SWA--getting your $$ back

[2infinityandbeyond]

Because of price drops for my PHL-MCO flight, I now have $400 in credit for future flights on SWA. I've heard that some people have thier ticketless travel funds put back on their credit card. I've called SWA twice about this and both times I was told that I couldn't get the $ put back on my cc because we bought nonrefundable tickets.

Any suggestions? I don't mind having the credit (it gives me an excuse for another vacation ) but I'd rather get it back if possible.

 

[owtrbnks]

I've never gotten money refunded on a non-refundable ticket. SWA always gives a credit (think of it as an excuse to return to WDW for free!) that is good for a year.
Perhaps you have heard of people with vouchers, who wish to book online for the lowest price (internet specials.) In that case, you can book online and after travelling, send in the voucher to SWA and they will issue a credit to your credit card.
That's been my experience.

 

[Bowen9475]

I have been able to get the credit refunded to my credit card a few times. You can not call the 800# for Southwest - you must call Customer Service at the 214# that you can find on their website. They will only refund the difference if you did not make any changes to the itinerary - the dates and times must stay the same - only the price has dropped. Not everyone has had luck with getting the credit back to their credit cards but it doesn't hurt to call. Good luck!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Southwest has tightened up on crediting by way of refund anything on non-refundable tickets. You'll get a credit for future flights which you can use up to a year later. Southwest is unique in that they will allow you to use the funds for anyone (or more than one person) which is a much more flexible policy than most airlines.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

Southwest has tightened up on crediting by way of refund anything on non-refundable tickets. You'll get a credit for future flights which you can use up to a year later. Southwest is unique in that they will allow you to use the funds for anyone (or more than one person) which is a much more flexible policy than most airlines.

So I could "sell" the credit to someone else? That would work, since I have family members who fy SWA much more frequently than I do.

 

[Disney Ohana]

i got over $270 credited back less than a month ago on internet specials by calling the costumer service 214 #

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

i got over $270 credited back less than a month ago on internet specials by calling the costumer service 214 #

Was it as simple as calling and asking or did you have to beg and plead?

 

[speedyf]

I'm not an expert...but, I did get a credit back to my credit card about 2 years ago. This is how it was explained to me....

If you book a fare...say an Internet Fare....and that fare goes down in price at some point, you can get a credit back to your credit card for the difference.

For example....if you booked an Internet Fare at say....$89 each way....then, later that Internet Fare went down to $69 each way, you can get the credit back on your credit card.

Now, to contrast that....if you booked a Promotional Fare at say $99....then, noticed that a cheaper Internet Fare opened up at $79 so you changed fares from Promotional to Internet....then, you cannot get the credit back to your card. You take the Southwest credit in that case. This is also the case with DING as you are changing from a more expensive fare to a DING fare.

So it basically works this way....Southwest has different fares including Refundable Anytime, Restricted Fares, Advance Purchase, Fun Fares, Internet One-Way, etc....

If you book a fare....and then that fare ends up going down in price at some point prior to your flight, you can get your money back on your credit card. If you jump to a cheaper fare, you get the Southwest credit.

Of course, you can always sell the credit on eBay for about 85 to 90 cents on the dollar...sometimes more. I just recently purchased a Southwest Gift Card (no expiration) on eBay valued at $350 for $300....so, I'm already saving $50 on airfare before the fares are even released. I had also purchased my two adult Annual Pass vouchers on eBay at $340 and $375 that we activated in June.....now, we are FORCED to go back again in December and probably in May again just to get our money's worth

Speed

 

[english rose 47]

What iis DING???

 

[disneyldwjr]

What iis DING???

Go to the SWA site and read about it. Much easier to have you actually read it than try to explain it.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Most airlines only issue credit vouchers to be used on your next travel and is usually valid for 1yr. They are non transferrable which means you cannot give or sell them to someone because your name is listed on it.

I am not saying that people haven't been given $$ back on their credit card, only that it is not typical of what airlines do.

Those of you that have received $ on your credit card

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

So I assume since I booked a Ding fare yesterday and now have a credit, I can't get it back on my CC? If I can't get it back on my CC, how long is the credit good for? Is it good from the day I originally bought the airfare or yesterday since I booked a Ding fare? I hope this makes sense!

 

[pamjb]

So I assume since I booked a Ding fare yesterday and now have a credit, I can't get it back on my CC? If I can't get it back on my CC, how long is the credit good for? Is it good from the day I originally bought the airfare or yesterday since I booked a Ding fare? I hope this makes sense!

Your credit will be good for one year from the date your purchased the original ticket. The refund part depends on if the initial ticket purchase was for a refundable fare.

 

[pamjb]

They are non transferrable which means you cannot give or sell them to someone because your name is listed on it.

Southwest does allow the credit to be used by anyone. I had a credit from a Ding! savings that I had. I was able to purchase a ticket for my mother-in-law with the credit.

 

[iluvepcot]

I just called today the 214# I had an internet rate and then rebooked to a ding rate. I saved $65 on 5 tickets. I spoke to the refund office and they credited my credit card. They made sure that the times and dates remained the same.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Southwest does allow the credit to be used by anyone. I had a credit from a Ding! savings that I had. I was able to purchase a ticket for my mother-in-law with the credit.

That's the nice thing about Soutwest!

 

[samano]

Most airlines only issue credit vouchers to be used on your next travel and is usually valid for 1yr. They are non transferrable which means you cannot give or sell them to someone because your name is listed on it.

I am not saying that people haven't been given $$ back on their credit card, only that it is not typical of what airlines do.

Those of you that have received $ on your credit card

This is exactly why I am such a huge SW fan! They are different than most airlines, in that credits ARE transferrable, no change fees to switch to a different flight/day/fare. I always book with SW even if I *think* I might be going on a trip even if my plans aren't definite yet, on other airlines I would wait until I was *sure* of dates/times etc. I love SW's customer-friendly flexibility!!

I've heard of many other people having thier credits refunded (most here on the DIS), though I have not done it personally yet. Good luck!

 

[LIGrumpyGirl]

I just rec'd $384 back on my CC last week. I called about 2 weeks ago and asked if I could get it back on my CC. No problems...no begging or pleading involved. One of my flights was just a change in price but I did change dates on the flight down to MCO to get a better price.

My guess? Depends on who you get on the phone~

 

[mom23boys]

I also got a credit back on my CC for about $300 after a Ding came out.

I called the 214 number and talked to a CS rep. No problem.