Southwest...want to make sure I completely understand,

[moesy4]

Because I completely screwed it up last time! We have just about enough points to book us all for our hopeful October trip. We are sure we are flying, and sure we are using Southwest. We have tentative dates, but we probably won't know about work and such until another month or two. But I want to get the flights and prices we want.
If we book now using just Southwest points, we can rebook if there is a price drop and get the points refunded correct? Or if we end up not being able to go, all the points will be returned to our Rapid Rewards account? And in both cases, there are no fees and the points expiration remains the same as all points (as long as your account is active, they don't expire?)...it isn't subject to the 1 year from date of original travel rule?

 

[helenk]

Because I completely screwed it up last time! We have just about enough points to book us all for our hopeful October trip. We are sure we are flying, and sure we are using Southwest. We have tentative dates, but we probably won't know about work and such until another month or two. But I want to get the flights and prices we want.
If we book now using just Southwest points, we can rebook if there is a price drop and get the points refunded correct? Or if we end up not being able to go, all the points will be returned to our Rapid Rewards account? And in both cases, there are no fees and the points expiration remains the same as all points (as long as your account is active, they don't expire?)...it isn't subject to the 1 year from date of original travel rule?

You are correct. The nice thing about using points you book your flights and then when the price comes down you change to get the lower points and they are refunded back to the account that they came from, no matter whose name the ticket is in and they do not expire. Unlike paying for the tickets if the price goes down each ticket holder gets the credit which is only good for a year from your original booking date.