Southwest On a Budget - Changing Flights/Lowering Prices

[mmbrad02]

I’m conflicted because I like to save the most $ possible, but I also am not a huge fan of flying, so trying to find the happy medium here. I have 63,000 ish Southwest points so I would really like to stay with SW, though their prices are not exactly cooperating. That said, for my budget minded people who use SW –

We are dabbling with a few options, but I know that if I book a flight and the price drops, I can get a refund on my account that has to be used within a year. Can I completely switch flights also? Lets say I book a flight to MCO with a layover, but a direct flight lowers in price. Can I basically apply what I paid for the original flight to the direct flight, and pay the difference? I think you basically cancel and rebook? I have had one leg of our flight drop before and gotten the credit but I’ve never actually used the credit because we don’t fly that often.

Another dabbling option is to fly into Tampa. If I book a flight into Tampa, can I also change that flight to an MCO flight? I’m just so on the fence about booking now (trip is in June so I need to make a decision!) with the slight chance a better flight/price may come along. If I can rebook/cancel/credit what I did today, I would feel more at ease with booking. I just don’t know all the in’s and out’s of flying with Southwest.

 

[1st*toright]

I’m conflicted because I like to save the most $ possible, but I also am not a huge fan of flying, so trying to find the happy medium here. I have 63,000 ish Southwest points so I would really like to stay with SW, though their prices are not exactly cooperating. That said, for my budget minded people who use SW –

We are dabbling with a few options, but I know that if I book a flight and the price drops, I can get a refund on my account that has to be used within a year. Can I completely switch flights also? Lets say I book a flight to MCO with a layover, but a direct flight lowers in price. Can I basically apply what I paid for the original flight to the direct flight, and pay the difference? I think you basically cancel and rebook? I have had one leg of our flight drop before and gotten the credit but I’ve never actually used the credit because we don’t fly that often.

Another dabbling option is to fly into Tampa. If I book a flight into Tampa, can I also change that flight to an MCO flight? I’m just so on the fence about booking now (trip is in June so I need to make a decision!) with the slight chance a better flight/price may come along. If I can rebook/cancel/credit what I did today, I would feel more at ease with booking. I just don’t know all the in’s and out’s of flying with Southwest.

Yes- you can make whatever changes you want - different location, different date, whatever. Whatever you have paid will go into your "travel bank" and if you cancel/rebook you can apply those funds- but only to the exact same name as the original traveler. You will need to carefully track the traveler and confirmation number so that you can go back and apply the funds - Southwest doesn't make it easy to go look up how much you have in your travel bank, so I keep a spreadsheet with name/confirmation number/expiration date (1 year from original booking) so that I don't forget what it out there. It really is a big advantage of flying Southwest, provided that you travel often enough not to have funds expire.

Also, you can use travel funds for the mandatory $6 fee on flights booked using points, but you can't use them for the early bird fee (and early bird fees aren't refunded if you cancel, but can be applied if you are changing flights).

 

[mmbrad02]

but only to the exact same name as the original traveler. You will need to carefully track the traveler and confirmation number so that you can go back and apply the funds - Southwest doesn't make it easy to go look up how much you have in your travel bank, so I keep a spreadsheet with name/confirmation number/expiration date

I'm glad you reminded me of this, because to further complicate this, this is a work trip for DH and his flight will need to be booked separately so that he is reimbursed. But it does sound like Southwest is the most friendly about switching flights (I was drawn to them for being so family friendly initially!)

 

[pblack]

If you're booking with points and you cancel a flight, you get those points returned to you and i don't believe they have an expiration date. Same thing if you switch a flight for a better option, the difference in points would just go back to your points bank.

 

[1st*toright]

If you're booking with points and you cancel a flight, you get those points returned to you and i don't believe they have an expiration date. Same thing if you switch a flight for a better option, the difference in points would just go back to your points bank.

Excellent point - its even easier to change your mind when booking on points.

 

[disneedee]

If you're booking with points and you cancel a flight, you get those points returned to you and i don't believe they have an expiration date. Same thing if you switch a flight for a better option, the difference in points would just go back to your points bank.

do the returned points go back to the person who booked the flight or to the person whos name was on the reservation if you are booking for a family with your points?

 

[pblack]

do the returned points go back to the person who booked the flight or to the person whos name was on the reservation if you are booking for a family with your points?

I'm pretty sure it's to whoever used those points. So if one person is using their points to book for the entire family and they end up cancelling their flights, those points would go back to the person who booked/used their points. Someone please correct me if i'm wrong. If each person books individually with their own points and they cancel their flight, each person would get back the points they spent.

 

[georgina]

Yes, booking with points is so great - you can get back points whenever the price drops even if you change flights. There is no expiration date or time frame in which the points have to be used as there is with a cash credit. The points go back to the account of who ever booked the flights.

If your DH is getting reimbursed, does he need to book with cash? If you book his with cash and yours with points, he will get a credit if the price drops and you modify his reservation. That credit would be tied to his name. If you don't fly SW often, you may not want to modify his, so he gets the full price reimbursement.

 

[WVMomof3]

I also find it easier to modify if you book 2 one ways vs a roundtrip.

 

[Shanti]

I’m conflicted because I like to save the most $ possible, but I also am not a huge fan of flying, so trying to find the happy medium here. I have 63,000 ish Southwest points so I would really like to stay with SW, though their prices are not exactly cooperating. That said, for my budget minded people who use SW –

We are dabbling with a few options, but I know that if I book a flight and the price drops, I can get a refund on my account that has to be used within a year. Can I completely switch flights also? Lets say I book a flight to MCO with a layover, but a direct flight lowers in price. Can I basically apply what I paid for the original flight to the direct flight, and pay the difference? I think you basically cancel and rebook? I have had one leg of our flight drop before and gotten the credit but I’ve never actually used the credit because we don’t fly that often.

