Southwest refunds

[LeslieG]

I know this is a question that's been asked before, but I'm still not sure I'm clear. If my fare goes down, I have to call the refund dept. and they will actually issue me a refund on my credit card? Will they do it right then, or do I have to wait til I return from my trip? And will they only give you the refund if it's for the same flight originally booked? And if I change flights for one that is less, do I only get a voucher? Thanks for explaining this.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

For me it's always been between to 10 days for the credit to show on CC.

They have changed some things with their crediting so nothing is guaranteed for a refund.

No matter what you will get the TTV for the difference if they don't refund it.Thats good for 1 year from Booking date (not travel date).

This is where at least one change has happened before you could get that extended by 6 months now they are charging (for the extension only) $50 per seat.

 

[M Roberts]

You will get a credit on your CC within 10 days provided the cheaper fare is for the SAME flight you originally booked. If not, you will get a credit towards a future flight

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Not familiar what folks are referring to a "10-day" thing. When I called last week to request a refund back to our credit card for our trip in August, the customer service person told me she'd note it on my record, but that I did have to wait until after our trip and then call back with confirmation numbers and they'd process within a few days.

Note, it is only if you do not change flight date or time or locations -- in other words, nada, just a lower fare.

Interestingly enough, the customer service person also said that this credit card refund would be "a one-time courtesy" and otherwise I'd have gotten credit for future travels. But isn't that their policy?

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Not familiar what folks are referring to a "10-day" thing. When I called last week to request a refund back to our credit card for our trip in August, the customer service person told me she'd note it on my record, but that I did have to wait until after our trip and then call back with confirmation numbers and they'd process within a few days.

Note, it is only if you do not change flight date or time or locations -- in other words, nada, just a lower fare.

Interestingly enough, the customer service person also said that this credit card refund would be "a one-time courtesy" and otherwise I'd have gotten credit for future travels. But isn't that their policy?:confused3

Policy is they just give you Future Travel Credit (Unless you bought a Fully refundable Fare).So them returning a price reduction is a great Courtesy under their policy.

I also have a Return from our Aug trip and already have my money back. Are you calling CS 800# or Refund Specialist at a 214# (they are the only ones that can give you the 3 to 10 days refund that I'm aware of)

 

[IggyLans]

Not familiar what folks are referring to a "10-day" thing. When I called last week to request a refund back to our credit card for our trip in August, the customer service person told me she'd note it on my record, but that I did have to wait until after our trip and then call back with confirmation numbers and they'd process within a few days.

Note, it is only if you do not change flight date or time or locations -- in other words, nada, just a lower fare.

Interestingly enough, the customer service person also said that this credit card refund would be "a one-time courtesy" and otherwise I'd have gotten credit for future travels. But isn't that their policy?

10-days refers to how long it takes to see the credit on your credit card from the day you call to request it.

The "one time only" thing turned into 4 times for me this time, because that's how many times our fare went down since I booked in May. Started at $129/ea way, right now we're at $74/ea way from Chicago to MCO. I did call the 214# though, and did get the credit back to my credit card. My flight info and the dates we're flying stayed the same.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Policy is they just give you Future Travel Credit (Unless you bought a Fully refundable Fare).So them returning a price reduction is a great Courtesy under their policy.

I also have a Return from our Aug trip and already have my money back. Are you calling CS 800# or Refund Specialist at a 214# (they are the only ones that can give you the 3 to 10 days refund that I'm aware of)

I called the 214 number (I know better than to call the 800 number), and it was only because nothing changed with our trip (not dates, times, # of people, locations), just the fare. Person was VERY clear that I needed to wait until trip was completed -- I mentioned that I recall some "friends" mentioning that they were able to receive credit card refund earlier than trip completion, and she was solid in her declaration that "that isn't possible" and I must have gotten it wrong. I do not like it when policies are made up on the fly -- I knew it was more than possible, as many have reported such on these boards over the years.

As far as "policy" and "courtesy", well then someone needs to inform all of the agents who are doing such and all of the people who are receiving credit card refunds -- and hey, even inform me, because we received credit card refund when we flew last year on SW, and it was a selling point to booking SW. In fact, this will be the 3rd year we've flown SW to Orlando and have always had this so-called "courtesy", so I do not buy the idea that I'm so lucky that some SW employee on a toll-number that I waited 20 minutes to speak to was being so out-of-the-box nice to me, sorry. Once I select date & flight, it doesn't change; if I'm going to receive future travel voucher with a 3-6 month window, I'd like to know that before I select SW, as I'll just fly a different carrier-- no problem, just want to know before I drop my money down.

OP, sorry to hijack your thread, but as you can see, there's still fuzziness about this issue even after years of posts like yours.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

OP, sorry to hijack your thread, but as you can see, there's still fuzziness about this issue even after years of posts like yours.

Please take no offence I was just stating what we have been told . We flew down on SWA 4 times last year so I know you can get 2 even 3 different answers.Every plane had a change in price from time of booking until flight.Over the past 10 years I have flown SW at least 3 to 4 times a year so it was never that big of an issue as I always had another flight to book.This has changed this year we won't be going again until maybe next June after this Aug trip.

The thing that really has me looking elsewhere is I paid $280 (for 3 oneways in June) with a TTv for $190 and a CC of $90 . The flights went down so I changed them through the TC (nothing changed but the price). So I called and they would only issue another TTV with the old Expire date . This was going to expire 3 days after our Aug.trip.

I then called and got it extended no problem have a LUV voucher for the $90 . Then it dropped again this time just $45 total. I call and they tell me it's going to be $150 to have it changed to a LUV voucher as of 7-1-7 $50 per seat. So I gave it to my Neice that had a flight and we switched it out so now she has about 6months to use the $45 .

It's a good game when it works but they are getting smarter and more frugle with their money once they have it.