SW price change

[agriffith]

If an airfare for a Southwest flight that I've already booked goes lower, am I able to get a credit for that difference? And if so, what is the process?

Thank you for any info/advice you can share!

 

[Chief Powhatan]

Go to Southwest and change your flight, and then select the same flight you had before, but now with the lower fare. Southwest will then credit the difference for you to use on a future flight. Make sure you change and don't cancel - if you cancel, you will lose any EBCI you may have purchased. I learned this from an active thread last week. I picked up about $240 in credits when fares went on sale this week. Enjoy your Thanksgiving trip!

 

[richmo]

This ^ is correct.

The other thing to remember is that your credits are good for one year from the date of your original booking, not the date you make the change or the flight date. Also, that expiration date applies to the date of your future flight, not the date you book it.

 

[agriffith]

Thank you for the information! So if I change the flight and receive a credit for the lower price, how do I locate that credit and apply it to future flights?

 

[Rpsemont]

The other thing to remember is that your credits are good for one year from the date of your original booking, not the date you make the change or the flight date. Also, that expiration date applies to the date of your future flight, not the date you book it.

Also the credit must be used by the same passenger.

To further clarify, on July 18th. 2013 you book a flight for $160 for travel in November. On October 15th, the prices goes down to $120 and you "change" you flight to exact same flight you have, but end up with a $40 credit. That $40 credit must be used for a future flight that occurs before July 18th, 2014 - and all for the same person. If one person paid for tickets for 4 people, the credit will come through under 4 different names and credit goes with the passenger, not with the person who paid.

 

[agriffith]

Also the credit must be used by the same passenger.

To further clarify, on July 18th. 2013 you book a flight for $160 for travel in November. On October 15th, the prices goes down to $120 and you "change" you flight to exact same flight you have, but end up with a $40 credit. That $40 credit must be used for a future flight that occurs before July 18th, 2014 - and all for the same person. If one person paid for tickets for 4 people, the credit will come through under 4 different names and credit goes with the passenger, not with the person who paid.

Our next family trip will fall before the credit expires… How though do I access or track the credit to apply to our next flight? Thanks!

 

[Lynne G]

Thank you for the information! So if I change the flight and receive a credit for the lower price, how do I locate that credit and apply it to future flights?

You can use the credit on another flight by using the reservation number of the flight/s you got the credit from. Easy, as there's a place to put your number in on the payment page.

I've done that before, but this time, I have a much bigger credit! Yay!

 

[richmo]

Our next family trip will fall before the credit expires… How though do I access or track the credit to apply to our next flight? Thanks!

If you have a Rapid Rewards number, and you should, sign in to your account (or create one if you don't). Under Travel Tools (a box in the upper right of the main screen), you'll see check Travel Funds, or something like that. You'll also need the confirmation number for your current itinerary. The funds are linked to that itinerary.

Kind of on the subject....Southwest has some outstanding sales going on today (Saturday 10/25). I picked up another $176 in credits for two of us rebooking the same flights. That's good for a hot dog or two at Disney.

 

[CarolMN]

Keep in mind that you may not be able to use all of the credits. SWA only allows 4 means of payment. Credits may only be used by the person whose name was on the original ticket, even if that person did not pay for the ticket.

So for example, if you have 4 people in your party and the credits are not enough to entirely cover the cost of the flights for which you want to use the credits, you will only be able to use 3 of the credits. That's because you will need the 4th slot to pay the remainder with a credit card.

Lots of things are learned the hard way, LOL! (But we took an unplanned and unexpected trip to Las Vegas as a result of me learning the hard way).

 

[hsmamato2]

Southwest has some outstanding sales going on today (Saturday 10/25). I picked up another $176 in credits for two of us rebooking the same flights. That's good for a hot dog or two at Disney.

 

[jgraney106]

I had a question after reading this post. Hope someone can answer it.
We have a $201.00 credit on Southwest that has to be used by March 4th. The trip we are planning next would be from March 16th through March 23rd. Could I use the credit on some random flight dates and book it, and then cancel the random dates and rebook the dates we want? Would it change that March 4th dates to a later date? Info would be greatly appreciated !

