Oct SWA fares, some have dropped

[TakeMeAway1001]

I checked my airfare for our Oct flights and found that they had dropped $30, called and was issued a refund. Might be worthwhile to check :)

[Keith1010]

That's what is good about SWA. But when you say a refund, you mean a credit that you can use towards another SWA flight. Correct?

 

Keith

[6rugrats]

That's what is good about SWA. But when you say a refund, you mean a credit that you can use towards another SWA flight. Correct?

 

Keith

 

You are being disingenous Keith!

[Keith1010]

You are being disingenous Keith!

 

Not so.

 

I just think it's important to clarify this because there are some folks who have not taken SWA before and do not understand their policies.

 

Keith

[6rugrats]

I think there are many people who take Southwest all the time and don't understand their policies!

[alidor]

Whether you get a refund or a credit towards a future flight depends on what the original fare was. If it was a non-refundable ticket, you'll get a credit. If it was a refundable ticket, you'll get the refund.

 

Please get a good travel agent people - many of you are wasting so much time and money.

[Keith1010]

That's what is good about SWA. But when you say a refund, you mean a credit that you can use towards another SWA flight. Correct?

 

Keith

 

Oops. I want to correct my own post.

 

I had forgotten that SWA has both refundable and non refundable tickets so I was thinking about those that are non refundable. The good news about SWA when it comes to the non refundable tickets is that while you cannot get a refund you can get the cost of the tickets as a credit for another flight within the pre determined time frame without penalties.

 

Keith

[TakeMeAway1001]

Sorry I wasn't clear in my posting, I did receive a credit which works for me. I plan on using for our next cruise :) I didn't mean to confuse anyone by stating "refund"

[steve20832]

Whether you get a refund or a credit towards a future flight depends on what the original fare was. If it was a non-refundable ticket, you'll get a credit. If it was a refundable ticket, you'll get the refund.

 

Please get a good travel agent people - many of you are wasting so much time and money.

 

I have never used a travel agent and always book directly with the airline. Once you get a middleman involved, things can get messed up easily.

[TakeMeAway1001]

I have never used a travel agent and always book directly with the airline. Once you get a middleman involved, things can get messed up easily.

 

I agree completely, I have no need for a TA and enjoy doing all the research and bookings on my own :)

[FlyerTalker]

I will beg to differ -- with caveats.

 

For complex situations, a highly skilled air-specialist travel agent MAY be invaluable. But, for the ordinary run-of-the-mill "fly down to MCO to see Mickey" type of travel, their usefulness is limited. Of course, the lower the internet-capability of the traveler and/or their travel experience, the more a TA becomes a reasonable option. Even then, you have to take care to get someone who actually knows what they are talking about. Just because they know cruises doesn't mean they know what a minimum connecting time or a maximum permitted mileage is. Or how to read a fare routing rule. Or even more important issues dealing with air travel.

[NCMtnBoys]

I agree completely, I have no need for a TA and enjoy doing all the research and bookings on my own :)

 

I agree. I haven't stepped foot in a travel agent's office in YEARS, I'm capable of doing my own research and follow-up. I enjoy that triumphant feeling when I find a GREAT deal. And after I find that GREAT deal, I continue to search and search and search between the time of booking and time of departure to make SURE I have the best deal. It's not a chore for me, something I enjoy doing.

[kenish]

I've tried to use a TA on several occasions. They fall into several categories:

 

- Openly won't book air-only reservations, they lose money. At least they are honest.

 

- Come back with ridiculous prices on air/hotel/car that an hour online can beat, hands down. There are some good ones in the cruise sector though.

 

- Clearly never been to a place they are promoting, don't understand the differences between various providers, and don't understand the problem with transfering JFK/LGA in 2 hours (Mapquest says that's plenty of time!).

 

I'm sure there are hidden gems out there but I have yet to find them!

[scheible32]

Thanks for the tip! I checked my flights for July travel and for the two round trip tickets our total dropped $92.00! I called, gave SW my booking number and I was issued a credit. One, or two, notes on the credit (for non-refundable tickets) is that the credit will be valid for one year, starting when the tickets were purchased originally. So, my credit is good from today until Feb 2010 (roughly 8 months). The credit can also be transferred to anyone.

[TakeMeAway1001]

Thanks for the tip! I checked my flights for July travel and for the two round trip tickets our total dropped $92.00! I called, gave SW my booking number and I was issued a credit. One, or two, notes on the credit (for non-refundable tickets) is that the credit will be valid for one year, starting when the tickets were purchased originally. So, my credit is good from today until Feb 2010 (roughly 8 months). The credit can also be transferred to anyone.

 

Glad I was able to help someone get a little break :)

[tatay]

I booked 4 tickets on April 14 for August (1st day they opened the current schedule). I checked the next day and the fares dropped by $10/ticket.

I re-booked and the $40 difference was refunded to my credit card.

