Southwest - If you use ticketless travel funds, rethink your strategy!!

[mysparky]

All -
This is long and a little confusing, but here I go....

Many of us on this board fly with Southwest and take advantage of DINGS and other sales to rebook tickets at a lower fare. For non-refundable tickets, we get the difference in the fare as a "ticketless travel funds" (aka "credits) which can be used towards future ticket purchases. You should all be aware that Southwest has recently changed their policy regarding use of ticketless travel funds.

You used to be able to apply up to 4 ticketless travel funds towards a new ticket, but that number has been reduced to 2 funds/new ticket. In other words, if you have 4 credits on your account of $20 each (total of $80) and you want to use all of these credits towards the purchase of a new ticket, you can only use 2 of your credits (in this case $40), instead of all 4.

In my situation, I had initially booked 7 one-way tickets to MCO at a rate of $99/ticket. The price went down to $69 and I canceled & rebooked each ticket. As a result, I had 7 ticketless travel funds - each with a $30 credit. I then went to purchase 2 new tickets, and could only use 2 ticketless travel funds towards each ticket.

The real kicker is that Southwest website has a discrepancy regarding the use of ticketless travel. In the section where you can click on the ticket types for a description of each (i.e. "promotional fare" "advance purchase") it says you can use up to 4 funds. However, when you are actually on the screen to use the funds, it says you can only use 2 funds, and only gives you the ability to use 2.

Because of the discrepancy outlined above, Southwest's customer service may be able to help out (haven't tried yet), but for now, wanted everyone to be aware of this recent change.

 

[clkelley]

The best way to fix that is to use two of the TTFs to purchase a fully refundable fare, then use two more to purchase another fully refundable fare, then cancel. You then have two TTFs and the rest of your money credited back to your card.

Then do it again using the two TTFs to purchase a fully refundable fare, then cancel. They they are all combined into one. Of course, they all take on the expiration date of the oldest TTFs (if they are from different times.)

 

[Kim&Chris]

And here's something else everyone should know about:

If you have Ticketless Travel Funds, and wish to apply for an extension, it's my understanding that this will cost you $50.00. So, if you have $60 worth of Ticketless Travel Funds, you'll only have $10 after you've requested an extension.

ALSO (and this is from experience), if you request an extension, do it right before the Ticketless Travel Funds expire. Here's why: I found myself with about $150 worth of funds last February. I did not think that SWA would open up the next set of dates prior to my funds' expiration, so I called and asked for an extension. The customer service rep said "sure, no problem" and told me I'd been given a 6 month extension, and that I'd receive LUV vouchers in the mail. A few days later, I did receive the vouchers, but the 6 month extension I was granted was from the date I placed the call, not 6 months following the original expiration date. Which means, in short, that my funds were only extended about three weeks. Long story short....I lost the funds because, once I realized what had happened, they would NOT make an adjustment. In fact, I was told that I was at fault for not asking the customer service rep to fully explain the procedure to me prior to asking for an extension. Even though I said "shouldn't she really have told me that the extension was not for 6 months?" I was told that it was my job to find out all the details prior to making my request.

 

[SalandJeff]

I recently had a similar problem. We had credit and got an extension for the 6 months. As you said, it is six months from when you bought the original tickets. Ours expired 10/31, and due to the dates SW released on their schedule, we were only able to buy our tickets to go to WDW. I used the entire credit, plus several hundred dollars of our own money to buy three tickets.

Then the fare was reduced, so I had a new credit of $90 to use when the opened the 11/3 dates for our return flight. Well I went to book the return flights and it told me the credits had expired. Apparently, even though I used the entire credit PLUS my own money, they still go back to that original beginning of the six month period. This makes NO SENSE....i could see if I did not pay cash for a large portion of the tickets.

I am really ticked off about it...had they opened their schedule earlier I would have been fine. I have not contacted their executive offices yet. That is my next step. Customer service was extremely rude and the woman actually hung up on me.

 

[Poorman]

Thanks for the heads up.

I had 12 credits to be used by next May, it would have been hard to use them.

I called SWA and talked to a very nice credit rep,who did not know about the change in policy. With a little whinning she put 10 of the credits back on my CC.

Now at least I only have $70.00 in credits to worry about instead of $420.00.

Thanks again.