Another dabbling option is to fly into Tampa. If I book a flight into Tampa, can I also change that flight to an MCO flight? I’m just so on the fence about booking now (trip is in June so I need to make a decision!) with the slight chance a better flight/price may come along. If I can rebook/cancel/credit what I did today, I would feel more at ease with booking. I just don’t know all the in’s and out’s of flying with Southwest.

A few notes about transferring money paid for flights on SWA:

• The credit can be used towards any flight within a year of when you purchased the original flight (not within a year of when you made the change or a year from the date of the original flight).
• The money can only go towards the ticketed passenger on the original flight (not to a ticket for a different person).
• If you add the credit to money you're paying towards a new flight, then all of the money (new & old) going towards that new flight gets the transferable expiration date of the original flight.
• The money can only be transferred to a new flight (or a rebooking of the original flight), never refunded to the original form of payment.
• These transfer funds can never go towards the Early Bird seating upcharge. And the Early Bird upcharge itself is nonrefundable & nontransferable.

So yes, you can transfer money to a different flight, but SWA's terms are quite restrictive, as they undoubtedly want to minimize the practice. As has been mentioned, dealing with points is easier.

 

[woody5]

The points go back to the person had the points originally.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes if she uses her points to book a flight for someone else and then needs to cancel or modify because the price went down, the points go back to her RR acct. Just a couple days ago they had $81 flights to MCO and I changed our tickets that were $117 to the $81 flights. Super easy now that they have the new screen that shows you how much you will be saving if you change flights.
If you paid for Early Bird seating and need to change flights just call their customer service dept they can transfer the payment over to the new flight for you. They did for me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The money can only be transferred to a new flight (or a rebooking of the original flight), never refunded to the original form of payment.

True for the Wanna Get Away fares, but Anytime and Business cards are refundable.

 

[clutter]

I just did a bunch of transactions yesterday. There are a total of 4 of us going to MCO from three airports on 4 different days. I had one person flying from BWI, but then the flights from PHL lowered briefly and I could move her. She's got two flights down right now, one early morning and one in the evening until she figures out her work schedule. I rebooked a return flight for another person. More points, but a more convenient flight. I had paid $ for my flight down and had already rebooked it and received a $27 credit. Yesterday my flight returning was lower, so I actually cancelled it and rebooked it for cash, using the credit I'd received. They must hate me at SW because I change so many flights. Guess I need a better hobby!

I love SW, it's so easy to check and change flights, especially on points. The hardest part is keeping all the reservation numbers straight. I do try to book both ways separately (because if you want to change one of the ways later, you have to call to get it done). I also do reservations for every one individually. While it's harder to check in at 24 hours, they don't always have multiple fares at the lowest price. So if you try to reserve 4 seats and there are only 2 at the lowest available price, you will get the fare that has 4 seats available. Plus it's easier to change if lower fares show up and aren't available for everyone in your group.

 

[mmbrad02]

Thank you all so much for your help! We ended up booking yesterday, but I'm still watching for A) Lower prices or B) A better flight to MCO. But We are content with what we have if nothing else comes along.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The credit can be used towards any flight within a year of when you purchased the original flight (not within a year of when you made the change or a year from the date of the original flight)

• The money can only go towards the ticketed passenger on the original flight (not to a ticket for a different person)

So yes, you can transfer money to a different flight, but SWA's terms are quite restrictive, as they undoubtedly want to minimize the practice. As has been mentioned, dealing with points is easier.

OK, so to clarify-to see if I understand. Say, DH and I book flights for Thanksgiving. We book them in June, to fly in November. But then, come August the price has gone down $50 on each ticket, for a total of $100. The savings, the $100, has to be used on a flight that takes place within a year of June, or do I just have to book again by next June (maybe for next Thanksgiving)? Or if we use the savings sooner, say I'm going by myself to visit my Mom, can I use the entire $100, or am I only able to apply the $50 from my ticket to a new ticket for me?

 

[kaytieeldr]

The savings, the $100, has to be used on a flight that takes place within a year of June,

Yes, travel has to be completed within one year of the original purchase.

say I'm going by myself to visit my Mom, can I use the entire $100,

No. You would have $50 credit that only you can use. Your husband would have $50 credit that only he can use

 

[Shanti]

OK, so to clarify-to see if I understand. Say, DH and I book flights for Thanksgiving. We book them in June, to fly in November. But then, come August the price has gone down $50 on each ticket, for a total of $100. The savings, the $100, has to be used on a flight that takes place within a year of June, or do I just have to book again by next June (maybe for next Thanksgiving)? Or if we use the savings sooner, say I'm going by myself to visit my Mom, can I use the entire $100, or am I only able to apply the $50 from my ticket to a new ticket for me?

The flights you rebook for have to actually take place by the following June, one year from when you originally booked the first tickets.

You would only be able to spend the $50 on yourself. Your mother would get her own $50 credit that she could only spend on herself.

 

[georgina]

I just feel like complicating things today - there is one other scenario, not usually applicable to simple fare decreases. If a credit expires, it can be reactivated for a $100 fee, and then is good for anyone. A few years ago I had booked a flight home for DD from college for the summer, then her team made the NCAA playoffs and she had a game fairly close to home the weekend after she was done. We drove to the game and drove her home from there (the NCAA had also flown her on SW, so she brought her 2 full suitcases with her). So I cancelled her flight, which was over $200, but she was studying abroad the following fall and never used the credit. Once it expired, I called SW and had them send me a LUV voucher for the amount less $100 fee.

 

[Tall Todd]

I also find it easier to modify if you book 2 one ways vs a roundtrip.

And each person individually...