 

[richmo]

I had a question after reading this post. Hope someone can answer it.
We have a $201.00 credit on Southwest that has to be used by March 4th. The trip we are planning next would be from March 16th through March 23rd. Could I use the credit on some random flight dates and book it, and then cancel the random dates and rebook the dates we want? Would it change that March 4th dates to a later date? Info would be greatly appreciated !

Unfortunately, that won't work. You have to fly by March 4

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

I had a question after reading this post. Hope someone can answer it.
We have a $201.00 credit on Southwest that has to be used by March 4th. The trip we are planning next would be from March 16th through March 23rd. Could I use the credit on some random flight dates and book it, and then cancel the random dates and rebook the dates we want? Would it change that March 4th dates to a later date? Info would be greatly appreciated !

You can pay to extend the credit. You might also be able to use the credit to purchase RR points.

 

[Thumper_Man]

You can pay to extend the credit. You might also be able to use the credit to purchase RR points.

Sadly enough, you cannot use credit to purchase RR points. RR points may only be purchased with Credit/Debit Card or through Pay Pal.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

To jgraney106


You can extend the credit but you would have to wait till the credit expires. So on March 5 you can call SWA and pay $100 per credit vouchure and they will extend the expiration by 6months. Keep in mind if the credit vouchure is under 2 different names - for example $100 listed under your name and someone else has $100 under their name you have you will have to pay $200 to extend the credit.

The credit can ONLY be used for airfare. It can not be used to purchase RR point, a rental car or hotel reserved through the SWA, and it also can not be used to pay for EBCI.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I had a question after reading this post. Hope someone can answer it.
We have a $201.00 credit on Southwest that has to be used by March 4th. The trip we are planning next would be from March 16th through March 23rd. Could I use the credit on some random flight dates and book it, and then cancel the random dates and rebook the dates we want? Would it change that March 4th dates to a later date? Info would be greatly appreciated !

Unfortunately, that won't work. You have to fly by March 4

This is correct. My DW and I tried once. Unfortunately SW ties any credit you use to the new reservation so that the original expiration date for the credit will still apply. Learned the hard way.

 

[LisaS]

We have a $201.00 credit on Southwest that has to be used by March 4th. The trip we are planning next would be from March 16th through March 23rd. Could I use the credit on some random flight dates and book it, and then cancel the random dates and rebook the dates we want? Would it change that March 4th dates to a later date? Info would be greatly appreciated !

No and in fact you could get yourself in an even worse situation by doing that. If you purchase a flight that costs more than $201 and apply the $201 in credits, the additional money you pay (via credit card) inherits the March 4th expiration date. Any funds used to book a flight take on the earliest expiration date of any Travel Funds applied.

As others have posted, you can wait until the funds expire and then pay to have them extended.

 

[Thumper_Man]

You would have to wait till march 5 aka one day after the credit expires. Then call sea and pay $100 per credit vouchure and they will extend the expiration by 6months. Keep in mind it the credit vouchure is under 2 different names you will have to pay $200 to extend the credit. $100 per name

Up to $100?

Last time I called SW about this, they said it would be $75 to extend the credit. I remember the days when you only had to pay $25 to extend the credit.

 

[karaintn]

Keep in mind that you may not be able to use all of the credits. SWA only allows 4 means of payment. Credits may only be used by the person whose name was on the original ticket, even if that person did not pay for the ticket. So for example, if you have 4 people in your party and the credits are not enough to entirely cover the cost of the flights for which you want to use the credits, you will only be able to use 3 of the credits. That's because you will need the 4th slot to pay the remainder with a credit card. Lots of things are learned the hard way, LOL! (But we took an unplanned and unexpected trip to Las Vegas as a result of me learning the hard way).

So how would that work for me as I have 5 in my family?

Kara

 

[richmo]

So how would that work for me as I have 5 in my family?

Kara

Not sure as I think the four methods of payment still applies, even though you have five. What you might be able to do is split into multiple itineraries...