Southwest Rapid Rewards availability question

[Starshine]

I have a rapid rewards voucher that I want to use for our trip in October. However, the flight time that we really want is unavailable for booking using the award.

Does anyone know if it's possible that it might show up as available later on, or once they list a particular flight as unavailable for awards does it stay that way? (I'm trying to decide whether to keep checking or just sell the voucher and use the cash to pay for the flight I want).

 

[a1tinkfans]

Actually I would call SW and check with them. It may be that the flight is already "booked" with all their award seats, though I have to say that is not usual. Are you traveling during a busy time?????

Hope it works out for you.
I changed my flight and actually same thing happened on my return so I paid out of pocket (cause I wanted certain flight time, with my family) and have a one way to use in future, Oh, well!

 

[Disneyhappy]

I book several times a year with RR. Limited seats are available per flight. I do not find rewards to be available for flights with higher fares. I would book an available RR flight now and keep checking for the flight time that you really want to become available or pay for the flight that you want. If booking roundtrip, book each way separately to make it easier if you decide to switch flights later on one leg of the trip. We are traveling in October and I am having the same problem. This week, I was able to switch to better flight times but still not the times I would like. Fortunately, I can live with the current times I have. I am not optimistic that the times I want will come available but I will keep checking. The flights I want currently have the highest fares which does not bode well for RR becoming available later. I have had success in less than a week out. I have not found that calling RR CS landed me with a RR flight that was not available online. Even with the limitations, I find RR availability to be much better than other FF programs I participated in like US Air and Delta.
Good Luck!

 

[DoctorK]

Yes, availability could open up between now and October. I've been watching a particular return flight on the day before Labor day, and I've seen other flights (sadly, not mine) go from unavailable to available and then back again. I actually check 2-3 times a day, so you might want to think about setting up a favorite for that page.

Oh, and book something for that day, even if its not the ideal flight, so that if your ideal flight never opens up, at least you'll have a way to get home!

 

[Starshine]

Thanks everyone, that helps! I tried calling them just to see, and they also said the RR seats for that flight were all booked. We're flying the second Friday in October, and yep, the flight I want is the most expensive one that day. I'll keep checking a little longer though, maybe I'll get lucky. Right now it's at $150 one way, and it looks like average price for RR award on Craigslist is around $300 so I might almost break even if I decide to go that route.