SouthWest

[degirl]

HI I have been reading these boards for a while now but now I decided to post something. I just wanted to say thanks to everybody for their advice on calling SW and having them credit my credit card with a lower fare. I had made reservations back in June to fly from Philly to Orlando(for our SEPT trip) at a higher rate. Then SW lowered their fares last week and I called to see if they can credit me the difference. I had 128.00 credited back on my card. The four of us are now flying RT icluding taxes for a total of 468.00 Now all I need to do is find a really good price on a rental.

 

[byoung]

IT pays to fly SW.

 

[antkim]

HI I have been reading these boards for a while now but now I decided to post something. I just wanted to say thanks to everybody for their advice on calling SW and having them credit my credit card with a lower fare. I had made reservations back in June to fly from Philly to Orlando(for our SEPT trip) at a higher rate. Then SW lowered their fares last week and I called to see if they can credit me the difference. I had 128.00 credited back on my card. The four of us are now flying RT icluding taxes for a total of 468.00 Now all I need to do is find a really good price on a rental.

Are you sure they credited your card? Typically SW will give you credit to use for a future flight....that is great if they actually refunded you the money. I have never heard of this!

Kim

 

[travelin' tigger]

Are you sure they credited your card? Typically SW will give you credit to use for a future flight....that is great if they actually refunded you the money. I have never heard of this!

Kim

I think it depends on the rep you get. My friend who is going to WDW in Sept. doesn't fly much. When the sale came along I rebooked and took the extra money in ticketless travel funds since I fly a few times a year. He called SWA and explained his situation and they credited his cc.

HTH!!!

 

[antkim]

I think it depends on the rep you get. My friend who is going to WDW in Sept. doesn't fly much. When the sale came along I rebooked and took the extra money in ticketless travel funds since I fly a few times a year. He called SWA and explained his situation and they credited his cc.

HTH!!!

WOW! That is good to know!

 

[inkkognito]

Wow, I didn't know they do that! We fly SW a lot and often switch to a different fare via Ding later. We fly enough to use the credits for future flights, but it's nice to know they will work with people who might prefer a refund. I miss ATA's assigned seats, but I DO NOT miss never being able to change a flight without incurring a huge penalty.
Barb

 

[brettb]

Just to be clear, rebooked tickets have to be for the same flights (and times) for the same travel dates to qualify for an actual refund. (And I make no guarentees!)

Brett

 

[travelin' tigger]

Just to be clear, rebooked tickets have to be for the same flights (and times) for the same travel dates to qualify for an actual refund. (And I make no guarentees!)

Brett

???????

This is from SWA's site on refunds:
Southwest Airlines' Refund Request
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If your reservation is refundable1, you may request a refund in the following ways:
* For refundable Ticketless flight reservations only:
* If your outbound flight has not departed, you may submit a refund request:
* online at southwest.com. To begin this process, you will first need to Cancel your Flight Reservation
* by calling our Reservations Department at 1-800-435-9792
* by calling Customer Relations at the telephone number below
* by writing to our Refunds Department at the address below


Additional Refund Information:
* Unused, fully refundable tickets that do not carry restrictions may be applied toward future travel or refunded within one year from the date of issue.
* All eligible refunds are provided according to your original form of payment.
* Refunds for tickets purchased with credit cards will be credited to the same credit card.
* Our Refunds Department will process an eligible refund to the original credit/debit card within seven business days from the date we receive your request.
* Your card-issuing bank may then take up to ten business days to post the credit to your account. Based on your individual billing cycle, you will see the refund on your statement within one to two statement mailings.



Nowhere does it say that rebooked tickets have to be for the same flights (and times) for the same travel dates to qualify for an actual refund.

HTH everyone!!!

 

[brettb]

???????
...
Nowhere does it say that rebooked tickets have to be for the same flights (and times) for the same travel dates to qualify for an actual refund.

HTH everyone!!!

I'm talking about non-refundable tickets like the "Promotional Fares" and "Internet Special Fares." For example, if you book a "Promotional Fare" from PHL->MCO at $79, and the fare falls to $49 (or even $39), you can cancel the original and rebook. If what you rebook matches the original itinerary exactly, you may be able to get an actual refund (i.e. a credit back to their credit card) even though it's a non-refundable fare. If you have to change the flight either for your own convenience or because the flight you are originally booked on isn't available at the lower fare, your only option is SW credit. I haven't scoured SW's site, but as far as I know, this isn't mentioned anywhere. This may be something that's done on a completely discretionary basis. But it worked for me last year. We missed the $49 fares, booked at $79, and then they fell to $39! For our December trip, 3 r/t PHL->MCO->PHL tickets cost us $290.

I love these super-low fares but they end up costing us thousands of dollars.

Brett

 

[travelin' tigger]

That's great to know - thanks for clarifying that!!!