I got "dinged" today and the fares dropped by $20/ticket. I re-booked again and now have $80 credit for future flights (before April 14, 2010). It's all GOOD :D

[lovessensi]

That's what is good about SWA. But when you say a refund, you mean a credit that you can use towards another SWA flight. Correct?

 

Keith

 

does swa fly to europe?? didn't find that on the site.

[Keith1010]

does swa fly to europe?? didn't find that on the site.

 

No flights to Europe or other international destinations.

 

Keith

[fbgd]

Is it really necessary to start a thread noting that some fares may have dropped on a given airline? It happens all day, everyday. This board would be nothing but reminders...

[Keith1010]

Is it really necessary to start a thread noting that some fares may have dropped on a given airline? It happens all day, everyday. This board would be nothing but reminders...

 

IMHO it makes good sense. Many people don't realize that SWA is one of the few airlines that you can cancel flights or get a lower price and depending on how your ticket was purchased can either get a refund (for refundable tickets) or a credit (for non refundable tickets) without the typical penalty. So, it's good for those who don't know.

 

While many might know this many don't.

 

Keith

[FlyerTalker]

Fares go up....fares go down.

 

Just because a specific fare on a specific flight on a specific airline between a specific city-pair on a specific date changes has absolutely NO impact on any other ticket. Maybe every one elses has gone up. Just as likely as yours going down.

 

It's like those threads of "I got a ticket to XXX for $YYY". That has no bearing on what YOUR particular flights/dates/routing/airline will price out for you. It doesn't mean that YOU can get that price for when you want to purchase and travel. But we see those threads all the time, again, for little benefit.

 

I'm with fbgd.

[Keith1010]

Fares go up....fares go down.

 

Just because a specific fare on a specific flight on a specific airline between a specific city-pair on a specific date changes has absolutely NO impact on any other ticket. Maybe every one elses has gone up. Just as likely as yours going down.

 

It's like those threads of "I got a ticket to XXX for $YYY". That has no bearing on what YOUR particular flights/dates/routing/airline will price out for you. It doesn't mean that YOU can get that price for when you want to purchase and travel. But we see those threads all the time, again, for little benefit.

 

I'm with fbgd.

 

I have a much simpler approach to all of this. No one forces anyone to read those topics that they don't have an interest in.

 

Many times I read redundant posts, or posts about items that are not 100% relevant to the tread. If it's one I don't care about I move on. Now if I start to look at it and I'm not interested in it, I stop reading it. Clearly, I am not interested in all posts nor do I expect anyone is.

 

But, in keeping with Cruise Critic as long as someone makes a comment, asks a question that is within the guidelines of the board, I would never put them down. It's called treat othres the way you want to be treated.

 

In this particular case the OP was thrilled that they could get the lower price. In this day and age where this is not the case for most airlines that must have been great news. And, not all posters on this tread travel by air as much as some people do so for them it's even more of a big deal. I know there are many who post to this board who travel by air more in a month than many travel in a lifetime.

 

Finally, the OP was just suggesting to people to check their fares on SWA to see if they went down. This is good advice and many might not know to do this. On another thread I posted a similar suggestion about hotel fares. I guarantee that many people do not know that with SWA they can get the lower fare either through a refund or a credit and if a few people save money from this, that was great.

 

Over the years I have learned a great deal from Cruise Critic. And I am an experienced traveler. None of us should take for granted that everyone knows as much as each of us do on any given topic. Because, they don't.

 

Keith

[fbgd]

I have a much simpler approach to all of this. No one forces anyone to read those topics that they don't have an interest in.

 

Whilst that might be a good general rule for IBBs if boards become plagued with the same questions or threads then it can turn regular contributors away.

 

I quite enjoy helping out on here every now and then but if the board suddenly became deluged with 'My fare went down $5, check yours' threads then I'd probably not come back here anymore. The good questions and interesting discussion becomes lost amongst a forest of repetitive stuff. I've recently stopped going to one of the IBBs I've been a long time, and rather dedicated contributor on for that reason.

[Globaliser]

I have a much simpler approach to all of this. No one forces anyone to read those topics that they don't have an interest in.

Board clutter - particularly with repetitive posts of dubious value, and particularly when they're posted in new threads - is bad for everyone, even if you don't read the cluttering threads.

The good questions and interesting discussion becomes lost amongst a forest of repetitive stuff. I've recently stopped going to one of the IBBs I've been a long time, and rather dedicated contributor on for that reason.

Are you referring to the one where I first met you? If so, I haven't been back there for months myself, for the same reason: Too many unnecessary questions (and too many narcissistic rants) by people who are too stupid/lazy/inconsiderate/selfish to think before they post.

[FlyerTalker]

Too many unnecessary questions (and too many narcissistic rants) by people who are too stupid/lazy/inconsiderate/selfish to think before they post.

You mean there are people on the internet who have a streak of narcissism??? To paraphrase Captain Renault in "Casablanca" -- I'm shocked!!! :eek::eek: