Southwest Ticketless Travel funds-dates to use?

[Simba's Mom]

Can someone explain the exact rules on using Ticketless Travel Funds, the credit I get if I book now and then the price goes down so I rebook. Say I originally book a flight on 3/20 for a trip in October. Then in June, the price goes down $100 so I cancel and rebook. Do I have to use the funds by 3/20/2012 (I think I do)? And what I'm confused about is do I have to book a new reservation by 3/20/2012, or does the flight I want to use the $100 credit for have to take place before 3/20/2012. Is it the date of the booking or the flight? Or am I initially wrong and the Ticketless Travel Funds have to be used by October, 2012 (I don't think that's it-just hoping)?

 

[DanenRox]

You would have until 3/20/2012 to complete the flight. In the past, SWA would offer extensions but not consistently. I read on the boards today that you can extend your dates for a fee but I don't know if that's a fact. Hope that helps.

 

[Simba's Mom]

You would have until 3/20/2012 to complete the flight. In the past, SWA would offer extensions but not consistently. I read on the boards today that you can extend your dates for a fee but I don't know if that's a fact. Hope that helps.

Thanks-that's exactly the information I was looking for. So it looks like my strategy is this-not book on 3/20. I'll wait until June or so, unless the price goes way down, and I don't think it will go down more after I book. The reason is that in 2012, since I'm a tax preparer, I won't be able to take a vacation to use any Ticketless Travel Funds until after April 15. And right now, airfare on Southwest, at least from where we are, is the highest I've ever seen it-it's GOT to go down!

 

[DanenRox]

Good plan. It's my experience that more often than not SWA does not open their schedule with their best rates BUT it does happen! In Jan or Feb, when SWA opened their schedule through September, day one had tremendous prices ($77 each way). This travel planning stuff ain't for lightweights! Good luck to you and happy travels!

 

[andijean]

I have a question related to this. If the flight price goes down by say $15 and I get the travel funds and then it goes down by another $15 will I be able to redeem the 2nd or do I only get it once? Also, I am booking flights for our family of 6. If the prices do go down and I get the travel funds can I use it for anyone I booked or does individual person get the travel fund? Say, combine all the travel funds and have enough for 2 people to fly rt somewhere.

Thanks for the info. Our flights have gone up a bit for our trip in August and I want to know if it will be worth watching for a flight price reduction. We are flying out of an airport that is a bit further away for us and whether it is even worth redeeming the travel funds. THanks!

 

[DanenRox]

You can rebook your SWA flight as many times as you want to capture lower rates and increase your ticketless travel funds. It's worth your time to brush up on how to "CHANGE" your airfare rather than CANCEL then rebook your airfare (thereby keeping the same confirmation number and keeping accumulating ticketless travel funds more easily organized).
Just in the last 2-3 months SWA has changed it's rules regarding who can use ticketless travel funds. Now, unfortunately, ticketless travel fund credits have to be used by the person to whom the airline ticket was issued. Sorry, that's a stinky new rule for us.

 

[spinerep]

You can rebook your SWA flight as many times as you want to capture lower rates and increase your ticketless travel funds. It's worth your time to brush up on how to "CHANGE" your airfare rather than CANCEL then rebook your airfare (thereby keeping the same confirmation number and keeping accumulating ticketless travel funds more easily organized).
Just in the last 2-3 months SWA has changed it's rules regarding who can use ticketless travel funds. Now, unfortunately, ticketless travel fund credits have to be used by the person to whom the airline ticket was issued. Sorry, that's a stinky new rule for us.

Are you saying that you can change or cancel your flight and keep rolling over the travel funds. I have some expiring on 11/3 and I cannot travel by then. To get an extension will cost me $50 per traveler x 4 or $200.

Can I schedule a flight to be completed by 11/3 and change that and keep the travel funds active?
Thanks

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Are you saying that you can change or cancel your flight and keep rolling over the travel funds. I have some expiring on 11/3 and I cannot travel by then. To get an extension will cost me $50 per traveler x 4 or $200.

Can I schedule a flight to be completed by 11/3 and change that and keep the travel funds active?
Thanks

Yes, you can keep rolling over your travel funds. However, they may be a limited to how may times on one reservation.

No, your funds will expire one year from original purchase, not one year after you change your latest flight. You would have to pay to extend them.