Southwest credit for "future travel" question

[DIS-OH]

Has anyone ever "changed flight" via Southwest Airlines website to get a better deal?

I booked flights in October for our Half-marathon trip to WDW in February. Today, I just happened to check the Southwest website and the same flights are $350 cheaper!!

I "rebooked" online and was credited the $350 for "future travel."

Here is my question...is the credit ($70 per person) tied to each person or could just one of us use the whole amount at a later date?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

It is tied to each person. However, right now you can use multiple credits for one person or flight. However, after January 28th, you can only use the credit for the person named on the credit.

 

[DIS-OH]

It is tied to each person. However, right now you can use multiple credits for one person or flight. However, after January 28th, you can only use the credit for the person named on the credit.

Thanks!

 

[keishashadow]

It is tied to each person. However, right now you can use multiple credits for one person or flight. However, after January 28th, you can only use the credit for the person named on the credit.

I was only able to recently use 2 credits (tied into individual confirmation numbers) maximum per leg of trip plus CC for any remaining balance due.

i combined all my family's leftovers into one final reservation/confirmation number via series of bookings/cancellations (see flyertalk for info on how to accomplish) & then cancelled. I didn't book a fully refundable one though, hope that isn't a problem.

I sure hope to be able to extend it for $50 when it expires end of March.. SWA agents I spoke to said they haven't heard any word of this accommodation being dropped after the big change on January 28th, guess we all wait & see.

 

[disneymayz]

It is tied to each person. However, right now you can use multiple credits for one person or flight. However, after January 28th, you can only use the credit for the person named on the credit.

Are you sure? When I had 4 of us flying and I then changed the flight and got a credit, the whole credit was put on one conformation number. The next time I booked a flight (for one person) it was all applied. My thoughts were if all the people were booked under one then the credit is one not individual.

 

[joan4mickey]

So how do I go about rebooking? I, too, booked flights for the Princess Half Weekend and the rates have dropped and I'd like to get the better price.

 

[DIS-OH]

So how do I go about rebooking? I, too, booked flights for the Princess Half Weekend and the rates have dropped and I'd like to get the better price.

I clicked on the "change flight" link and just selected the same flights at the lower cost.

See you at the Princess race!

 

[keishashadow]

Are you sure? When I had 4 of us flying and I then changed the flight and got a credit, the whole credit was put on one conformation number. The next time I booked a flight (for one person) it was all applied. My thoughts were if all the people were booked under one then the credit is one not individual.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cancelAir.html

"Effective January 28, 2011, unused travel funds may only be applied toward the purchase of future travel for the individual named on the ticket."

 

[disneymayz]

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cancelAir.html

"Effective January 28, 2011, unused travel funds may only be applied toward the purchase of future travel for the individual named on the ticket."

That stinks! If I was going to buy tickets for my family to go on a trip and then change flights to get a refund. I now will have to make sure everyone in my family flies somewhere within 365 days of original booking. They don't fly much so there goes 3/4 of the refund. This is another thing that is making Southwest going down the drain in my opinion. Are next trip for May we booked through Airtran (soon to be Southwest) cause including bag fees they were still $40/person cheaper than Soutwest from Philly.

 

[MHSweb79]

I've also been able to change my online bookings over the phone to get a lower fare.

One more tip: make sure you keep your ORIGINAL booking confirmation number on file somewhere, because you'll need it in order to retrieve your credit. I found this out the hard way, but luckily I still had my Disney spreadsheets on my computer, which listed my original flight information.

 

[keishashadow]

That stinks! If I was going to buy tickets for my family to go on a trip and then change flights to get a refund. I now will have to make sure everyone in my family flies somewhere within 365 days of original booking. They don't fly much so there goes 3/4 of the refund. This is another thing that is making Southwest going down the drain in my opinion. Are next trip for May we booked through Airtran (soon to be Southwest) cause including bag fees they were still $40/person cheaper than Soutwest from Philly.

least they still do allow the credit extension for fee

with such large credit, why not go thru the process of combining them all into 1 final res for 1 person via series of bookings/cancellations/rebookings? flyertalk has FAQ that can walk u thru it. Then you can cancel it & extend once it expires (if they're still going to offer this accommodation that is!)

i have $160 something i rolled over into 1 credit last month which i'll need to extend once it expires in March.

im nervous waiting that long to book my summer travel though & may just gift it to a family member to use for last minute travel

 

[disneymayz]

least they still do allow the credit extension for fee

with such large credit, why not go thru the process of combining them all into 1 final res for 1 person via series of bookings/cancellations/rebookings? flyertalk has FAQ that can walk u thru it. Then you can cancel it & extend once it expires (if they're still going to offer this accommodation that is!)

i have $160 something i rolled over into 1 credit last month which i'll need to extend once it expires in March.

im nervous waiting that long to book my summer travel though & may just gift it to a family member to use for last minute travel

I endup selling mine to family so I did not have to extend or lose it.

The part that I am confused on is if 4 people are on one booking and you change the flight and get a credit. You now will get 4 different credits - one for each person? That seems mroe for them to have to keep track rather than one res. number with this total credit. I typically don't book our reservation individually we are always on one.

 

[mollybeasley]

I might have to cancel a trip. If I do, how long will I have to use the credited amount?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I might have to cancel a trip. If I do, how long will I have to use the credited amount?

Your credit is good for one year from the date of original purchase.

 

[keishashadow]

I endup selling mine to family so I did not have to extend or lose it.

The part that I am confused on is if 4 people are on one booking and you change the flight and get a credit. You now will get 4 different credits - one for each person? That seems mroe for them to have to keep track rather than one res. number with this total credit. I typically don't book our reservation individually we are always on one.

glad it worked outi always book each person & leg of travel separately it's easier for me when fiddling with price drops

SWA sure didn't institute the change to help their customers. The xtrapaperwork/research will likely offset people letting their smallish credits 'go' vs practice of combining a groups into 1 large credit, then extending...if not, im sure they'll adjust to whatever practice is most profitable for them.