SW Cancelling Flight/Credit ??

[Jaylin]

I'm considering cancelling my SW return home flight and booking with Frontier instead (it's about $400 less) I'm looking online and reading their cancellation/credit policy. Is it correct that I have 1 year from the date that I booked the flight to use the credit, not the date of the flight?

My only concern is that I booked the flight on the day they released the late Aug dates. And we will be traveling that same time frame again next year. Should I be concerned that they might be later next year in releasing those dates? And I would end up losing my credit?

 

[keishashadow]

yes...

to all your questions

no guarantee flight release dates will follow past precedence

 

[Minnesota!]

You will need to USE the credit by 365 days from when you BOOKED it. Like you have to have actively flown on it within a year. Not booked a new vacation for further out.

 

[Jaylin]

yes...

to all your questions

no guarantee flight release dates will follow past precedence

Thank you! So do you think it would be too risky to cancel? I could save $400 or possibly lose $800 in credit? ugh! what to do!

 

[Jaylin]

You will need to USE the credit by 365 days from when you BOOKED it. Like you have to have actively flown on it within a year. Not booked a new vacation for further out.

Oh wait!!!! That changes everything!! So I booked 2/18/16 for and 8/22 flight. So I would need to use those credits to book and FLY by 2/18/17? That won't work at all then! Boo!

Thanks for that clarification!

 

[keishashadow]

unless you are flexible in completing your travel plans by credit's expiration date or willing to lose the travel funds, I wouldn't risk it.

sorry.

 

[BabiesDaddy]

Not worth it. Stick with your original game plan.

 

[Shanti]

As another poster said, you must fly within one year of the date you booked the original flight, not a year from the date you were originally going to fly. SW likes the good rep they get from crediting cancellations and allowing free changes, but they don't want to be too generous...

 

[PatMcDuck]

For a credit that large, you could also let it expire, and then extend it for $100. So you would save $300 instead of $400. And once it expires, you have a year to extend it, and it is good for 6 months. (I think those are the rules, of course double check first!!) This can work out well, if you figure it all out. Your credit is a LUV voucher, and can be used by anyone. This can be an advantage as well.

If for some reason, you have different flight reservation numbers coming and going, combine the credits before they expire, so you only have to pay one $100 fee. (just book a fare for more than the combined amount, cancel right after, within 24 hours you get $$ back for any amount over the credits, but you have a new single reservation credit; I have done this, so I think it still works this way). When you combine credits with different expiration dates, the expiration date becomes the closest date.

This probably sounds insanely complicated. Sorry.

 

[Jaylin]

For a credit that large, you could also let it expire, and then extend it for $100. So you would save $300 instead of $400. And once it expires, you have a year to extend it, and it is good for 6 months. (I think those are the rules, of course double check first!!) This can work out well, if you figure it all out. Your credit is a LUV voucher, and can be used by anyone. This can be an advantage as well.

If for some reason, you have different flight reservation numbers coming and going, combine the credits before they expire, so you only have to pay one $100 fee. (just book a fare for more than the combined amount, cancel right after, within 24 hours you get $$ back for any amount over the credits, but you have a new single reservation credit; I have done this, so I think it still works this way). When you combine credits with different expiration dates, the expiration date becomes the closest date.

This probably sounds insanely complicated. Sorry.

lol! Omg, I'll have to re-read this a few more times! But thank you! Glad to know I have all these kinda options that I didn't know existed!