Southwest Credit Problem..It worked ! You can build a credit!

[pyrxtc]

yet another reason why September's trip is my last on SW and I will be flying out of Boston on Jetblue from now on even though it is further away.

 

[Fantasmic303]

yet another reason why September's trip is my last on SW and I will be flying out of Boston on Jetblue from now on even though it is further away.

I'm feeling the same way about flying Jetblue out of White Plains vs. Southwest out of Bradley.

 

[CherylA]

I haven't tried yet. The cheapest flight I could find was $57.
My credits are mostly $13.
Plus you can only really use THREE of them unless your credits totally pay for your ticket.
Because you can only have FOUR lines of payments...
So you can't even use four credits and then pay the difference.
I don't think it will work anyways...

I just wish they would atleast put the credits together for the same passenger on the same ticket.
I rebooked my fare twice...once $13 cheaper and then another $10...
So I ended up with 12 different credits for only six tickets.
They could atleast put those together and make one $23 credit for each passenger.
Live and learn I guess...

Next time I will cancel the original tickets and then use 5 of the 6 credits to buy back the cheaper tickets...

I had the same thing happen to me. After the first time the flights went down I learned the second time. And figured it all out ahead of time before I cancelled and rebooked again. When you have different values of credits it makes being creative easier. I did end up booking us 2 and 2 on the reservations and then as singles on the return. I tried to keep as many large credits remaining as possible. Heres one thing it took me a while to figure out that helped: You can cancel out each line of your credit on your reservation seperately. So say you have 4 $30 credits on one reservation # (credits from last time the flight price dropped)and 4 $150 credits on another reservation # (full credits for cancelled flights which you are about to rebook)

If the new flight price is $120 You could buy your tickets 2 at a time. So now your total for one transaction is $240. Enter the confirmation #'s for both sets of credit which will show 4 $150 credits and 4 $30 credits, now delete one at a time, 3 of your $150 credits, leaving just one on the confirmation screen and delete one of your $30 credits leaving 3 on your confirmation screen. So you will be using 1 $150 credit and 3 $30 credits= $240. Now when you go to book your other 2 tickets for $240 you have 3 $150 credits and 1 $30 credit. This time you can enter just the confirmation #'s that have your $150 credits. Delete 1 of those credits from the confirmation screen which will leave you with 2 $150 credits being used. The computer will take $120 from each of those credits leaving you with 2 more $30 credits. So you will have rebooked and you will have 1 $150 credit and 3 $30 credits to use at another time.

I hope that helps and isn't just confusing. What I basically learned was that you can use only selected lines of your credits by deleting out the ones you don't want to use on your payment page.

 

[mybabesuz]

I had the same thing happen to me. After the first time the flights went down I learned the second time. And figured it all out ahead of time before I cancelled and rebooked again. When you have different values of credits it makes being creative easier. I did end up booking us 2 and 2 on the reservations and then as singles on the return. I tried to keep as many large credits remaining as possible. Heres one thing it took me a while to figure out that helped: You can cancel out each line of your credit on your reservation seperately. So say you have 4 $30 credits on one reservation # (credits from last time the flight price dropped)and 4 $150 credits on another reservation # (full credits for cancelled flights which you are about to rebook)

If the new flight price is $120 You could buy your tickets 2 at a time. So now your total for one transaction is $240. Enter the confirmation #'s for both sets of credit which will show 4 $150 credits and 4 $30 credits, now delete one at a time, 3 of your $150 credits, leaving just one on the confirmation screen and delete one of your $30 credits leaving 3 on your confirmation screen. So you will be using 1 $150 credit and 3 $30 credits= $240. Now when you go to book your other 2 tickets for $240 you have 3 $150 credits and 1 $30 credit. This time you can enter just the confirmation #'s that have your $150 credits. Delete 1 of those credits from the confirmation screen which will leave you with 2 $150 credits being used. The computer will take $120 from each of those credits leaving you with 2 more $30 credits. So you will have rebooked and you will have 1 $150 credit and 3 $30 credits to use at another time.

I hope that helps and isn't just confusing. What I basically learned was that you can use only selected lines of your credits by deleting out the ones you don't want to use on your payment page.

I actually did do that once. I cancel 6 tickets I rebooked 4 tickets using 3 of the larger credits and it actually let me use three of the smaller ones...

