Reasons to book all Southwest travel as one-way rather than round-trip
#31
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,185
Just thought of another one. If you book a new flight B using only part of the TTFs from a cancelled fare A, as I understand it WN does not credit you for points earned from B until you use up the rest of the TTFs associated with that A PNR.
Booking one-ways would mean you have 2 TTFs of ~half the amount each, so that you can use up the first half faster and get the points sooner.
Of course, booking as a round-trip means you'd use the TTFs up later, and maybe you can thereby shift points from one year to another for CP-management purposes.
Has anyone actually done the latter?
Booking one-ways would mean you have 2 TTFs of ~half the amount each, so that you can use up the first half faster and get the points sooner.
Of course, booking as a round-trip means you'd use the TTFs up later, and maybe you can thereby shift points from one year to another for CP-management purposes.
Has anyone actually done the latter?
#33
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 622
But I came across a shocking display of RT being much cheaper on DL which I assumed did away with RT specific pricing. Since FL no longer flies ATL-DFW, I was checking the WN fare to DAL. It was 150 -200 each way even with advance notice and they were all one stop flights, something I have no desire to do. So I looked at Delta and was shocked to see $500 one way fares!!!! So I complained on the Delta board and one poster helpfully directed me to the RT fares on the ATL-DFW segment for non stops. And the RT fare for the same combination of one ways cost only $210!!!!!!!!!! Cheaper than 2 WN one ways and MUCH MUCH cheaper for the same exact itinerary comprised of two one ways on the very same DL. Funny thing is DL has started to price some international one ways on a more prorated basis finally. THen I see this bit of idiotic outdated pricing.
#34
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,459
I don't believe that is true. I know there are situations where they will not credit you until you 'use it up' but I don't think this situation is one of those.
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,185
So can someone tell me under what various circumstances you have to "use it up" to get your points?
#36
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,564
Yes. Because when you use the 'change' feature, you can choose to refare one leg or both - you're not forced to refare the entire RT. The problem, though, whether you book OW's or RT's is that with WGA fares, the 'refunded' portion will be in the form of a voucher that's slaved to that traveler.
If you were one who used to watch for Ding fares, you were best off booking each passenger and each segment separately. Four of us flying MCI-DAL-MCI = 8 PNR's. That way, if my flights popped on up Ding - even only a single direction and even if for only a seat or two - I could easily refare.
But I suppose that reason is moot these days...does Ding even exist anymore?
#37
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
For international bookings, check the Transportation Tax and see my description in this thread: International - Book Round-Trip Instead of One-Ways to Save Int'l Transportation Tax
#38
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Big bump, but new info.
This is a narrow application, but there may be wider implications.
I researched BNA-OAK-BNA as RT (easier for pricing and picking dates) but forgot to go back and book one ways. When I realized it, my regular and XS had already been linked. So, too much trouble to fix I'll just do the RT. What could go wrong?
I booked with points. I booked the XS with points. On the return, I could not check in because the system had mishandled the refund for the XS which I had not yet requested. It took an hour on the phone with Dallas to get me on the plane. The agent re-booked me on an ITA and assured me that she had taken care of the points refund for the XS. Nope. Not there. Now I have to get on the phone with CS and get my 33K+points back.
Yes, (almost) always book one way. I learned my lesson. Good thing I was early.
This is a narrow application, but there may be wider implications.
I researched BNA-OAK-BNA as RT (easier for pricing and picking dates) but forgot to go back and book one ways. When I realized it, my regular and XS had already been linked. So, too much trouble to fix I'll just do the RT. What could go wrong?
I booked with points. I booked the XS with points. On the return, I could not check in because the system had mishandled the refund for the XS which I had not yet requested. It took an hour on the phone with Dallas to get me on the plane. The agent re-booked me on an ITA and assured me that she had taken care of the points refund for the XS. Nope. Not there. Now I have to get on the phone with CS and get my 33K+points back.
Yes, (almost) always book one way. I learned my lesson. Good thing I was early.
#39
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,249
OK, this is a dumb reason but it is my reason.
I have an envelope with printouts of all my reservations in the order I will need them, if I need them. Air Out-Rental Car-Hotel-Air Back. After I check in for my flight, I move the Air Out reservation to the back of the envelope and now Rental Car is in front.
After the OW is competed, I can forget it and be done. It checks one thing off my list. Having a half done task waiting drives me up the wall. It's one of those little things.
I said it was dumb.
I have an envelope with printouts of all my reservations in the order I will need them, if I need them. Air Out-Rental Car-Hotel-Air Back. After I check in for my flight, I move the Air Out reservation to the back of the envelope and now Rental Car is in front.
After the OW is competed, I can forget it and be done. It checks one thing off my list. Having a half done task waiting drives me up the wall. It's one of those little things.
I said it was dumb.
If I have a RT ticket, I highlight the flight I'm taking on the confirmation and put it in both places.
Makes my life easier with fast or complicated trips.
#40
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,249
Probably safe if you actually fly the return.
#41
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
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My main reason for booking one-ways was back in the era of Ding. You couldn't refare a regular R/T to a half-Ding R/T. (Dings were often one direction, not both.)
Kind of a moot point in 2016...
Kind of a moot point in 2016...
#43
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: Southwest RR, DL SkyMiles, AAdvantage
Posts: 130
Here's another reason:
https://consumerist.com/2015/03/09/s...-on-the-plane/
Had this happened with two one-ways, all he would have lost is the points from the outbound leg.
https://consumerist.com/2015/03/09/s...-on-the-plane/
Had this happened with two one-ways, all he would have lost is the points from the outbound leg.
#44
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 23
I am new to southwest and need to book 4 tickets traveling with family. So should I still book one ways or return, what happens if I need to cancel and book a cheaper flight for all? Do I do that thought the app or website or do I have to call.
#45
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 403
My understanding is the only benefit of purchasing one-ways vs round-trips is you don't have to call customer service to cancel one leg of a round-trip (i.e. with one ways you can do it yourself). In terms of price changes, it doesn't matter how you book it. However, one thing to keep in mind - if Southwest changes the time of one leg - my understanding is if you had a round-trip you can change the times/dates of BOTH flights for free, whereas if you had one-way, you can only change that one-way.
I think that's about the only difference but I am sure I am missing something.
I think that's about the only difference but I am sure I am missing something.