Can I book myself multiple refundable return flights for schedule flexibility?
Jul 17, 2018, 1:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 45
Can I book myself multiple refundable return flights for schedule flexibility?
Going from LAX>LAX for a same day trip. Ideally I'd just book the last flight back on the same day, but I absolutely need to be on-call to return earlier in case something comes up, which is around 50/50.
Can I book myself a ticket for several of the return flights now (I'll book the outbound flight separately), say for a 4pm return, a 6pm return, and an 8pm return, and just cancel the ones I don't end up using? I'd be paying with points, and I can float the points to purchase all tickets, but I'd rather not get sold out in case I need to return earlier, not to mention it would be really hectic.
I know this is a dick move for other customers, but since it's a very short and very frequent flight, plus it's just me, I'd assume it won't inconvenience others too much.
Can I book myself a ticket for several of the return flights now (I'll book the outbound flight separately), say for a 4pm return, a 6pm return, and an 8pm return, and just cancel the ones I don't end up using? I'd be paying with points, and I can float the points to purchase all tickets, but I'd rather not get sold out in case I need to return earlier, not to mention it would be really hectic.
I know this is a dick move for other customers, but since it's a very short and very frequent flight, plus it's just me, I'd assume it won't inconvenience others too much.
Jul 17, 2018, 3:00 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/SMF/PDX/HNL
Programs: Hilton-lifetime diamond, Southwest A+, companion pass
Posts: 1,745
Please note that you can only go standby on a "wanna get away" fare free of extra charge if you are A list or A list preferred status. Otherwise you will have to pay the difference between your fare and the walk-up fare to get on an earlier flight.
Jul 18, 2018, 4:42 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
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Posts: 11,072
Jul 18, 2018, 7:10 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The sole risk is that the earlier flight is sold out. This won't cost OP anything more than his original proposal as he would have paid the full refundable fare for the earlier flight had he taken it anyway. Here, the worst he will have is to pay a fare difference.
Jul 18, 2018, 7:31 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: AUS, SAN, EDI, BA F, WN Exit Row
Programs: Southwest Airlines AP & CP; BA Gold
Posts: 169
It is a violation of Southwest's Contract of Carriage.
Prohibition on Multiple/Conflicting Reservations. To promote seat availability for our Customers, Southwest prohibits multiple reservations for the same Passenger departing from the same city on the same date, or any multiple reservations containing conflicting or overlapping itineraries (such as departures for the same Customer from multiple cities at the same time). Furthermore, without advance notice to the Passenger or purchaser, Southwest may cancel such reservations, or any other reservations that it believes, in its sole discretion, were made without intent to travel. With the exception of Southwest® gift cards, funds from proactively canceled reservations by Southwest will be returned to the original form of payment. Reservations paid for with a Southwest® gift card will have the amount applied from the Southwest® gift card held as travel funds for use by the Customer on a future Southwest Airlines flight.
Prohibition on Multiple/Conflicting Reservations. To promote seat availability for our Customers, Southwest prohibits multiple reservations for the same Passenger departing from the same city on the same date, or any multiple reservations containing conflicting or overlapping itineraries (such as departures for the same Customer from multiple cities at the same time). Furthermore, without advance notice to the Passenger or purchaser, Southwest may cancel such reservations, or any other reservations that it believes, in its sole discretion, were made without intent to travel. With the exception of Southwest® gift cards, funds from proactively canceled reservations by Southwest will be returned to the original form of payment. Reservations paid for with a Southwest® gift card will have the amount applied from the Southwest® gift card held as travel funds for use by the Customer on a future Southwest Airlines flight.
Jul 18, 2018, 6:48 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 616
It is a violation of Southwest's Contract of Carriage.
Prohibition on Multiple/Conflicting Reservations. To promote seat availability for our Customers, Southwest prohibits multiple reservations for the same Passenger departing from the same city on the same date, or any multiple reservations containing conflicting or overlapping itineraries (such as departures for the same Customer from multiple cities at the same time). Furthermore, without advance notice to the Passenger or purchaser, Southwest may cancel such reservations, or any other reservations that it believes, in its sole discretion, were made without intent to travel. With the exception of Southwest® gift cards, funds from proactively canceled reservations by Southwest will be returned to the original form of payment. Reservations paid for with a Southwest® gift card will have the amount applied from the Southwest® gift card held as travel funds for use by the Customer on a future Southwest Airlines flight.
Prohibition on Multiple/Conflicting Reservations. To promote seat availability for our Customers, Southwest prohibits multiple reservations for the same Passenger departing from the same city on the same date, or any multiple reservations containing conflicting or overlapping itineraries (such as departures for the same Customer from multiple cities at the same time). Furthermore, without advance notice to the Passenger or purchaser, Southwest may cancel such reservations, or any other reservations that it believes, in its sole discretion, were made without intent to travel. With the exception of Southwest® gift cards, funds from proactively canceled reservations by Southwest will be returned to the original form of payment. Reservations paid for with a Southwest® gift card will have the amount applied from the Southwest® gift card held as travel funds for use by the Customer on a future Southwest Airlines flight.
Very unlikely, but possible on a high frequency route.
Jul 18, 2018, 10:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Curious hypothetical...let's say OP needed to fly LAX-SMF-LAX for a morning meeting and a luncheon, but then had an evening meeting in SMF as well...so LAX-SMF-LAX-SMF-LAX. Two legitimate trips on the same city pair. How would that work?
Very unlikely, but possible on a high frequency route.
Very unlikely, but possible on a high frequency route.
Most likely the system would cancel one of the flights. But you could call and have it reinstated (possibly) by explaining the situation (and pointing out that they don't overlap).
Jul 19, 2018, 9:18 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: AUS, SAN, EDI, BA F, WN Exit Row
Programs: Southwest Airlines AP & CP; BA Gold
Posts: 169
Example: I faced reservation cancellations with AUS-SAN departing ~8:30PM on a Thursday, with an AUS-SAN back-up ticket for Friday morning.
Jul 19, 2018, 9:44 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Curious hypothetical...let's say OP needed to fly LAX-SMF-LAX for a morning meeting and a luncheon, but then had an evening meeting in SMF as well...so LAX-SMF-LAX-SMF-LAX. Two legitimate trips on the same city pair. How would that work?
Very unlikely, but possible on a high frequency route.
Very unlikely, but possible on a high frequency route.
Jul 19, 2018, 11:15 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Knowing that one's tickets are at risk because the practice may run afoul of the COC, one would call WN in advance of them being cancelled so that proper PNR notes are added. Hoping that cancelled tickets will be reinstated and hoping that there is availability in the fare bucket after cancellation seems a lot of extra work for no reason.
Jul 19, 2018, 11:39 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
Curious hypothetical...let's say OP needed to fly LAX-SMF-LAX for a morning meeting and a luncheon, but then had an evening meeting in SMF as well...so LAX-SMF-LAX-SMF-LAX. Two legitimate trips on the same city pair. How would that work?
Very unlikely, but possible on a high frequency route.
Very unlikely, but possible on a high frequency route.