Southwest Policy....

Hey gang! I%26#39;ve heard some mention that Southwest doesn%26#39;t charge for itinerary changes. Can someone please explain their policy to me in more detail? I can%26#39;t find anything about it on their site.

I%26#39;ve been watching their fares daily and there%26#39;s a few fares FROM MCO at $59 right now. I%26#39;m thinking I should jump on that one now, and then watch for fares TO MCO to come down hopefully. The flight times aren%26#39;t ';ideal'; for the $59 fare, so if a better schedule becomes available at that same rate, I can change it at no cost? Also, it%26#39;s ok to book each ';one way trip'; seperately, rather than booking it as a round trip, right? What if the fares come down in price? Someone said they give you credit to use on future travel? Can anyone confirm this? Thanks!

Southwest Policy....

Call their 800 number. I%26#39;m sure they would be able to answer all your questions.

Southwest Policy....

Hi, Triggerfish,

No, Southwest doesn%26#39;t charge for itinerary changes. There will only be an additional charge if the flight you change to has a higher price. It%26#39;s fine to book one-way flights - there is no extra charge to do so, as there is with so many other airlines.

SWA does indeed offer credit for future travel if you change your plans of if the cost of your flight decreases. (It%26#39;s up to you to monitor the fares - they don%26#39;t notify you automatically if the price goes down.)These credits, though, must be used within one year of the original date of purchase, so if you travel only once a year, the credit won%26#39;t do you much good.

As to waiting for the fares to MCO to come down - well, if you know you%26#39;re going anyway, just book now and keep checking for a reduction in fares. (If you%26#39;ll be able to use the credits, that is.) Because it%26#39;s also possible that the to-MCO fares could go UP.

Good luck playing the airfare game! Just wait for all the fun of finding a decent rental car rate!

That should have read ';if you change your plans OR if the cost....';

My typing is atrocious lately.

And, also, you can change from one $59 flight to another one with a better schedule at no cost.

This Link may help

www.southwest.com/fares/pop_FareCompare.html

The $59 fares may be the Best available for a while, I would book. I booked recently and got $100 r/t from Philly to MCO for last week of March. Good Deal

Have you signed up for ';DING'; ?

I%26#39;ve changed Flights many times, even changed Airports, no problem, no fees. I love Southwest

I%26#39;m actually looking at flights from Philly as well. I prefer Baltimore, but fares have been quite a bit higher from there since I started checking a few months ago. I%26#39;m more familiar with BWI, since I usually fly from there, but I suppose it%26#39;s roughly the same distance (I%26#39;m from Lancaster County).

That%26#39;s what I was thinking. Probably won%26#39;t get any better than $59. I%26#39;ll probably go ahead and book the return portion of the trip now and watch the fares to Orlando for a little while and hope for the best. I MIGHT use the credits within a year, but don%26#39;t know for sure. Put it this way...I%26#39;d very much LIKE to use the credits, but we%26#39;ll have to see how the funds are. Hahaha. Thanks for the replies! Just wanted to make sure I had my facts straight!

And that credit for future travel - I work with a woman who is also a part-time travel agent, and she says you can request an extension, if you can%26#39;t use your credit within the year.

Check the Southwest site frequently, since fares can and do change often. I recently booked a flight that had been $199, got it for $104, and five minutes later, it was $214!

Wow. You can request an extension, huh? That%26#39;s awesome! I%26#39;m sort of a newbie with flying Southwest, as I usually used other carriers in the past. Recently flew out to Vegas on SW and thought it was kinda nice, hassle fre, and a good price. They%26#39;re one of the very few carriers who aren%26#39;t charging for checked baggage too! So, whereas you may find a better rate on another airline, after adding the baggage fees, SW seems to be a pretty good deal. I think I%26#39;ll go ahead and reserve both ways and take the credit if the prices come down. I have a bit of a gambling itch that needs scratching every once in awhile, so I could see possibly getting back to Vegas again within a year or so. Guess it depends how much $$ Walt gets me for in Orlando! Hahaha.

By the way, does anyone know if Southwest charges to check child booster seats? And would a booster seat count as a piece of checked baggage? I could call I suppose, but just thought I%26#39;d ask if anyone knows anything about it here. We%26#39;ll be renting a car upon arrival, and my sister has three children who will require booster seats. Thanks!

By the way, Partypa....$100 RT?! Wow. Wish I could find a rate like that! Cheapest I%26#39;ve found that isn%26#39;t some kinda funky schedule is $223. I flew to Vegas for less that that! Haven%26#39;t been to FL in a few years, but I recall almost always flying there RT for under $150 in the past. No such luck so far this time around.

Triggerfish, if you don%26#39;t mind going to BWI, chack out IAD as well, it%26#39;s only a little further and the fares are always cheaper. I saved quite a bit in Nov by driving a bit more to Dulles :)

I am leaving for disney tomorrow (yeah!!!) and flying southwest. So far I have changed my reservations about 8 times. And it can be done right on the computer in 2 minutes! That is why I love to fly Southwest.