Timing of Southwest Ticket Purchase

[Jedimike]

Not sure if this is common knowledge or if it has been previously posted, but I thought I'd share my experience regarding timing of Southwest airfare from Houston to Orlando.

I originally booked our travel at about 6 months out and paid 22,000 points for tickets. When I looked this morning, I noticed that a similar flight to Orlando a couple hours earlier was only 10,000 points round trip (less than 50% of what I paid!!!). I was able to get all four of our flights changed and saved over 40,000 points! Even though I used Rapid Reward points, the same thing would apply if you were using cash. Not sure if you would get a cash refund on the difference, but you would at least get Southwest credit. And I'm pretty sure you don't even have to change to a different flight. If you see a fare that is better than the one you booked, I'm pretty sure you can just cancel your existing reservation and make a new one. (wouldn't hurt to call Southwest to verify -- just note that the folks on the phone don't often see the lowest Internet-only fares).

I did this early today at NO COST to me. Not a penny! And now I've got enough points refunded to my Rapid Rewards account to be able to take the whole family for free next summer!

Just thought I'd share, hope some people may find this useful!

-Mike

 

[phred52]

great catch! It sure pays to pay attention at Southwest!

 

[123Disney]

Great info! Thanks for sharing and have a wounderful trip!

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I had something similar happen to me with SW a month or two ago. I had looked at flights and saw that our non-stop flights were going to be around $300 per person round trip plus early bird check in of $10 per person each way. ($320) (Times 4=$1,280)

Then Southwest announced this 40th anniversary sale or 45th anniversary sale. I don't remember how many years they were celebrating. I think it was 40th because the sale was $40 trips and $80 trips.

I went back and priced our tickets and no matter which flight I priced out I couldn't come up with any of the sale prices. We were leaving on a Friday and coming back the Sunday a week and a half later. So I played with the days we were traveling and found that if I changed it to where we were leaving on a Thursday instead of a Friday and coming back on a Saturday instead of a Sunday I could get us the $80 fare. $80 each way plus $10 early bird check in so that made each ticket $180 ($800 total with tax) instead of $320, times 4 ppl, we saved a TON!! I bought the tickets at about 10 pm on the last night the fares were on sale until midnight that night. I had only found out about the sale THAT DAY and was able to score the tickets the same day.

All of the flights that Disney had to offer when I booked our package were all connecting flights where I had to take 2 different flights each way. None of them were non-stop and all of them were $400 or more per person.

 

[a1tinkfans]

last week I happened to look at my southwest rapid rewards account. Lo and Behold, I saw that I had a one way ticket that I had not used, that technically expired
BUT
for 50 I can renew the ticket for another two years...and since I can do that in the next ten mos, I actually have a FREE flight available to me for a trip to somewhere....(disney!!!)
anyhoo, worth the 50 for sure for me....so, check your status on your rr page, ya just never know.......and

great news for you op!!!

 

[jennb529]

This is very encouraging news! My husband just about flipped when we saw the Southwest rates for late May. I will be checking back regularly in hopes that the fares drop. We can drive if they don't, but it would involve giving up a day or two at Disney and I don't want to do that!

 

[MELSMICE]

SW has always allowed you to change your flights at no cost to the purchaser.

If the flight you are changing to is less expensive you will get a credit good for one year from the original date of purchase. It can be used only for the person that the original flight was booked for. You do not have to cancel your original flight to do this, just do a "change reservation" option.

If you are using points, you can use them for any traveler.

 

[hpfan100]

LOVE Southwest!

Always check your rates as you never when you might save some dough. Plus your bags travel with you for free too.

 

[SandrA9810]

I've been planning to go back to Texas for the holidays, finally looked into it and scored round trip $99 each way. Flight times aren't the best, but the other flights were around $189. Crossing two time zones makes pretty much any time a crappy time to fly.

Now, just as long as I don't have to change them.