SW points help - Cancellations

[auger]

Need some help. Tried a search but came up short, so sorry for the redundancy of my question.

I have never flown SW, and I want to book a flight with points for late April while prices are low. Not sure if we will be able to make the trip though.

So my question is, what happens if I have to cancel the flight? Will the points go back to my account. Will there be a time limit on how long they are good after that? Will I be refunded the $30 fee I am being charged for the flight?

Tia for the help!

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have cancelled or changed flights with points lots of times, it is seamless and easy. No fee is charged, and you get the points back right away.


Not sure what $30 fee you mean? If you mean the early boarding thing, I don't think you get that back? Others may know the answer to that, I rarely get that.

 

[auger]

It's not a boarding fee. I think maybe the 911 fee? I know it doubles for each plane boarding. So for my flight there is one plane change going down and one coming back. So for each person it is a $10 charge rd trip. If there were no plane change, it would be half that.

Updating:
Just pulled it up and it shows as the security fee. A total of $30 for the three of us. So does this get returned if i have to cancel, or am I out this money?

 

[DebbieB]

It's not a boarding fee. I think maybe the 911 fee? I know it doubles for each plane boarding. So for my flight there is one plane change going down and one coming back. So for each person it is a $10 charge rd trip. If there were no plane change, it would be half that.

Updating:
Just pulled it up and it shows as the security fee. A total of $30 for the three of us. So does this get returned if i have to cancel, or am I out this money?

I believe they have to return it.

 

[bumbershoot]

I believe they have to return it.

I agree.

When we've changed reward flights with United, they return the fee if we change stops. I can't imagine they are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, so they probably have to.

And those fees are for the airports, to pay for the use of their facilities, so if you aren't using them, it makes sense that you don't have to pay it.

 

[auger]

Thanks for the help. I was looking at these fees the same way. If I don't take the flight, how could they justify keeping the fees if the flight isn't taken?

But, you never know!!!

Thanks again for helping me out!!!

 

[bookwormde]

When you cancel there will be 2 check boxes, one says to save as future travel funds and the other says return the fee, be sure and check the return fee box

 

[auger]

When you cancel there will be 2 check boxes, one says to save as future travel funds and the other says return the fee, be sure and check the return fee box

Thanks very much for the instruction!!! I'll be sure to remember this."

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I didn't realize those costs were refundable. I always saved them for up to one year like any other credits.

 

[Moomduck1]

Is there a way to extend monies credited past the 1 year mark?

 

[a1tinkfans]

if you do the EB seating and re-book they have always transferred our money for us and I have not lost that money but got EB on the next flight.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Is there a way to extend monies credited past the 1 year mark?

Yes but they charge for it. You have until 6 mos after expiration date to call cust svc. I currently have $119.10 credits each x 3 passengers all under the same conf #. When I called SWA, I was told I would get 3 vouchers each for $44.10. These vouchers will not be "attached" to any passenger name & can be used by anyone or pooled for 1 passenger. IIRC, vouchers are good for 6 mos from date of issue.

if you do the EB seating and re-book they have always transferred our money for us and I have not lost that money but got EB on the next flight.

EB is connected to the confirmation # so if you change your flight, keeping same conf #, you keep your EB