Southwest Rebooking Questions

[carolina_yankee]

I'm still new to the ins and outs of the miracle that is Southwest and need some help. We're going to book our Thanksgiving day flights as soon as Southwest opens them, but I realize the fares may go down at some point.

If they do (often Thanksgiving Day travel is pretty light), what's the exact procedure for getting the lower fare when you've already booked your flight? I've browsed the site, and it looks like one of two ways:

1.) Book a second reservation at the cheaper fare, then cancel the first reservation, saving all the funds as a credit for future travel.

2.) Cancel first reservation (do you get instant credit or does it take a day or two to post?) and use credit to book second fare, reserving the balance for a future reservation. This makes me nervous. What if my cheaper fare disappears between cancelling first ticket and booking second? Perhaps this isn't a problem, but I can see it happening.

Is there a third way that doesn't involve socking a whole airfare's worth of $$$ away as a Southwest credit or risk losing a decent fare altogether? It would be great if there was an option like "apply existing reservation to this fare" but I only saw options for gift cards or credits from previously canceled tickets.

Dirk

[matysgranma]

It's actually very easy to take advantage of a lower (ding) airfare from Southwest. Up in the right hand corner you'll see the words "Travel Center". Click on that, then click "Cancel Reservation". Now remember to check and see if there is still availability on the flight you intend to book BEFORE you cancel. (I actually keep two tabs open, one for the booking and one for the cancellation). When you cancel, click on "I want to save fees for future travel". Then go ahead and book your new flight. When you get to the payment page, it will ask you if you want to apply any funds for payment. You'll enter your prior confirmation number, it will subtract the difference and whamo, there's your credit for your next flight!
People have posted that they've actually called Southwest and gotten a refund. I, for one, like to keep my credits in my Southwest bank. To me it's like a savings account for my next flight.
Now if you're still leary on the procedure, give Southwest a call, and they will literally walk you through it while you're on the computer. They're really a great airline to deal with!
Now go and save some money!!!:laughing:

[carolina_yankee]

Thanks, Pam, for walking me through the process. I thought that using two tabs on the browser might be helpful (ain't Firefox and Safari great?). It sounds like it will be easy, then.

I'd go forth and save right now, but my dates aren't open yet!!

I'm definitely gonig for the credits. We're going to to hit both WDW and DL in one long trip next summer, so we'll need Southwest to get us to several locations as we move abou the country visting Disney and family. Visiting family is just so we don't look nuts while being itinerant Disney tourists. Of course, having family in San Francisco doesn't hurt, either . . .

Dirk

[matysgranma]

Dirk, you are quite welcome. One more thing, though. Make sure when you book, you book each leg of your flight as a one way, opposed to round trip. That way if a ding comes up that includes only your arrival or departure, you don't have to cancel your entire flight. Does that make sense to you?

[carolina_yankee]

Good point. I didn't think about that. Thanks!

Dirk

[Stimpy]

We do this often too and I also use the 2 open screens. I just wanted to add that with the credit you only have 1 year from the date of the original purchase date, not from the day you cancel. (Which sounds like it won't be a problem for you this time :) )

Also, after a year SW can give you a 6 month extention...but they stress it's a one time deal...blah, blah, blah. I don't know how true the 1x thing is but I was able to extend the credit once.

I've personally never been able to get the money back but like Pam said, I have seen others post it was possible. I tried and must be too nice or something ;)

Last thing I wanted to add was that if you extend the credit, you are issued a paper credit that you need to go to an actual SW desk to trade in. Again, just for future reference :) I had to do this last time and it was a PITA! They did say that they were trying to update the system to allow customers to do it on-line in the future.

Good Luck, hope you save a bunch $$$$

[RweTHEREyet]

The other great thing about Southwest is that they do not charge any "fees" or penalties for changing your flight.

[Colorado Belle]

I think you can count on Pam as the resident expert on all things SouthWest.
They are new to Denver and she is my tutor on bookings. I didn't know about the separate bookings for each leg however....but now that I do , it certainly makes sense.

Since Denver-MCO is brand new with SW starting August 5, I doubt there will be any cheaper dings than @$99 each way; but then I've noticed how some of you old hands manage to find these $44 flights !!!! One can always hope!

Sounds like you'll be doing lots of traveling next summer Dirk! Hope you great some great fares for your trip!

[jnrrt]

Just chiming in to say that we've rebooked several times, had the same concerns, Dirk, about the other fare not being available, but it's instantaneous, and totally easy. The first time, I did it on the phone with them and they walked me through. After that, I just did it myself.

The only bummer is that the year is from when you purchase originally, not when you rebook, or when the flight was. We thought it was a year from the flight, and that messed us up. We were one of the people whe were able to get a refund, but it wasn't easy.

[cruise-o-matic]

Our fare for October went down and I was able to re-book and get $90 credit. I called the SW 3 and they walked me through the process. Instead of selecting "cancel" my reservation, go to the Travel Center and select "Change my Reservation".

Though, I wonder if you are better off booking 2 one way flights. That way if the fare goes down on one trip, but the cheapie fares are all booked on the other, you can at least rebook 1/2 your trip. Has anyone tried this?

[carolina_yankee]

It sounds like booking one way flights makes more sense in this case. It just means there are multiple confirmation numbers to keep track of.

Now, if I go to change reservation, it will let me rebook at the lower fare (even a ding fare)? It seems canceling would allow me to get the ding price since I can reserve on the ding page, while canceling the flight on another page. I hope this makes sense. I'm such a control freak/novice when it comes to changing air travel arrangements. :whatababy

Dirk

[Colorado Belle]

'nother question
I've installed Ding on my computer and there is an icon at the bottom of my screen that I can bring up....but if there is a fare special, will it DING up on its own????

[matysgranma]

No, CB, it won't. If you happen to be on the computer, you'll hear a "ding" and a white box will appear on your Southwest wings. click on thw wings and your "ding" box will show up. Hit the message and it will take you to the specials.

[jiggerj]

If you happen to be on the computer, you'll hear a "ding" and a white box will appear on your Southwest wings. click on thw wings and your "ding" box will show up. Hit the message and it will take you to the specials.


PANIC ATTACK TIME!!!!!

I have recived some fantastic ding fares- they are just sooooo hard to resist!!! (I think I had a $44 each way last Sept from Hartford... that was just unreal!!!) When I see those little wings I am almost relieved when it doesnt apply to my home airport and Orlando- I have booked a few trips just because I couldnt pass up the airfare- combine that with the AP and DVC points...Ugggh! :)

[mushu]

Dirk, you are quite welcome. One more thing, though. Make sure when you book, you book each leg of your flight as a one way, opposed to round trip. That way if a ding comes up that includes only your arrival or departure, you don't have to cancel your entire flight. Does that make sense to you?
I agree,this is the way to book.