Southwest expert advice needed!

[mickeywho?]

Now that the extended dates have finally been released ... we're thinking out our options.
While SWs prices are higher than we expected, they have the best flight times and are direct vs. our other options which all have stops in NY, Boston, or Atlanta.
If we buy "Internet one-way" tickets how easy is it to get credit if we see the same flight going on sale? Do make the change by phone? Do we receive a full credit for the difference or is there a fee to make the change? Can we take 4 credits and use them for 1 person later on? How long do we have to use the credit?
Help appreciated!!!

 

[mickeywho?]

Anyone?

 

[pinkerbell]

I am looking for the same info. Thanks original poster. A big concern if I get a credit and it is only valid for say 1 yr is, since they take so long to release dates, can my credit expire as I wait?
any help would be appreciated.

 

[Manda]

I'm pretty sure if you called Southwest, they'd answer all your questions. They are terribly helpful. I've called them 4 times today already.

For my trip the Internet-only rate was the same as the Promotional Fare rate, so I just booked it over the phone while I was chatting with her about all my issues.

 

[Rpsemont]

If you buy IOW tickets and later fares are lower (or there's a ding) you can either cancel and rebook, or in some cases "change" the ticket to the lower fare (even though you might not change your flight days or times.) After you finalize the change (or cancel) you will left with Ticketless Travel Funds (TTF) attached to a specific confirmation number. These funds, can then be used to purchase another ticket. I don't remember how many different TTF you can use for a purchase, but it's at least three. There are no change fees and no penalties. The only thing to keep in mind that that the TTF must be used for travel completed within one year of original booking (Unless you get them extended, which is an exception we'll skip for now)
But what that means is, say you book three tickets at $300 RT today.
In August, those same flights or maybe even different flights on the same day go on sale for $180RT. You could rebook your tickets and have $120 per ticket TTF - total $360. That $360 can be used to purchase a ticket to anywhere SWA flies, for anyone (doesn't even have to be your original party) as long as you complete travel by 4/27/08.
Personally I prefer to do everything on line with SWA. Changing for the lower fare is easy.
Words of Wisdom, book OW tickets individually if you can, or at the most in pairs. That way, if a sale fare comes up that there might only be two seats available for, you can at least save on a couple of people. If you were to book 4 people on one itinerary, and the sale fare only had two seats, you can't easily change it on the web. And in cases of a ding when you have to cancel and rebook, I cancel one, take the credit and book a ding, then cancel the other.

BTW, I assume you're flying out of Buffalo. Any possibility of changing your dates to Tues- Tues? It looks like Tues-Wed Fares are $80 Cheaper than Thurs-Monday.

Good Luck

 

[pinkerbell]

thanks for the help. I am very new at this. For anyone who might know I will be going from BDL Hartford, Ct to Orlando. The fare is about 240. Might they lower or should I just book since it is lower than all the other airlines (by about 100) and the flight times are the best. What makes me hesitant is now that I get DING's, I see fares for as low as $50 each way (just lasy sunday for travel, but for the entire month of june, not when I'm travleing 9 20 - 10 2. And we will not travel again until the next year so any type of credit for future flights is not all that appealing for us.
thanks

 

[mickeywho?]

If you buy IOW tickets and later fares are lower (or there's a ding) you can either cancel and rebook, or in some cases "change" the ticket to the lower fare (even though you might not change your flight days or times.) After you finalize the change (or cancel) you will left with Ticketless Travel Funds (TTF) attached to a specific confirmation number. These funds, can then be used to purchase another ticket. I don't remember how many different TTF you can use for a purchase, but it's at least three. There are no change fees and no penalties. The only thing to keep in mind that that the TTF must be used for travel completed within one year of original booking (Unless you get them extended, which is an exception we'll skip for now)
But what that means is, say you book three tickets at $300 RT today.
In August, those same flights or maybe even different flights on the same day go on sale for $180RT. You could rebook your tickets and have $120 per ticket TTF - total $360. That $360 can be used to purchase a ticket to anywhere SWA flies, for anyone (doesn't even have to be your original party) as long as you complete travel by 4/27/08.
Personally I prefer to do everything on line with SWA. Changing for the lower fare is easy.
Words of Wisdom, book OW tickets individually if you can, or at the most in pairs. That way, if a sale fare comes up that there might only be two seats available for, you can at least save on a couple of people. If you were to book 4 people on one itinerary, and the sale fare only had two seats, you can't easily change it on the web. And in cases of a ding when you have to cancel and rebook, I cancel one, take the credit and book a ding, then cancel the other.

BTW, I assume you're flying out of Buffalo. Any possibility of changing your dates to Tues- Tues? It looks like Tues-Wed Fares are $80 Cheaper than Thurs-Monday.

Good Luck

Thanks so much - that really helps! We are flying out of Buffalo - needing Sunday flights both ways. I'll be watching the rates to see what happens!

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't remember how many different TTF you can use for a purchase, but it's at least three.

You can use ticketless travel funds from up to four confirmation numbers per purchase.