mlm59

I know lots of people don't like Southwest, but I have flown with them many times and have always been happy.

Earlier this year I planned a trip to Colorado for September and decided to try Frontier. Their price was a few dollars less and most important, they had a direct flight to Denver. Flying Southwest would have required changing planes in Chicago or Kansas City. I had heard good things about Frontier and decided to try them.

We had tickets to depart on September 1. Two days before my husband was admitted to the hospital and had emergency surgery. Needless to say my daughter and I had to postpone our trip to Colorado.

I will have to pay $100 each to rebook our tickets. Considering the tickets were originally $220 each, these are going to turn into expensive tickets.

I have now decided that if at all possible I will fly Southwest since they don't charge a rebooking fee if something unexpected happens.

clarkgriswold

Well, that's not exactly true. If the Southwest fare had gone up, you would have had to pay the new fare. So there's still a "penalty" for changing.

By the way, did you explain to Frontier the reason for the change?

LoveItaly

The great thing about Southwest is that they don't charge a rebooking fee. You have a credit with them, I believe it is for one year. Yes, if the fare has increased you pay the difference between the 100% credit and the new fare but that is understandable. I don't know but I would think besides the $100.00 rebooking fee if Frontier's fares went up the passenger would have to pay the difference also? As I said I don't know as I have never flown with them.

I hope your husband is now alright mlm, emergency surgeries are always so scary. Take care.

cantstayhome

Think you have to pay increase in fare on any airline (I don't know one that doesn't charge you the difference).

I love Southwest for that reason, too, and tell them everytime I make a change! I had to rebook a trip twice earlier this year, and ended up getting better fares each time, so I made money on the changes.

Unfortunately, they rarely have direct flights to where I need to go, or a good schedule for flights I might otherwise take. So, I can't even use my credit before January when it expires (got the rest of the year booked - no Southwest travel!). Giving it to mom to make her come visit so it doesn't go to waste.

JJ5

Southwest, has so many positives out of Chicago Midway, and this is one- and they HAVE made it easy for me to move around the country. I feel so lucky to have them right here with quick, direct and frequent flights. They have given my relatives credits, as well, without rebooking fees when prices had DECREASED and people had to change plans for my Mom's funeral.

We have found that that kind of funeral or compassionate fare status has mainly been eliminated in most other airlines. The price is still sky high with short timing, regardless of what they call the category purchase for travel re death of a family member. They give it that name but the costs are anything but minimal.

LLindaC

SWest's FF program is also the very best out there. No wonder this airline is making money while others are struggling. I got my SW Visa card in December and have been getting tickets whenever and wherever, unlike my Delats tickets which are NEVER available, grrr.

LLindaC

Make that DELTA tickets. I have all these miles and never can get a ticket...

tracys2cents

The big problem with Southwest is that they don't have agreements with other airlines. If you have a delay or missed connection that is the airline's fault...they won't place you onto another carrier to protect your travel plans. You'll need to wait until Southwest has service to your city, sometimes not until the next morning.

janisj

Another plus - Southwest lets you book one-way flights at 1/2 of the R-T fare - or to be precise R-T is twice the one way fare.

diann

I agree. I love SW as well for all of the above reasons. They are the best going. It is of course understandable if there was a fare increase one would pay the difference. I had rd trip tickets once for 2 to Puerto Rico on usairways. We were going to a wedding and they canceled there wedding. We were issued a credit and then another $200 booking. We did re-use the tickets to another destination which would have been cheaper had we not had the original tickets. It ended up being a more expensive trip, a no win situation. I will always fly SW.

Lori

SW is fantastic, they have the most "passenger friendly" refund/credit/rebooking/changes program in the industry. Their website is easy to use, their telephone people friendly and their flight crews a delight. What's not to like ? Oh yes, their fares are usually the best on the particular route. I fly them alot and have always been pleased with their FF program and the airline in general. Of course, nothing is perfect, but they do a better job then most of the other major airlines.

sunbum1944

Another happy SW passenger. Last year I had some flights I changed so many times I could hardly keep track. The SW people were always so patient and nice to work with - I try to fly them whenever I can. I live in Eugene Or and have to drive to Portland in order to fly them but most of the time its still cheaper to do that than fly out of Eugene.
I just earned my first free trip and cant wait to use it- think I will go to Hawaii

diann

How do you get those rewards? Is it through using there credit card? Also if my husband doesn't fly next weekend with me to florida, can he be the only one to re-use the ticket? Is it transferable?

Underhill

You might want to post that question in the Airlines forum here.

BeachBoi

diann....Go to the Southwest website.Sign up for their Rapid Rewards program.It's simple free and very self explanatory.As I mentioned on another post, if the hubster does not travel, cancel his ticket with Southwest.Keep his confirmation number.They will tell you the exact amount of the credit.They will tell you when the credit expires.Then when you are ready to rebook, anyone can use the credit as long as you have the confirmation number AND the name of the cradit card holder of the credit card used to purchase the ticket in the first place.Take care!

mlm59

I am glad to hear so many of you also love Southwest. I know a lot of people don't like them, mostly because of not having assigned seats. I don't mind. We always print our boarding passes 24 hours before and my daughter is one of those people willing to go sit on the floor at the front of the line. She wants to board first so we can get off first.

It can be a bit of inconvenience not to have a direct flight, but after the cost of rebooking my Frontier tickets, I have decided I can tolerate some inconvenience.

It did not matter to Frontier that I had a family emergency. As the person I spoke with said, it is clearly stated that the tickets are non-refundable. They act as though they are doing you a favor by allowing rebooking for a $100 fee.

Yes, I will have to pay not only the rebooking fee, but any increase in the fair. The same fare is now almost $100 more than when I originally booked. I'm going to wait for a while and keep checking prices. We are going to wait until next year, hopefully the week before Memorial Day, to go to Colorado. We want to go to RMNP and the road may not be open until late May. I have 1 year from the original booking date to rebook the tickets.

Thanks loveitaly for your well wishes for my husband. He was released Thursday after 9 days in the hospital. What a surprise this has been, he has always been as healthy as a horse. You just never know what can happen, so that is why I hope that wherever I want to go I can book with Southwest.

And yes their reward program is great. We have earned several free tickets. I use their Visa card for most of my expenses and pay my bill every month. We also when possible stay in hotels and use rental cars that also give us Southwest points.