Southwest Payment options

[firegurl]

I know that the old rule was 4 pieces of payment per transaction. I was doing some research over the weekend and saw that it says for travel on or after May 9th, 3 pieces of payment per passenger are allowed. I read this over and over and just didn't think it actually meant what it said (that would be far too easy for me.) I called SW yesterday and asked for clarification. They said yes, I did in fact interpret that correctly. So now my question, has anyone actually done it? I have 3 passengers and 7 forms of payment (6 gift cards and possibly a credit card if needed). Has anyone been successful at this? Worst case scenario, I have to book individually for each person but I would prefer to keep us all with 1 confirmation number.

 

[Minnesota!]

can you combine all your gift cards into 1?

 

[firegurl]

can you combine all your gift cards into 1?

No, that's not an option. That's why I was so excited that I can use so many forms of payment. They only told me that with their new system, travel booked for on or after May 9th will allow it.

 

[dvcmbr94]

I will never use a gift card for a Southwest flight again. We had booked an October trip last year in February. I had paid for two tickets partially with gift cards, and two tickets were paid completely with credit cards. We had our flight canceled during Hurricane Matthew in October and ended up driving from NY to WDW. Southwest refunded the tickets paid with credit cards while they would only allow a credit expiring in February for the other two. The customer service rep told me the credit could be extended for an additional six months if we requested it. Fortunately, my husband and I were able to make an unplanned trip in January to use most of the credit but still had $117.97 left. I have another trip scheduled for June. When I called to get the credit extended I found out there was a $100 fee for the extension. I'll stick to paying cash from now on!

 

[loveswdw]

Southwest is getting a whole new reservations system that will go online on May 9th. There's supposedly going to be a lot of changes to how things will work. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

This is not good for me. I have 500 in 3 gift cards and was paying the rest with my hubs card. Now I'll need to save that other 100 for the next order. I am purchasing 3 one way there and 3 one way back. It just works out best for us to do two one-way trips.

 

[msjprincess]

This is not good for me. I have 500 in 3 gift cards and was paying the rest with my hubs card. Now I'll need to save that other 100 for the next order. I am purchasing 3 one way there and 3 one way back. It just works out best for us to do two one-way trips.

Unless I'm reading the OP wrong, the old system was 4 per reservation, the new system is 3 per person. So you should still be able to use the 3 gift cards and a credit card.

 

[firegurl]

Unless I'm reading the OP wrong, the old system was 4 per reservation, the new system is 3 per person. So you should still be able to use the 3 gift cards and a credit card.

That's what it says, 3 per passenger. That's why I was looking for anyone that had experience with this because it is such a big change from the norm.

 

[cmfitz14]

That's what it says, 3 per passenger. That's why I was looking for anyone that had experience with this because it is such a big change from the norm.

Can anyone shine some light on this - is it gift cards per reservation or gift cards per passenger?
Thanks!

 

[MrPTato]

following...curious.

 

[PrncessA]

It is 3 forms of payment per passenger.

I bought 4 RT tickets Friday. I had 3 credits for myself to use, 2 gift cards and a credit card for the balance, so 6 payments total. I could only use 2 of the 3 credits since all three didn't cover my ticket price. (Luckily the 3rd credit is only $2.97) Here was the breakdown of payment:


My ticket:
Credit 1
Credit 2
Gift Card 1

Ticket 2:
Gift Card 1

Ticket 3:
Remainder of Gift Card 1
Gift Card 2

Ticket 4:
Remainder of Gift Card 2
Credit Card


It looks like a lot, but I actually got a great deal. With $60 of previous credit from my last flight cost dropping and the 5% gift card discount at Target I got 4 RT tickets from Chicago to Orlando for $403.88

 

[cmfitz14]

It is 3 forms of payment per passenger.