It seems to list unused ticket credits and other credits seperate.
I put the first confirmation number in and the six cancelled ticket credits came up.
I deleted three of them, so it left three ticket credits.
Then I put in another confirmation number and it listed those credits as other credits and let me use three more lines.
So I actually had six lines of credits.

 

[n2mm]

This is very confusing. I just booked SW for August and have a credit, but the credit is combined for both flyers. I booked for 7, then 2 dropped out and I cancelled and rebooked and applied the credits of the 5, but were all on one confirmation number. I think I'll stay with Jetblue for most of my flights as I don't want to have to juggle many different credits. Ugh, I'm hoping my rate doesn't drop so I won't be tempted to get a credit.

 

[LoveToDisney]

I hope my question makes sense....
If you have 2 tickets (or more) that are made up of separate PARTS of "credits" and you cancel those tickets, do the credits go back and rejoin their original groupings (i.e. a $139 ticket credit used as $100 and $39 separately and then those new tickets are cancelled or changed) or does it make MORE SUB parts of the credit mess? Sorry if my question is confusing. I patched together several credits and cancelled tickets to pay for several new tickets and now the prices are coming down. I originally was going to cancel ONE ticket entirely that had a later expiration date and rebook with the other credits, but I'm guessing I may max out my 3 credits per ticket leg since I have smaller credits to use. I was hoping to try and figure out what I "had" before cancelling because if I can't do it successfully then I won't cancel and will just have to eat the expiring credits that I can't use.

 

[CherylA]

I hope my question makes sense....
If you have 2 tickets (or more) that are made up of separate PARTS of "credits" and you cancel those tickets, do the credits go back and rejoin their original groupings (i.e. a $139 ticket credit used as $100 and $39 separately and then those new tickets are cancelled or changed) or does it make MORE SUB parts of the credit mess? Sorry if my question is confusing. .

Even if you used different parts of credits to make your reservation you will get one credit for each leg of your journey for each person as a credit. So if you booked for 1 person going 1 way and used 2 credits to make that reservation then you cancel your new credit will be for the full amount of your reservation. The thing to remember is that the expiration of that credit will be the oldest expiration from the credits you used. Also remember you must actually fly by that expiration date.

I patched together several credits and cancelled tickets to pay for several new tickets and now the prices are coming down. I originally was going to cancel ONE ticket entirely that had a later expiration date and rebook with the other credits, but I'm guessing I may max out my 3 credits per ticket leg since I have smaller credits to use. I was hoping to try and figure out what I "had" before cancelling because if I can't do it successfully then I won't cancel and will just have to eat the expiring credits that I can't use.

Remember too that you can actually apply 4 credits as long as the amount you're applying is more than what you owe because in that case you don't need to use a credit card. The rule is 4 forms of payment, so up to 3 credits and a credit card or 4 credits as long as no balance will be due.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Even if you used different parts of credits to make your reservation you will get one credit for each leg of your journey for each person as a credit. So if you booked for 1 person going 1 way and used 2 credits to make that reservation then you cancel your new credit will be for the full amount of your reservation. The thing to remember is that the expiration of that credit will be the oldest expiration from the credits you used. Also remember you must actually fly by that expiration date.

Are you sure? Maybe I am misunderstanding, but I thought everyone was talking as though SWA has made a change recently that will not group splinters of former credits into a new one-piece credit anymore when you make and cancel the ticket that was made with multi parts. Has anyone had success recently?

 

[mybabesuz]

Okay..I finally found a flight cheap enough to combine 4 credits to pay for it in full.

I book it but have not canceled it yet.

I think I should wait a day to cancel.

Maybe it will stay as one credit if I give it a day... maybe not...

I will let everyone know what happens tomorrow when I cancel it...

 

[mybabesuz]

If it works to combine the credits I was thinking next I could buy another ticket for even more...

I combined a $23 credit and three $13 credits to buy a $59.60 ticket.
If that stays whole when I cancel it, I can then purchase a larger ticket using that credit...
I can combine the $59.60 with three more $13 credits and buy a ticket for up to 98.60...
And keep doing it until my credit is whole again...

Chances are it won't work but it's worth a shot...

 

[mybabesuz]

It worked... I am sooo excited... Sorry...
I am going to post a new thread with exactly what I did...

 

[CherylA]

Are you sure? Maybe I am misunderstanding, but I thought everyone was talking as though SWA has made a change recently that will not group splinters of former credits into a new one-piece credit anymore when you make and cancel the ticket that was made with multi parts. Has anyone had success recently?

