Doctor of Credit highlights a very generous change policy that Southwest Airlines has instituted.
The carrier has struggled with its operation as a contract dispute with mechanics lingers on. Mechanics have written up issues like missing row numbers inside aircraft, which isn’t super important for an airline that doesn’t have assigned seating. Add on to that challenges they face as the largest US operator of the now-grounded Boeing 737 MAX.
Southwest Airlines does not charge customers change fees. However if you change your flight you take your original ticket cost and use it as a credit to buy a new flight. Southwest is apparently now waiving any increase in fare when you change flights.
- This applies when your original flight is for March travel
- You can change to any flight 14 days earlier or later, as long as you stick to the same route
That’s incredibly generous and it means if the flight you want is expensive, just by a cheaper one and change.
Reports are this is working for points bookings, too. So you can save points, not just money.
This worked for Dan’s Deals as well.
And bear in mind that with Southwest’s 24 hour refund policy you can try it out yourself, if for some reason it stops working you can cancel and refund travel.
You’re a charlatan.
Southwest is doing this to help customers and you’re just encouraging people to take advantage of them.
This is so classless.
I come here for deals not to STEAL
Live moral commentary from the peanut gallery who are probably happy taking advantage of terms and conditions to get miles or throw in an open jaw and stop over to get 2 vacations for 1 – but think this is somehow wrong. I hope you all don’t take advantage of Southwest’s policy to rebook with a price drop either. Stealers!
DP – Booked new flight 3/25 @ 2800 pts. Changed booking to 3/23 (normal price 12k). That’s a 9k discount in points. Booked just now (after reading this article 3/16).
Gee why don’t more airlines offer customer friendly policies? Oh yeah, this
It IS generous and thoughthul and naturally some greedy people will punish them for it and make sure nobody ever does it again.
Southwest needs a massive infusion of goodwill based on all of their issues with delays and cancellations – some are out of their control (weather and Max) and some are sort of within their control (mechanics). My guess is that they are not THAT stupid that they didn’t figure out that some people might game the system by buying cheaper and exchanging for more expensive. They most likely ran the cost/benefit for the short period (1/2 of March) and decided the goodwill it extends is worth it. So please, save your moral outrage for an entity/persons that really aren’t able to defend themselves. Gary is just pointing out what is there (i.e. letting people know what options are). If you want to pay the higher price because you think Southwest needs your $$, please be my guest – its a free country. But understand that some people may choose otherwise.
Since this was on Dan’s Deals, Southwest probably has no cheaper seats remaining for the entire month. I’ll stick with airlines that offer First Class, thank you.