Using "The Works" for "Maybe" Trips
 

With several airlines (e.g. Southwest), it is easy to make a speculative reservation, cancel it later, and easily get full credit for a future flight.

Unless you have Elite 100K, Frontier's cancelation fees bite hard.

Recently, I tried something. A week before the trip, I booked a "maybe" (i.e. speculative) reservation using The Works for around $280. A couple days before the trip, I decided I actually wanted to go...and the lowest price was $140, so I canceled the original flight, requested a refund to my card, and rebooked for $140.

Does anyone see a problem doing this on a regular basis?

1) their refunds are widely inconsistent and need chased down, even for flights that they themselves cancel

2) speculative booking to hold space can cause cancellation of frontier account and loss of status and miles

3) buying paid works! is almost always more expensive than buying even a close to departure ticket if needed, so would that work nearly as well?

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1) I agree, and speak from experience

2) My thinking is: their tech is so bad that they aren't able to track something like this.

3) True. But for me, getting a good seat is very important, and that's less likely the closer I am to the departure date.