you to cancel the original flight with no penalty. If they want to charge $50 per ticket for keeping the funds active for eighteen months instead of twelve, they absolutely can.

 

[pooch]

and I stress TRY because, although I got this info from a SWA rep a couple of years ago and it did work for me, it may not work now for you. But I think its worth trying. I assume you have 4 ticketless credits.

Buy 2 FULLY-REFUNDABLE tickets with fares that most closely match the amount of 2 credits each - yup, takes some digging. Use 2 credits each to buy them. Be sure you buy FULLY-REFUNDABLE tickets!!! Now cancel the flights. You should now have 2 Ticketless credits instead of 4. Repeat this procedure, buying 1 FULLY-REFUNDABLE ticket that most closely matches the amount of the 2 credits using both credits for that single ticket. Now cancel THAT flight. In theory, all your credits should be on 1 ticketless credit now. When the time comes to extend the deadline (and yes you do have to wait until it expires) you'll only have 1 credit and only be charged 1 extension fee of $50.

Again, I was given this info by a SW CSR a few years ago so I don't know if it still works. It also does not extend the expiration date on the credits.

I certainly think its worth a call to SW (SHHH you can be anonymous - "I have a FRIEND who has credits" )

Hope this helps

 

[keishashadow]

Im taking notes, have nearly $200 in credits-so far (spread among 3 different people) & i'd like to try what pooch outline above after our October trip. Our credits don't expire until end of March '11 & the new rule will be in effect January? as to credits only applying toward the original name on the ticket.

curious, why do the 'new' tickets booked need to be fully refundable?

 

[mjhd]

Thank you for those who have made suggestions. I ended up selling them on craigslist so got more of my money back than what SW was going to be after the fees - and I can choose my carrier for January travel.

For those who think I shouldn't be disappointed, yes SW has the right to conduct business as they like (and it may seem generous to most, but I paid MORE than I would have on another carrier for that generosity), but I also have the ability to choose air carriers as I like so will not be using them again as they cannot provide clear, concise information. Also wanted to add, the lady I ended up selling the credit to, had a bunch of problems using it because, even though I called for extremely clear direction from SW earlier yesterday, the customer care rep failed to mention several key facts. She was on the phone with them for over 2 hours last night...lesson learned!

 

[DebbieB]

Before you make a decision on a new carrier, be sure to check on their change fees, bag fees, seat assignment fees (Air Tran), some even have reservation fees (Allegiant). The older carriers are especially tough (USAir, Delta, United, etc), if the price goes down they will only give you a credit if you pay a $150 change fee.

 

[disfan07]

they cannot provide clear, concise information.

But they are clear and concise. The rule you posted has ALWAYS been the rule.

And OT:
i'm sorry. I think it is very wrong that you sold the travel funds. People like you who sell them is the main reason why they changed their rules for the travel funds so that now only the people who BOOKED originally can use them. Which hurts people like my family because we still used to use them within our family but for example when we cancelled our flight for june, we had $938 in credits. We used $600 for my brother to fly from NC to California adn the other $338 for our trip in december. If we hadnt been able to use them by feb (when we had purchased them) we would have either gotten teh extension or forfeited the tickets like you should do. But now we can't do that which is not fair but it's the old saying "one rotten apple ruins the entire bunch"

 

[kaytieeldr]

Note that disfan isn't blaming the OP for Southwest changing its rules on usage of TTFs since the rule itself was changed last month, going into effect in January 2011 - i.e. giving SW passengers plenty of notice.

 

[pooch]

Im taking notes, have nearly $200 in credits-so far (spread among 3 different people) & i'd like to try what pooch outline above after our October trip. Our credits don't expire until end of March '11 & the new rule will be in effect January? as to credits only applying toward the original name on the ticket.

curious, why do the 'new' tickets booked need to be fully refundable?

I don't remember why she said to book the fully-refundable but she did say it. I hope it works for you!

 

[smacky1]

I think this is so any amount you pay above and beyond the credit will be refunded and you will be left with just the credit on one number instead of 4 or whatever. I have actually done this in the past, however, i dont know if it still works. Southwest now breaks down each credit and assigns it to a passenger. For example, I travel with my family of 4. Our flights dropped by $10. So I rebooked to get a $40 credit. To my surprise, that $40 was broken down into 4 $10 credits. So when I put the credit in to book a flight, it told me I had to remove one payment in order to pay the remainer with a credit card. It really makes using the credits very difficult!

 

[DebbieB]

But they are clear and concise. The rule you posted has ALWAYS been the rule.

And OT:
i'm sorry. I think it is very wrong that you sold the travel funds. People like you who sell them is the main reason why they changed their rules for the travel funds so that now only the people who BOOKED originally can use them. Which hurts people like my family because we still used to use them within our family but for example when we cancelled our flight for june, we had $938 in credits. We used $600 for my brother to fly from NC to California adn the other $338 for our trip in december. If we hadnt been able to use them by feb (when we had purchased them) we would have either gotten teh extension or forfeited the tickets like you should do. But now we can't do that which is not fair but it's the old saying "one rotten apple ruins the entire bunch"

I really don't believe that's the total reason. All of the other airlines (that I know of) only allow credits to be used by the original passenger. Since SW doesn't want to charge bag fees, they are looking for new revenue sources. So they decided to change their policy to the same as the other airlines. It's not only people selling their credits, it's also people who use them for other family members. Now it's likely some of the credits will go unused.

 

[HappyHappy]

Rec'd 8 $40 credits for Sept. trip Will be able to use mine and DH for a Nov. trip but the 6 other family members won't be flying for 2 years. Will this work?: Buy 2 tickets for me & DH for another flight down(eg. 2 to MCO for Aug) using 4 of the 6 family credits (2 each). Use other 2 credits for flight home. When Nov. window opens, change these Aug. tickets for Nov. tickets.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

New SWA policy, as of January 22nd, is that credits can only be used for the original name on the reservation that the credit was issued to.

 

[HappyHappy]

That's why I was going to book now. Thank you for your reply

 

[Lewisc]

New SWA policy, as of January 22nd, is that credits can only be used for the original name on the reservation that the credit was issued to.

The implementation of the "name match" policy on TTF has been delayed indefinitely.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The implementation of the "name match" policy on TTF has been delayed indefinitely.

Wow, I missed that one. Sorry for the misinformation.