I bought 4 RT tickets Friday. I had 3 credits for myself to use, 2 gift cards and a credit card for the balance, so 6 payments total. I could only use 2 of the 3 credits since all three didn't cover my ticket price. (Luckily the 3rd credit is only $2.97) Here was the breakdown of payment:


My ticket:
Credit 1
Credit 2
Gift Card 1

Ticket 2:
Gift Card 1

Ticket 3:
Remainder of Gift Card 1
Gift Card 2

Ticket 4:
Remainder of Gift Card 2
Credit Card


It looks like a lot, but I actually got a great deal. With $60 of previous credit from my last flight cost dropping and the 5% gift card discount at Target I got 4 RT tickets from Chicago to Orlando for $403.88

But you had one reservation, correct?

So if I end up with 4-5 gift cards, I'll be able to apply all of them to one reservation because we have 4 passengers - I'm assuming I'll have to apply some gifts cards to just 1 passenger and possibly split a gift card amongst different passengers as needed. Then I'll be using a credit card to cover the remaining cost. Correct? When you go to upload payment method, does it have you enter info per passenger? I can't see this online when I look because 1) I do not have any gift cards to enter yet and 2) the flights haven't been released yet.
The way I'm reading this is that the system is actually better than it used to be, because now you can use more gift cards for a reservation if you have multiple people flying under 1 reservation. In the past my family of 4 was limited to 4 gift cards. Now my family of 4 could technically apply more gift cards... correct?

PS - Thanks for clarifying for me! I think even the Southwest representative was confused!!

 

[PrncessA]

But you had one reservation, correct?

Yes they were all under one reservation.

Then I'll be using a credit card to cover the remaining cost. Correct? When you go to upload payment method, does it have you enter info per passenger?

Yes that is correct. You do not have to specify passengers it does it automatically. In fact I broke it down more than they did I believe. They only broke down my payment methods I believe because the only payment method that is specific is prior flight credit, it can only be applied to the person who earned it.

Basically with 3 passengers you can have up to 9 forms of payment, but you can not have more than 3 forms of payment per person. I hope that makes sense.

 

[cmfitz14]

Yes they were all under one reservation.



Yes that is correct. You do not have to specify passengers it does it automatically. In fact I broke it down more than they did I believe. They only broke down my payment methods I believe because the only payment method that is specific is prior flight credit, it can only be applied to the person who earned it.

Basically with 3 passengers you can have up to 9 forms of payment, but you can not have more than 3 forms of payment per person. I hope that makes sense.

Thanks!
At first I thought this new policy was a downer, but it actually works better for us - just incase we receive a few additional gift cards

 

[NotUrsula]

For maximum flexibility, use your gift cards to purchase miles, then buy the tickets with those.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

For maximum flexibility, use your gift cards to purchase miles, then buy the tickets with those.

Do you have to call to do this? I'm on the website and it only offers credit card payment option to pay for the miles, no gift card payment option.

 

[Minniekins]

For maximum flexibility, use your gift cards to purchase miles, then buy the tickets with those.

Do you have to call to do this? I'm on the website and it only offers credit card payment option to pay for the miles, no gift card payment option.

Curious as well, about using Sw gc's to pay for points. I definitely like using points to pay for our flight, provides much more flexibility. This could be great if you got some Sw gc's at a discount and could then use them to buy points when the are offering a deal such as buy x amount or more of points and get 50% more, or 40%,30% more. I've had all these offers and bought during the 50% one and the 40% one, and using SW discounted gc's would be even better!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Curious as well, about using Sw gc's to pay for points. I definitely like using points to pay for our flight, provides much more flexibility. This could be great if you got some Sw gc's at a discount and could then use them to buy points when the are offering a deal such as buy x amount or more of points and get 50% more, or 40%,30% more. I've had all these offers and bought during the 50% one and the 40% one, and using SW discounted gc's would be even better!

I called. Nope. Can't use gift cards to buy points.

 

[Minniekins]

@sweetpee_1993
Oh wow, thx for checking on that! I was surprised to hear they might, and hoped so but glad to know for sure, so thanks!