Soutwest Airlines Terms
#1
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Soutwest Airlines Terms
Hello,
I'm looking to buy tickets for the 3 of us on SW, Denver to Boston, we've never used SW.
I read if you buy one day and the price is lower another you can rebook and get credit to your account, how does that work?
Is it true that they don't charge for exchange in tickets same day, different times?
To be eligible for the credits, should I buy each ticket separate better?
Do we have to pay again and get credit for the other if it's refundable ticket? I'm a little lost.
I'm looking to buy tickets for the 3 of us on SW, Denver to Boston, we've never used SW.
I read if you buy one day and the price is lower another you can rebook and get credit to your account, how does that work?
Is it true that they don't charge for exchange in tickets same day, different times?
To be eligible for the credits, should I buy each ticket separate better?
Do we have to pay again and get credit for the other if it's refundable ticket? I'm a little lost.
#2
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Here is an old post that has the answers you want. It started 4 years ago so some of the information might not still be valid.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-questions.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-questions.cfm
#3
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If you need to do any of that, call SW and let one of their agents handle it. I had to change four tickets recently. It was a problem because three were on one booking and one on another, but were being re-booked two and two. The SW agent was wonderful at sorting things out. It would have been easier if each was separate or all had been together.
I have never actually seen their prices go down, but you can always check. If you need to change tickets and the new one is cheaper, yes, you get a refund or travel credit, depending on the ticket.
Read their website carefully if you want precise and up to date information. They are the best airline I have worked with.
I have never actually seen their prices go down, but you can always check. If you need to change tickets and the new one is cheaper, yes, you get a refund or travel credit, depending on the ticket.
Read their website carefully if you want precise and up to date information. They are the best airline I have worked with.
#4
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I have not heard that they don't charge for same day exchanges but that would be a question for SW. They are one of the few, if not the only carrier that does not charge for checked luggage, in fact you are allowed 2 checked bags for free.
I do recommend paying extra for the early bird check in due to their open seating policy, it's $25 round trip per person. SW boards by groups A, B and C with A being the first group to board. If you don't do early bird check in you are most likely to end up in a center seat. You could do your on line check in exactly 24 hours before your flight but even that will often get you into the B group and your family might not get seats together.
There are a lot of people who hate SW but I think they are the best in the air. Yes they do things differently but overall I think the customer benefits.
I do recommend paying extra for the early bird check in due to their open seating policy, it's $25 round trip per person. SW boards by groups A, B and C with A being the first group to board. If you don't do early bird check in you are most likely to end up in a center seat. You could do your on line check in exactly 24 hours before your flight but even that will often get you into the B group and your family might not get seats together.
There are a lot of people who hate SW but I think they are the best in the air. Yes they do things differently but overall I think the customer benefits.
#5
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There is no change fee AT ALL, even same day exchanges. In fact, you have up until 10 minutes before the flight leaves, which is pretty extraordinary, to change your flight and thus cancel your boarding pass. The only 'fee' or 'charge' is any fare difference when using the now 'air credit' you have from the cancelled flight. So you would apply the credit using your Record Locator on the cancelled flight, for your new flight and any fare difference you'd pay as you usually would, and that is that.
I fly SW around 120 times a year, any questions you might have, I would be more than happy to answer. I have flown them on their international flights as well, and it was pretty great experience.
I fly SW around 120 times a year, any questions you might have, I would be more than happy to answer. I have flown them on their international flights as well, and it was pretty great experience.
#6
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I have purchased SW nonrefundable ticket and later the price went down. I rebooked at the lower price and received a SW credit toward purchase of another ticket within 1 year (may be 1 year of original ticket date, not the rebooking--please check). If I did not fly on SW again during that time period, I lost the credit.
If I purchased the nonrefundable ticket and wanted to change to higher priced flight, I would pay the difference in fare as explained above with no additional change fee.
If I am purchasing tickets that I may want to change in the future and there is no difference in price for RT or 2 OW, I will purchase the one-way tickets. Same if I am purchasing for multiple people just to keep it simple in case of future changes. You can always purchase tickets separately, but tell airline that you are traveling together.
I usually check in online 20-24 hours before my flight, are assigned to board with B group, which usually means I can get a single aisle or window seat just past the wing/exit row. 3 people together in one row on one side of the aisle would have to go toward the back if in B group.
I haven't purchased refundable tickets with SW, so I haven't gone through the process of rebooking them at different price.
I like flying SW.
If I purchased the nonrefundable ticket and wanted to change to higher priced flight, I would pay the difference in fare as explained above with no additional change fee.
If I am purchasing tickets that I may want to change in the future and there is no difference in price for RT or 2 OW, I will purchase the one-way tickets. Same if I am purchasing for multiple people just to keep it simple in case of future changes. You can always purchase tickets separately, but tell airline that you are traveling together.
I usually check in online 20-24 hours before my flight, are assigned to board with B group, which usually means I can get a single aisle or window seat just past the wing/exit row. 3 people together in one row on one side of the aisle would have to go toward the back if in B group.
I haven't purchased refundable tickets with SW, so I haven't gone through the process of rebooking them at different price.
I like flying SW.
#7
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.... have purchased SW nonrefundable ticket .... SW does not have nonrefundable tickets. All tickets are refundable but the Wanna Get Away fare is full credit only. SW calls it reusable funds but still a full refund. Just no cash.
Everyone is making it sound very complicated when it is really very simple. You can cancel a ticket at any time with no penalty up to just prior to take off. You get either cash or credit for the full amount of the ticket to be used within one year FROM THE DATE OF THE CANCEL WHEN THE CREDIT hits your account.
You have three levels of fares - Bus Select, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away. The number of fares available at each level are limited. When they are gone they are gone.
So if you change a ticket today - you basically cancel your flight, get a credit, and then buy a new ticket for today, tomorrow or for next year. If the new ticket costs more you pay the difference, less you pocket the difference.
It is a very clean model. If first time user of SW, there are no assigned seats. You board according to a priority system mostly determine by when you check-in. Check in as early as you can.
Everyone is making it sound very complicated when it is really very simple. You can cancel a ticket at any time with no penalty up to just prior to take off. You get either cash or credit for the full amount of the ticket to be used within one year FROM THE DATE OF THE CANCEL WHEN THE CREDIT hits your account.
You have three levels of fares - Bus Select, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away. The number of fares available at each level are limited. When they are gone they are gone.
So if you change a ticket today - you basically cancel your flight, get a credit, and then buy a new ticket for today, tomorrow or for next year. If the new ticket costs more you pay the difference, less you pocket the difference.
It is a very clean model. If first time user of SW, there are no assigned seats. You board according to a priority system mostly determine by when you check-in. Check in as early as you can.
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Apr 11th, 2009 06:30 PM