Southwest question?

[PoohsGang]

A pleasent surprise happened last evening, I noticed that our return flight was lowered I rebooked to the lower flight and recieved a 40.00 credit for future travel. (this is what it says) Tktls funds remaining in conf#****** for future travel $40.00CR

Fare Rule(s)[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Valid only on Southwest Airlines. All travel involving funds from this Confirmation Number must be completed by the expiration date. Any change to this itinerary may result in a fare increase.[/FONT]

Does anyone know how long you get to use the credit, I have been all over there website and can't finda any info about it or how to use the credit, any help would be appreciated

 

[Bug715]

I know when my ex became my ex his flight became a credit and I think the lady told me that he'd have a year from the date of the flight.

I love it when the flights go down but would rather get the money back. I would've gotten $140 in credits the other day but I decided to just get $40 and book a later flight out.

 

[Nemo14]

Yes you have a year from the time the flight was to occur. To use it at your next booking, you'll find a space at the payment part that allows you to post credits. You must have your confirmation number from that flight (the same number you use to check in with), you type that in the box, and they'll credit your total.

Also, anyone may use that unused credit - it does not have to be the original purchaser. So if you don't plan to use it within a year, you can sell it to someone else and just give them the confirmation number.

 

[Kobe!!]

Yes, you have a year to use it up. My family had $200 in credit when Southwest lost one of our bags from 2007. The ticket(s) expired awhile back and we just recently found them and called Southwest to see if they can extend the expiration date and they did with no problems or questions asked. :wave:

 

[Rob562]

Actually, to clarify, you have one year from the original *purchase* date of the ticket, not the original flight date.

And when you use that $40 credit toward a new booking, be aware that all of the additional money you pay toward that new ticket will also inherit the earlier expiration date of the $40 credit.

For example:
On 1/15/09 you book a $200 round-trip flight. Fare goes down to $150. You call and get it the $50 difference as a credit. That $50 has an expiration date (travel with that credit has to be completed by 1/15/10).

Then in August you book another $200 flight using the $50 credit and $150 more. If *that* fare then goes down, or if you end up cancelling the flight, any and all credit you'll get will still have an expiration date of 1/15/10.

It might be best to "protect" your money by booking individual one-way flights when using a credit for part of your fare.
Jetblue works like this too, and that's exactly what I did when using my $40 credit toward my flights in June.
[EDIT: I just checked Jetblue's site, and apparently their credits are good for one year from the date the credit was issued, and not the purchase date or the flight date]

Oh, and you can go here, plug in your info and see the exact details of your flight credit, including amount and expiration dates:
https://www.southwest.com/cgi-bin/exchangePnrEntry

-Rob

 

[Becky]

Rob is Absolutly Correct! You have a year from purchase date NOT date of scheduled flight to use the credit. Many people lose the credit because they assume the wrong expiration date.

 

[Kobe!!]

Rob is Absolutly Correct! You have a year from purchase date NOT date of scheduled flight to use the credit. Many people lose the credit because they assume the wrong expiration date.

Yes, but read what I wrote!:wave:

 

[Rob562]

Yes, but read what I wrote!:wave:

Yes, they can extend the expiration date of a credit (I've had it done myself), but it's not written policy.

When they extend the expiration date, it's someone in Customer Service making an exception. Your plan on using a credit shouldn't be planned around getting that extension, because if they decide to start cracking down on it and don't do it, you're up the creek. It should more be looked at as a final option.

-Rob

 

[Becky]

Yes, but read what I wrote!:wave:

:wave: Two completly different situations. Yours was for lost luggage and Poohs was for a fare reduction. They are much more likely, as was your case, to make an exception when they are at fault than when they are not. I am surprised that for lost luggage they sent you a credit rather than a check

 

[Kobe!!]

:wave: Two completly different situations. Yours was for lost luggage and Poohs was for a fare reduction. They are much more likely, as was your case, to make an exception when they are at fault than when they are not. I am surprised that for lost luggage they sent you a credit rather than a check

Either way you look at it, I don't really care. I am going in March for free (as I look at it that way) haha

 

[Dollysmama]

I think you only get a year from the date of travel