SWA -- Changing ressies for cheaper price question!!

[bujuni]

How often can you do this? Can one keep changing reservation each time the price is lowered? Without penalty or fees?

 

[Jlampley]

It depends upon the type of ticket. If its a fun fare - usually the lowest - you get a credit on SWA. My family doesn't fly that much so it would be hard to use the credits and sometimes, if not all the time, credits have an expiration date. A friend purchase tickets at $90.00 one way and then the $49.00 fare came out. The changed to the $49.00 fare, got the credit and then asked us to use their credit and pay them the difference. We didn't mind because it wasn't costing us anything and they were able to unload their credits. This is the only way my family would be able to do this since we don't fly that often. I would have to make an arrangement with a frequent flier friend.

Hope that helps. By the way, if you get the refundable anytime tickets you can make changes at anytime. You are basically getting a refund and then buying a whole new set rather than changing the ones you've got.

Julie

 

[cruise-o-matic]

How do you go about doing this? Do you canel your 1st ressies and re-book or re-book then cancel? Or do you just change the existing ressie?

 

[coinkc]

To get the lower fare, you just have to change your current reservation. the exception would be if a DING fare comes out which then you have to cancel your existing reservation and re-book.

The best way to do this is to go through the steps to make a new reservation all the way until the payment is required. then, in a new window or by phone, cancel your current one. That way you can use the funds to pay for the lower fare. Hope this makes sense. I do it all the time as we frequently travel on SW.

There is no limit on the number of times you can lower your fare. However, do be aware that the credit expires one year from the original date of purchase, not the day you get the lower fare. After the one year, they will usually give an extension in the form of a travel voucher for 6 more months but that is a little more difficult to use.

 

[bujuni]

To get the lower fare, you just have to change your current reservation. the exception would be if a DING fare comes out which then you have to cancel your existing reservation and re-book.

The best way to do this is to go through the steps to make a new reservation all the way until the payment is required. then, in a new window or by phone, cancel your current one. That way you can use the funds to pay for the lower fare. Hope this makes sense. I do it all the time as we frequently travel on SW.

There is no limit on the number of times you can lower your fare. However, do be aware that the credit expires one year from the original date of purchase, not the day you get the lower fare. After the one year, they will usually give an extension in the form of a travel voucher for 6 more months but that is a little more difficult to use.

Is there a cancellation fee?

 

[cruise-o-matic]

another question....does the credit go to one account or would it be 3 seperate credits for each passenger that only that passenger could use?

 

[DonnaL]

The credit is listed under the original ressie #.....if all three passengers made their ressies separately then the credit would be listed individually under each #......if there was one ressie made for all three....then the credit will be listed under the name of the passenger who made the ressie on their cc. However, that doesn't mean only that person can use the credit.......as long as someone has the original ressie # and the name of the person who made the orginal ressie the credit can be used for a future booking for someone else.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I have successfully been able to get my credit applied back onto my credit card by calling the customer relations #. I have done this at least 5 times over the last two years, the most recent being just last week. Other people have said that they couldn't.

 

[penjen]

Have you been able to get the credit refund more than one time for the same reservation? My air just went down $60 but I got a $45 refund on this reservation last week. I did keep the same itinerary both times.
thanks!

 

[Bowen9475]

I have been able to get a credit on my CC more than once on the same confirmation # when the price has gone down more than once.

 

[DonnaL]

I have never gotten a credit refund, but, I have gotten a credit for future travel with SW more than once on the same ressie. Since we travel to MCO at least twice a year (sometimes more) I find it just as easy to have the running credit with the airline.

 

[pooch]

go to the Travel Center and click on change itinerary. Enter your confirmation # & name on your CC. This will pull up your current information, click on change something or other on the bottom & it will bring up the page you choose flights on. Click on the flight & price you want just like when you originally booked and the click on pricing and it will automatically apply the funds fron the original ressie to the new one and list the amount of you credit. This is very easy! I was able to do it with very excited and shaky hands! I then called 214-792-4223 and asked for the credit back to my CC instead of future flight. I was told yes but have to wait until trip is completed. I will probably call back & see if they can do it now. If not, I can wait as long as they'll eventually do it!!

 

[cepmom]

go to the Travel Center and click on change itinerary. Enter your confirmation # & name on your CC. This will pull up your current information, click on change something or other on the bottom & it will bring up the page you choose flights on. Click on the flight & price you want just like when you originally booked and the click on pricing and it will automatically apply the funds fron the original ressie to the new one and list the amount of you credit. This is very easy! I was able to do it with very excited and shaky hands! I then called 214-792-4223 and asked for the credit back to my CC instead of future flight. I was told yes but have to wait until trip is completed. I will probably call back & see if they can do it now. If not, I can wait as long as they'll eventually do it!!

the only exception to this is if you are trying to book a Ding fare. When you want to change your existing ressie to a Ding fare, you will need to cancel the original ressie, then use the SW credit to purchase the Ding fare resulting in a SW credit for the difference. This is not usually refunded.

If you are only changing to a lower fare, not a Ding, and do not change anything on the itinerary, you can get it refunded. I just did this a couple of weeks ago except I did not have to wait until after the trip to get the refund. It posted to my cc a few days ago. I would definitely call back to see if they will issue the credit now.

There is no cancellation fee either....this is why I love Southwest!! I almost makes the stress of waiting for the schedule release worth it