I had a change in how much I have to fly due to the economy. Had to cancel two reservations. Rebooked three others for personal reasons. Booked two RR tickets, also for personal reasons. Paid the whole $5 each for those. Still have about $200 in outstanding TTF to use before August. Paid NO change fees, of course.

I have a beautifully planned out spread sheet so I know how to use that $200. No fears, no worries, no stress. I never would have booked as far out with any other airline other than Southwest. I did have to cancel one of the 50% off tickets, but again, no worries. I know that my money is safe with Southwest. The "Bank of Southwest" may be the only safe bank left in America (since I know the CC companies will refund my money if needed).

Thinking about it, this is yet another way that Southwest profits from the no change fee thing. I booked the 50% off tickets because I thought I was going to go on certain dates. Now, I'm not. Southwest has my money and they are not giving it back in cash (nor do I expect them to), so what they got was a guaranteed sale at or near the lowest Wanna Get Away price. Pretty darn smart, if you ask me. Another airline could have offered that same 50% off deal and I wouldn't have given them my money as I wouldn't risk not going and having to pay the change fee, which would have been more than the entire round trip price at Southwest!

For me, no change fee and no bag fees equals almost 100% loyalty to Southwest on any route that Southwest and other carriers fly with an equal number of stops (hopefully non-stop). Only if the other carrier will let me redeem miles *might* I consider actually purchasing a ticket on another airline. Once those miles are used up, the incentive to fly with the other carriers will be even less (and its already pretty low). There are still a few routes where another carrier might fly non-stop and Southwest flies 1-stop where, depending on the situation, I *might* fly with another carrier. But, those trips are few and far between right now.

They have been in Denver for a while, but I'm so glad they came here too!