Southwest Ticket Name Change?

[lttlmc3]

So, we are less than four months out from our Disney trip, and we found out that my husband may not be able to go. It's just him and myself, so if he doesn't get to go, I will be taking my best friend. We have already purchased plane tickets through Southwest. Does anyone know if they will allow me to switch the name on the other ticket? If so, what kind of charge am I looking at?

 

[tjmw2727]

You can't change the name on a ticket but you can cancel it and use the funds to purchase a new ticket (at todays prices). SWA doesn't charge a fee for changes or cancellations but you will have to pay the difference in fare.

 

[lurkernj]

I believe the credit has to be used by the same person as named on the original ticket. (unless you used points, they will just be deposited back into your pointbank).

 

[nervous1sttimer]

Is that true? I was told that the funds were attached to the person, so she could cancel the ticket and her husband could use the funds for another date in the future, but she would not be able to use them for a friend.

I had a large group reservation last year and one of us cancelled at the last minute. I was told I couldn't use those funds for a flight in my name - even though I had purchased them all in the first place - because it was attached to her. I have seen grandparents complain about the same thing on this forum re: dropping flight prices but they can't actually use the credits themselves because the tickets were purchased for grandkids.

 

[nervous1sttimer]

I believe the credit has to be used by the same person as named on the original ticket. (unless you used points, they will just be deposited back into your pointbank).

Yes, that's what I was told. Sorry your post got ahead of mine!

 

[DebbieB]

You can't change the name on a ticket but you can cancel it and use the funds to purchase a new ticket (at todays prices). SWA doesn't charge a fee for changes or cancellations but you will have to pay the difference in fare.

They used to allow that but not anymore. Once the credit expires, you can pay $100 to reactivate it and at that point it can be used by anyone.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

FYI, you cannot change the name on a ticket from any airline from the original passenger to anyone else.

 

[Darcy03231]

I just ran into this. Bought the tickets for our trip this summer and my son's girlfriend of three years broke up with him. A friend is going in her place (luckily I hadn't bought park tickets yet). I called Southwest and even though I purchased the ticket on my credit card I was not able to change the name. The ticket now belongs to her. I cancelled the ticket and she now has a credit in her name that has to be used within one year of my purchase date.

 

[DebbieB]

They do this because people were selling the credits or tickets.