SW rapid rewards question

[msmama]

Silly questions I think but for some reason I couldn't find an answer anywhere (though I think that has to do with me being thick right now).

Can I book a flight with 1/2 pts, 1/2 $$? How does that work?

The points are a set # of points per dollar and that doesn't change with the price, right?

If I have 2 different trips book, but not enough points for both, would it be better to:

1. book the cheaper flight with my SW cc and the more expensive flight with points,
2. vice versa (more expensive flight CC, cheaper flight points)
3. it doesn't matter at all?

Thanks so much!

 

[davedmaine]

Silly questions I think but for some reason I couldn't find an answer anywhere (though I think that has to do with me being thick right now).

Can I book a flight with 1/2 pts, 1/2 $$? How does that work?

The points are a set # of points per dollar and that doesn't change with the price, right?

If I have 2 different trips book, but not enough points for both, would it be better to:

1. book the cheaper flight with my SW cc and the more expensive flight with points,
2. vice versa (more expensive flight CC, cheaper flight points)
3. it doesn't matter at all?

Thanks so much!

Have you tried calling Southwest directly? That seems like the easiest route to getting your answers..

 

[bjscheel]

You can't buy a ticket with a combination of points and money. You can buy a one-way with points and the return trip with money, or something like that, but each ticket has to be either points or cash.

As far as which trip to pay with points, I am not sure. I guess with paying cash for the more expensive one, you might earn more points? Or it could be a matter of whether you would rather have more points or more money left over after booking?

 

[auntmeme7577]

We frequently book trips using points and cash by booking as one way instead of round trip. We'll use points on one way and cash on the other.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I would use the points for the leg that you think could possibly drop in price. It's really easy to change a flight to the new price and the leftover points are then returned to your acct.

I know for Philly, a Sunday return is higher than any other days except holidays. So let's say we have a Wednesday night flight down with a Sunday return, I would use the points for the Wed flight.

Hmmmm... then again, if I have enough points for the more expensive leg but not both, I'd probably use them for the more expensive leg.

 

[CarolAnnB]

You can also buy points if you are short. Last time I tried it a few different ways and it ended up being better for me to buy some points than split the flights points and cash. Also, that meant that if the point cost went down, the points all went back to my account and had no expiration, unlike travel funds if the cash fare went down. But you have to do the math on all counts because buying all points is not cheaper than the cash fare.