Yes I'm sure. I've done it. The "splintering" is caused in a case like if you have r/t tickets for 4 at $220 each r/t and the price r/t drops to $200. That now needs to be broken down by person and by leg of the trip. So really each way the trip went down by $10 per person so you will end up with 8 $10 credits when the adverage person would have thought they would have had one $80 credit. Thats the splintering but if you use 3 of those $10 credits toward buying a one way ticket for one person that costs $100 with the remaining $70 on your credit card and then you cancel it you will have 1 combined credit for $100. It will not be broken down back into the 10, 10, 10, 70 split.

 

[conniehar90]

If you purchase a refundable ticket, then the extra amount that you put on your credit card will be refunded to your card when you cancel.

I was in the same boat a few weeks ago with multiple small credits. I just kept purchases refundable tickets and cancelling them until all of my credit was in one lump sum.

It works!

 

[mybabesuz]

If you purchase a refundable ticket, then the extra amount that you put on your credit card will be refunded to your card when you cancel.

I was in the same boat a few weeks ago with multiple small credits. I just kept purchases refundable tickets and cancelling them until all of my credit was in one lump sum.

It works!

Great to know..Thanks... I never even thought of buying a refundable ticket...

 

[LoveToDisney]

Gee thanks everyone! I'm glad you were successful in combining the credits. I understand (like always) that the oldest expiration date now covers anything mixed with it. That's one reason I was being careful about what I mixed because I have some credits that will expire before the "next" trip I want to take so I need to refold them into my nearest trip as the price goes down. I have one ticket for this closer trip that has the better expiration date so that's the ticket I hoped to cancel completely and rebook with the credits that expire sooner. The partial credits I kept seeing within my booked tickets were what was scaring me and thinking they would not combine any longer into one credit when that ticket was cancelled. If all the credits combine, then what has really changed regarding what SWA will let us do? Man, can I easily confuse myself all over again. I'm sure glad you guys are willing to share your expertise!

 

[Fantasmic303]

thank you so much for posting your success! I really didn't expect you to be able to do it, but I'm really glad you were! I'm even more confused about my credits now (we have SEVEN!) but happy that it appears possible to make them usable. Thanks again!

 

[extremesoccermom]

I just encountered the same thing and had to split up our flights booking individually in order to use up the credits. It is annoying! The other somewhat tricky thing is that when you go to apply the credit, you have to figure out which name goes with which credit otherwise you'll get an error when you try to use it.

Are you saying that I can only use the credit for the same person.
I booked our July flights (all 3 S,F and B) as one way to Orlando then I booked the same 3 as a one way to StL.
My totals changed twice also but by small amounts. I now have 6 $2.00 credits and 6 $3.00 credits.
We are going again in Oct and I planned on splitting it into 3 seperate one way tickets to try and use all the credits. However, the next trip B will not be going instead D will be trying to use the credit - Can this be done?

 

[mybabesuz]

Are you saying that I can only use the credit for the same person.
I booked our July flights (all 3 S,F and B) as one way to Orlando then I booked the same 3 as a one way to StL.
My totals changed twice also but by small amounts. I now have 6 $2.00 credits and 6 $3.00 credits.
We are going again in Oct and I planned on splitting it into 3 seperate one way tickets to try and use all the credits. However, the next trip B will not be going instead D will be trying to use the credit - Can this be done?

The credits can be used for anyone.
It is just when you are redeeming the credit, say you have 6 credits on one confirmation number, you can only use three of those credits on one transaction.
So if you buy one ticket at a time and you use three of the credits, when you go to use the remaining credits for the next ticket you have to put in the same confirmation # but another name.
If you try to use the first name again the credit won't go in.
Each credit is assigned to a specific name but can be used by anyone.
When you first put them in they will all come up under one name.
But after you use one you have to try another name on the reservation for the credit to come up.
I hope that makes sense, it is kind of hard to explain.

 

[mareed]

The credits can be used for anyone.
It is just when you are redeeming the credit, say you have 6 credits on one confirmation number, you can only use three of those credits on one transaction.
So if you buy one ticket at a time and you use three of the credits, when you go to use the remaining credits for the next ticket you have to put in the same confirmation # but another name.
If you try to use the first name again the credit won't go in.
Each credit is assigned to a specific name but can be used by anyone.
When you first put them in they will all come up under one name.
But after you use one you have to try another name on the reservation for the credit to come up.
I hope that makes sense, it is kind of hard to explain.

Yep, that's it!