Comments on: Southwest tightens its unused ticket policy

By: Mich

Mich — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:21:43 +0000

I have someone that want to sell me r/t tickets on SW and says they are transferrable. But reading this site, I am afraid to. What should I look out for. I believe it should say “transferable” right on the coupon, right?

Thanks!

By: class 2 driver

class 2 driver — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:09:30 +0000

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By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:19:17 +0000

Hello Alan,

I had a similar situation. I immediately started tweeting about it and the problem was remedied in less than an hour. Calling is private, Tweeting is public. When you call it’s just between you and the company. When you tweet, it’s like discussing the issue on the news. Everyone is listening and fear that they could end up in the same situation. Companies don’t like bad publicity. Always Tweet the good and bad in your dealings with companies as this will shape their behavior.

It makes no sense for Southwest to attach the funds to a child. The funds should belong to the purchaser to do as they see fit, as it is their money.

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:55:20 +0000

I too have a daughter that could not use the ticket and therefore has a credit. A second daughter needs a flight and they simply will not back up on their “Policy” — I told her my “Policy” was to not waste money and so I would need to continue to annoy Southwest for a viable solution. I even offered to pay a $50.00 transfer fee.

My “Policy” requires that I share this in hopes that we all waste enough of Southwest time, money and people power that they allow some type of escape clause – I will pay $50 to save the $300 (well it would be $250) but you get the point. Customer relations is (214) 932-0333 7am to 8pm Central.

Nothing will change without customers voicing their opinion

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:41:15 +0000

Having just called for clarification, the Southwest agent explained to me that though the policy did not really “change” but rather travel funds were never “transferable” but that “the system” had previously allowed a traveler to designate a different traveler when using the travel credits. Whatever the semantics, my husband had purchased his ticket prior to this “system” change, with the prior experience that if he did NOT go, Southwest “system” would allow another one of us in the family to use the travel credit. That was why we made the purchase with Southwest and not some competitor.

Since my husband will not be traveling before the funds expire, the Southwest agent said that for a $50 FEE, but ONLY AFTER the travel funds expire, my husband can have the funds converted to a voucher, which can be used by another individual BUT the voucher expires in 6 MONTHS.

Unfortunately, since my son also has travel funds due to expire, we have definitely decided to choose another carrier in the future.

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:38:49 +0000

It’s absurd. I paid for the tickets, they dropped their price while using my funds for all that time prior to me flying, then I rebook to save a few bucks, and the $400 credit that I paid well ahead of time in excess of the actual fare when I traveled I can not be used by me THE purchaser. So to me they stole my money. Since my 17 year old doesn’t even hold a job, she would never pay that money. IMO, they should at least allow the person who’s name appears on the payment method should have use of those funds. But hey, what do I know!

By: Lon Malieu

Lon Malieu — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:26:01 +0000

This new policy is very annoying! I fly (flew) SW because they are easy to deal with. If I wanted this kind of hassle, I’d be flying American or Delta. I agree with Mongo, if I’m changing the name to a family member OR way in advance, I should be able to use the funds for a ticket for someone else. I have poor-student-kids, too.
I can understand (kind of) about vouchers, but cold hard cash??? Since when does CASH expire? Especially when SW has gotten a year’s interest on it…

By: Fon Galien

Fon Galien — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:46:03 +0000

A friend of the family was stranded in California, and I offered to get him a ticket. He ended up driving back, the ticket was not used. He has a gift of over $200 that he can not use, since I paid for the ticket and can not give my money back. This is an outrage.

By: AnotherJH

AnotherJH — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:25:51 +0000

Southwest’s policy change is not customer friendly anymore. Life does happen. Times are tough; money isn’t growing on trees. I paid Southwest $427 to go on a trip to begin tomorrow. Life happened – a death in my spouse’s family. Lots of extra cash in the bank? No. I canceled my ticket expecting to use my credit on his fare instead. On the cancel screen, does it tell you the travel funds have to be used by the same person? NO. So I canceled and didn’t know their policy changed until I was trying to apply the funds to his ticket. So… now I’m out the $427 AND another $387 for his ticket! Yes, I have a credit I can use in the future. But that’s not as valuable to me and our family budget at this time. I’d prefer using my credit on his ticket and would gladly pay a $25 fee to do it! I am no longer such a big fan of Southwest.

By: jh

jh — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:22:04 +0000

Southwest sucks