SW Extension Rumor/Don't Kill the Messenger!

[keishashadow]

Background story: I am a longtime AT customer who tried SW for the 1st time last year & luved them.

Needed to finish off my AT airmiles vouchers before I cut the ties...so, when I was able to score 3 of the elusive seats on AT in May, I jumped @ the chance & cancelled our SW flights; planning on using the credits in Dec.

For this Dec. trip, again able to finally use another 3 AT vouchers; so I cancelled the 1 leg on SW.

When I called and asked about a possible 3 month extension on my credits so i could utilize them next June; i was told i'd need to pay $50. Worst part the credits were on 2 sep reservations; so it'd be $100 on a rather smallish credit.

Several different depts @ SW all told the same tale, on July 1st the $50 change fee instituted & nothing could be done...so, sad - too bad.

Fired off a letter expressing my dismay, especialy since the rep I initially spoke to when booking one of the tixs did verify that they extend the credits as a courtesy, especially when it's your first request.

Was contacted yesterday. They reversed stance and are standing by what the 1st SW rep told me (might have something to do with the fact that I have back up info as to date/name, etc.) and are refunding my credit to my CC

Rep did caution me that there is a good chance beginning in January the practice of extending credits will be eliminated completely!

Evidently, even with the $50 change fee; it is an accounting nightmare and they just want it to go away .

Whether true or false, I cannot say...just thought i'd give a head's up...anyone else hear any buzz?

 

[rlduvall]

This had been mentioned here on the boards awhile back . . . but I am glad they worked with you and allowed the extension free of charge. So yes, it is true.

 

[keishashadow]

wow, i must have missed the thread, was so surprised.

yes, i am thrilled to receive the refund & do plan on booking with them in the future

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Off topic, but may I ask why you prefer Southwest to AirTran? Just curious

 

[keishashadow]

Off topic, but may I ask why you prefer Southwest to AirTran? Just curious

1) Re Pittsburgh, AT has a very nasty habit of changing flight times repeatedly without any notice (up to 5 or 6 times once); more than 8 hours earlier than original booking.

2) They seem to be especially fond of canceling the only NS scheduled after 3:00 p.m. out of MCO to PIT.

3) Several times flights have been canceled while in concourse due to equipment & other factors. Last June, they gave our plane away to one bound for DC area; whose occupants had been sitting on the tarmac for over an hour. Then we had a weather delay that lasted for hours. If we hadn't found another flight ourselves we'd have wound up sleeping in the airport overnight as the flight they had rescheduled us on never did leave the airport & they were granting no hotel vouchers.

4) their flights connect thru Atlanta - a zoo

5) Cannot forget the lost luggage issue wherein despite having a claim ticket; they insisted the bag was never checked. Only found it's way home after I received a call from a person in Flint, Michigan; wondering if i'd like my bag back since it had been sitting on her porch for a month - despite her calling AT ; did get a handful of vouchers

I could go on...

why do i use them? Had service-related vouchers & CC rewards earned, along with Wendy's cup promotion & cell phone promotion. Unless it's an early am flight out & the price is the lowest; i have no plans on flying them after I use all my credits.

 

[lawgs]

Rep did caution me that there is a good chance beginning in January the practice of extending credits will be eliminated completely!


Whether true or false, I cannot say...just thought i'd give a head's up...anyone else hear any buzz?

wonder if this means they will do away with the ability to extend RR awards too???

right now if your RR award expires, you can "reinitiate" them for a 50$ fee

 

[CarolMN]

1) Re Pittsburgh, AT has a very nasty habit of changing flight times repeatedly without any notice (up to 5 or 6 times once); more than 8 hours earlier than original booking.......(snip)......

They also do this out of MSP and I suspect it is a common practice pretty much everywhere they operate. I know other airlines also do this, but AT seems to be especially good at it, LOL.

If it weren't for this, they would be my first choice out of MSP as they usually have good prices, offer NS service to MCO and their planes are new & clean with relatively comfortable seating. Now I only use AT if it doesn't matter what time we leave (arrive) and the price is significantly better than Sun Country (which I love). I'm staying away from NW for a while longer - still too many labor issues that affect customers, IMHO.

 

[keishashadow]

sorry to hear it's not just PIT getting the 'business'

they do have nice planes & plesant staff, just seems to be their scheduled departures are more of a "suggestion"

as for RR i didn't ask; she did mention that people are now "abusing the accommodation" & extending credits almost to 2 years on a regular basis. They had hoped the $50 change fee would slow down the trend but it hasn't...imo more of a case of the word getting out & other passengers expecting the same treatment.