SW problem...any advice?

[gypsydoodlebug]

I got DING!ed last Thursday from Louisville to MCO for $102/one way (not great, but still cheaper than their regular pricing). Clicked on the link, but our return flight had that red unavailable next to it. So I bought the flight down there one way thinking I could get the return flight some other time cheaper, e.g. if there's a summer fare.

I looked up our return flight and there are only two options shown now: the fun fare at $116/one way which is unavailable for all times, and the refundable anytime fare at $175/one way .

Should I call? I don't know where the other fares have gone that were there before –– I think it has something to do with the return flight being a one-way ticket only with a separate reservation number...

Ugh. I'm going to end up paying MORE than I'd originally planned without the DING! fare...

 

[jcanary]

you might be able to cancel your ding flight and use the funds towards your round trip. they are usually pretty good with giving you a voucher to use towards a future flight. if you chose round trip does it show you more options?

 

[Lewisc]

Did you originally have a R/T reservation that you canceled when you booked Ding? Did that reservation require a R/T? If not you might call SW and tell them you only intended to cancel the outbound flight and see if they can restore your return flight.

If you didn't have a return reservation or if your fare basis required a R/T you're probably stuck booking the more expensive fare and hoping for a fare reduction. Look for a non Ding R/T first and see if anything opens up.

SW is doing a much better job, from their perspective, of reducing the number of deeply discounted seats on popular flights. You may have to change your date, book another airline or just pay.

 

[Rpsemont]

Yes, when you are pricing a OW vs a RT different options for fares are available. YOu could see if it's the OW that's causing the reduced options by trying to book at RT. I've alao found times that a DING OW fare was more expensive then a DING RT fare. That being said, unless you're travelling at a time you really think the flight is going to sell out, there's no benefit to booking the full fare at this time. YOu can either hang on to your DING OW fare and see if a special INTERNET ONE WAY ONLY fare comes out. Or, if a good RT fare is available, cancel your DING, the funds will be available to apply to another ticket, and then book the RT. There is slight risk here because it does take a few seconds for the funds to be available to reuse, but unless it's a really busy time, you probably loose availability.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Did you originally have a R/T reservation that you canceled when you booked Ding? Did that reservation require a R/T? If not you might call SW and tell them you only intended to cancel the outbound flight and see if they can restore your return flight.

If you didn't have a return reservation or if your fare basis required a R/T you're probably stuck booking the more expensive fare and hoping for a fare reduction. Look for a non Ding R/T first and see if anything opens up.

SW is doing a much better job, from their perspective, of reducing the number of deeply discounted seats on popular flights. You may have to change your date, book another airline or just pay.

No...got DING!ed and then bought the tickets, but the return flight was unavailable at the DING price. I went ahead and did the OW down using the DING price thinking I could get another sale price sometime soon. If push comes to shove, rather than spend an extra $75 pp for just the OW, we'll stay the night and come back on Monday at the FUN FARE price.