 

[mysparky]

The best way to fix that is to use two of the TTFs to purchase a fully refundable fare, then use two more to purchase another fully refundable fare, then cancel. You then have two TTFs and the rest of your money credited back to your card.

Then do it again using the two TTFs to purchase a fully refundable fare, then cancel. They they are all combined into one. Of course, they all take on the expiration date of the oldest TTFs (if they are from different times.)

Carol -
That is exactly how to fix it and I was actually able to do that just a little while after I wrote my posting. Just wonder how long that "loophole" will remain available. SW really appears to be clamping down on a number of items.

 

[nottelling]

I just cancelled and re-booked my flight. I have the exact same flight, time, date, etc. I had read on one of these post that if I do this, then call SW they will refund my credit card as long as everything in the new booking is the same. So I called after doing this and the customer service rep said he would put the request in, but he is not sure if they will refund my cc. Does anyone know if this policy has changed or do you think that this is normal and I will get my difference back to my card?

 

[maryliz]

I just cancelled and re-booked my flight. I have the exact same flight, time, date, etc. I had read on one of these post that if I do this, then call SW they will refund my credit card as long as everything in the new booking is the same. So I called after doing this and the customer service rep said he would put the request in, but he is not sure if they will refund my cc. Does anyone know if this policy has changed or do you think that this is normal and I will get my difference back to my card?

Not necessarily true. I know lots of people that have absolutely no problem getting refunds to their CC's. Now take my extended family ... we've never been so lucky. I had to call head office in Texas to get my refund, and she wouldn't do the refund until after I had actually flown ... and she told me it was a one-time favour. It all depends on who you get I guess. And I don't have a problem with their policy ... I think the fact that they'll give you credit when it was a non-refundable fare to begin with is great ... but it's frustrating to know that others have no problems whatsoever.

 

[clombardi]

I have ticketless travel funds because of a cheaper flight I found for August. When the new dates are released, I'd like to use the ttf for a February flight. If I then find the February flight at a cheaper rate, can I get ticketless travel funds again? I hope this question makes sense!

 

[CPer'sMom]

You should all be aware that Southwest has recently changed their policy regarding use of ticketless travel funds.

You used to be able to apply up to 4 ticketless travel funds towards a new ticket, but that number has been reduced to 2 funds/new ticket. In other words, if you have 4 credits on your account of $20 each (total of $80) and you want to use all of these credits towards the purchase of a new ticket, you can only use 2 of your credits (in this case $40), instead of all 4.

When did they change this? I booked 2 flights the beginning of this week and was able to use 4 credits for one flight and 3 credits for the other one.

 

[Reese]

When did they change this? I booked 2 flights the beginning of this week and was able to use 4 credits for one flight and 3 credits for the other one.

I did this Thursday night and only had the option of using two TTC for the new flights.

 

[faindrops27]

About the extension to the TTF, when do they charge you for this. I had a 72 dollars credit, and was allowed to use the whole 72?? You are telling me they will charge me 50, when??

 

[keishashadow]

i was flatly turned down when i asked for a cc refund in June when I was able to use AT vouchers a few weeks prior to travel.

applied funds to Dec. travel, still have $80+ left which expire in Feb 08.

It was my understanding that i have to TRAVEL not BOOK by then...is this correct?

or else ask & I guess pay $50 for a 6 month extension (from date I call).

i don't think i'm ever going to get the hang of it.

 

[a1tinkfans]

WOW! Sounds so different for different people and THATS what I disagree with.
SW needs to straighten this out. My experience with the ticketless funds was actually easier then I thought and I got an extension, then cancelled and rebooked after they sent me the full voucher. CS even "held" seats for me while I awaited the vouchers.
I guess it DOES depend on who you get!
Good Luck to Everyone!!

 

[tabby1881]

Great topic, great information! Where on the SW website do you find any credits you have for ticketless travel? I just managed to get a 40.00 credit as the sale was ending.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I think that sometimes it is who you speak to. This past week, I called about a credit that my mother has, she isn't able to travel before the expiration date on the confirmation. I called and I can reaquest an extension for 1 year, and they will take $50 from her credit. Also, when we originally booked this, the exact flight dropped in price, and we wern't issued a credit on her credit card. So we have requested an extension for the ticket that she has. We'll see what happens because I had to mail the request.