There's a method you should keep in mind whenever you purchase a Southwest Airlines flight (especially when there's a large bargain, like the present offer of 40% off qualified fares).
No, we're not discussing how to purchase your tickets.
We're discussing what to do after you've booked them.
Why is Southwest's shift policy noteworthy?
Booking an airline flight is a risky proposition.
You never know what the price will be in a few days or months, and it's difficult to determine if you're getting the best deal.
Should you make a reservation right now?
Why don't you wait a few days?
Several months?
It can be a difficult affair, especially when purchasing tickets for a large group.
Although most airlines waived their high change costs during the pandemic, there's no guarantee that similar rules will be maintained in the future; British Airways' "Book with Confidence" policy was revoked this week.
It won't be worth it to re book if a fare reduces in price if those surcharges, which used to be in the $200 area, start creeping back in.
Southwest, on the other hand, will not charge you any surcharges if a fare drops.
You can always re book your flight and get the difference back, whether you purchased with points or with cash.
Some other airlines waive fees for individuals with status, but Southwest does not.
Customers with or without elite membership can rebook a flight to get the cheapest price.
You can even rebook your flight an unlimited number of times with Southwest.
You can rebook up to 10 minutes before the flight's departure if you cancel your original reservation.
Unlike most other airlines, Southwest does not impose a 24-hour limitation on passengers or provide a one-time courtesy.
Aside from that, all fare classes are eligible.
It's a significant benefit and a fantastic alternative for travellers looking to save their overall costs, whether in terms of points or dollars.
Many Southwest members, including myself, have been able to rebook upcoming flights and receive a refund for the difference in fares.
What happens if you come across a better deal?
In the event that you end up finding a lower cost, you'll either get a Travel Funds credit or your focuses back, contingent upon how you at first paid for the toll.
In the event that you paid for the flight: If you booked the most reduced value Wanna Get Away charges, you will get a Travel Funds kudos for the distinction in the passage. You have one year from the date you at first reserved the trip to utilize the credit (not from the date you rebooked). Travel Funds credits are nontransferable and must be utilized for a similar traveler. For the new Wanna Get Away Plus admissions, you will get adaptable flight attributes that permit you to move your flight credit to another person. Note that you should both be Rapid Rewards individuals and just a single exchange is allowed. The lapse date is a year from the date the ticket was reserved. For more costly Business Select and Away tolls, you'll get a money discount rather than credits.
On the off chance that you involved focuses for the flight: The distinction in focuses will consequently return into the record from which those focuses were deducted.
Here are the steps to rebooking your Southwest flight.
Whether you bought your flight on points or on a revenue ticket, rebooking (and thus re-pricing) is a breeze.
Log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account first.
You can check all of your upcoming flights on the "My Account" tab.
Select "Change Flight" from the drop-down menu.
After that, choose your flight.
The date, as well as your original departure and arrival airports, will be auto-populated.
If you want to make any changes, click "Explore alternatives."
At the bottom of the page, you'll see the credit you've earned.
Click "Review Passenger and Pricing" if you wish to keep on.
The passenger information will already be filled in on the following page, so all you have to do now is confirm your modifications.
Within a few minutes of verifying your update, you should receive an email.
You'll note that the number on your flight confirmation hasn't changed.
If you used points, the difference will be promptly credited to your account.
You now have Travel Funds if it was a paid reservation on a nonrefundable fare.
Note: If you are paying for only a piece of your trip with Travel Funds, any extra supports added will acquire the earliest Travel Funds lapse date. This is essential to be aware on the off chance that you wind up dropping your flight.
Re-evaluating a flight is a very simple interaction and, when you get its hang, it shouldn't require over a moment or so to finish. This is likewise a similar cycle as changing a trip to an alternate date, time or totally unique course.
How does the Southwest Companion Pass work with rebooking a flight?
If the price of a flight drops and you need to rebook, you'll need to do a few extra steps if you have a Companion Pass.
You can bring a specified friend or family member on any Southwest flight for (nearly) free with the Companion Pass.
Simply pay the taxes and fees as if you were purchasing an award ticket.
This is particularly advantageous because it applies to both paid and award tickets, allowing you to redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points for yourself and then bring your companion without using any additional points.
Before you can change your flight, you'll have to drop your Companion Pass reservation. Notwithstanding, since you just made good on duties and expenses on the friend's ticket, try to demand the sum repaid to your unique type of installment. This will credit the card you utilized, so you are not left with a movement voucher. (On the off chance that you utilized a gift voucher initially, the sum paid will bring about a voucher and won't be attributed back to the first gift voucher.)
When you rebook your trip with the lower cost, you want to add your friend's reservation back onto your unique reservation. Remember this progression as you would rather not be left without a seat for your buddy on the off chance that the flight sells out.
When I pay for EarlyBird Check-In, what happens?
Rebooking your flight will not cancel your EarlyBird Check-In option if you've already paid for it.
You are completely safe as long as the confirmation number remains the same.
The actual problem arises when you cancel and then rebook a reservation.
The majority of the time, this is an issue when rebooking a reservation made using a Companion Pass.
Your EarlyBird Check-In is no longer valid because this reservation was cancelled and you received a new confirmation number.
The $15 to $25 you paid for this passenger at the time of booking is nonrefundable and will not be reimbursed to your account.
If you wish to keep include this option, you'll have to pay the charge again.
If you're a family looking to purchase EarlyBird Check-In, I recommend deferring payment for the Companion Pass's EarlyBird Check-In add-on until you're certain that fares won't drop much further.
(Keep in mind, though, that your EarlyBird Check-In boarding position is determined by a number of criteria, including how early you add it to your reservation.)
Top international family vacation spots in the Southwest
Final thoughts
My first piece of advice to all Southwest travellers is to check all forthcoming Southwest flight fares as part of your daily routine.
Southwest ticket rates fluctuate frequently, and there's no reason you shouldn't take advantage of the greatest deal available.
The procedure is really straightforward, and it might save you hundreds of dollars (or the equivalent in points) with little additional work.
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