Unprecedented extension of travel funds expiration dates
#47
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: SWA
Posts: 41
So, hypothetically speaking, if I booked a flight now in the coming months with credit that expires in August, cancelled the flight, it would be reset to June 2021?
#48
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 166
I don't think so. My travel funds expires in July 2020. I booked a flight using the travel funds. Waited a few days, then canceled. Travel funds still has expiration date of July 2020.
#49
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 19
I don't think any travel funds have been updated to June 2021 yet. They said it would be a few weeks.
#51
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,186
After 40min of an agent helping me on Twitter and 90min of help from a tireless phone agent, I am on my way to refunds for two WGA trips that Southwest cancelled (Los Cabos last and this weekend).
Or at least I was until the call dropped. At no time did they push me to accept credit, even though some of the bookings had used travel funds from ticket exchange they agreed to redund all to the original CC.
The hardest part was overcoming the system marking last week's flights which were marked 'flown'. Apparently them cancelling the Mexico portion did not remove the domestic flight connection. And A-list status auto checkin complicated it into thinking we flew.
Or at least I was until the call dropped. At no time did they push me to accept credit, even though some of the bookings had used travel funds from ticket exchange they agreed to redund all to the original CC.
The hardest part was overcoming the system marking last week's flights which were marked 'flown'. Apparently them cancelling the Mexico portion did not remove the domestic flight connection. And A-list status auto checkin complicated it into thinking we flew.
#52
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,617
I moved an April trip to June despite the fact that the funds had a May 2020 expiration date. The funds now expire on the date of the June trip. If I end up not flying that trip, will the funds be lost? I doubt anyone but the programmers know.
#53
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
After 40min of an agent helping me on Twitter and 90min of help from a tireless phone agent, I am on my way to refunds for two WGA trips that Southwest cancelled (Los Cabos last and this weekend).
Or at least I was until the call dropped. At no time did they push me to accept credit, even though some of the bookings had used travel funds from ticket exchange they agreed to redund all to the original CC.
The hardest part was overcoming the system marking last week's flights which were marked 'flown'. Apparently them cancelling the Mexico portion did not remove the domestic flight connection. And A-list status auto checkin complicated it into thinking we flew.
Or at least I was until the call dropped. At no time did they push me to accept credit, even though some of the bookings had used travel funds from ticket exchange they agreed to redund all to the original CC.
The hardest part was overcoming the system marking last week's flights which were marked 'flown'. Apparently them cancelling the Mexico portion did not remove the domestic flight connection. And A-list status auto checkin complicated it into thinking we flew.
#54
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Even though you used the "change" function, the fact that it allowed you to use travel funds past their expiration date would seem to suggest that the expiration date has already been revised, in some fashion. Assuming the fare hasn't increased, you could cancel and rebook. That should ensure the funds' expiration is set to June 30, 2021.
#55
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 177
I'm extremely confused. I had a flight booked in April that I just canceled for $278. When I go to my travel funds, it is showing that they expire in October 2020. I used $3 worth of travel funds when I booked my flight for April - maybe they expired in October 2020, I don't know. But now they are telling me the other $275 also expire in October 2020 because of that travel credit? They want me to use these travel funds the middle of a pandemic?! Is this really Southwest's policy?? I literally can't take this flight in April - my state and the state I was going to are both under mandatory stay-at-home orders.
Last edited by oreocookies; Mar 27, 2020 at 12:18 am
#56
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
I'm extremely confused. I had a flight booked in April that I just canceled for $278. When I go to my travel funds, it is showing that they expire in October 2020. I used $3 worth of travel funds when I booked my flight for April - maybe they expired in October 2020, I don't know. But now they are telling me the other $275 also expire in October 2020 because of that travel credit? They want me to use these travel funds the middle of a pandemic?! Is this really Southwest's policy?? I literally can't take this flight in April - my state and the state I was going to are both under mandatory stay-at-home orders.
However: Southwest is currently extending the expiration date of any funds created March 1 - May 31, 2020, to expire June 30, 2021. It will take some time before the system reflects the new expiration date of your funds.
Coronavirus (COVID 19) Travel Information
#57
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 177
Anytime you apply travel funds to a booking, that booking (and any resultant travel funds) takes on the earliest expiration date of any funds applied. Your $3 travel funds tainted your $275.
However: Southwest is currently extending the expiration date of any funds created March 1 - May 31, 2020, to expire June 30, 2021. It will take some time before the system reflects the new expiration date of your funds.
Coronavirus (COVID 19) Travel Information
However: Southwest is currently extending the expiration date of any funds created March 1 - May 31, 2020, to expire June 30, 2021. It will take some time before the system reflects the new expiration date of your funds.
Coronavirus (COVID 19) Travel Information
#58
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: ANC
Posts: 404
They told me point-blank I couldn't get a refund and that changed 8 minutes later when I quoted a DOT consumer rights site. That's pretty bad behavior imo. They are either misinformed on regulations covering their industry, or they are purposefully trying not to follow them. Either one is bad.
Part two of this is that they are also reportedly not refunding Early Bird fees on Southwest cancelled flights.
I'm surprised this hasn't been picked up in the press.
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,072
I guess that's what was unclear to me, if this travel fund was created anew or not, since it technically piggybacked on an older travel fund. There was no chance I wasn't going to take that flight, so to now hold $275 hostage over a $3 credit in the middle of a pandemic would be utter BS.
But - with the extension to next year, you should b eokay.
#60
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
I have a flight in June that I want to cancel.
The language of the extended travel credit policy is a little bit ambiguous for this situation. On the one hand it could mean that any travel funds created before May 31 will have the extended day but it also could be referring to any flights before May 31. Anyone have clarity on this issue?
The language of the extended travel credit policy is a little bit ambiguous for this situation. On the one hand it could mean that any travel funds created before May 31 will have the extended day but it also could be referring to any flights before May 31. Anyone have clarity on this issue?