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Southwest has again enabled free online changes, this time for flights in October.

Just begin the normal Change Reservation process. You should see a banner allowing a free change within plus or minus 14 days for the same cities or co-terminal cities, although the actual limit is about 29 days. So the new travel date could be in most of September or November. I have even been able to re-change a flight I already changed or one I just bought. This opportunity will end without notice, so act quickly.

See the discussion at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards/1967030-alive-again-free-changes-august-september-free-changes-july.html

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This is a 40-hour sale for California cities, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8/20/19 – 12/18/19. The best deals are for intra-California travel. I saw $29 fares SJC-LAX, SJC-BUR, and OAK-LGB. You can build a segment run (quick round trip) for $52.36, which is perfect if you were going to be a little short on A-list segment count at the end of the year.

Join the discussion at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sout...se-7-31-a.html

nsx

On August 15, 2019 the schedule opened for travel through March 6, 2020. Several Hawaii routes were added, including nonstops from California to Kona, Lihue, and Hilo. There were some introductory fares including $99 seats midweek. See https://www.southwest.com/hawaii/ for specific routes and dates.

The next schedule extension is expected September 26, 2019 for travel through April 13, 2020.

Southwest is retrenching by removing MAX8 flights from its distant schedule. This has caused the removal of about 20 nonstop flights as discussed at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sout...s-flights.html.

Overnight Southwest emailed schedule change notifications for flights between November 3 (or possibly November 1 or 2) and November 20. If you got an email, and possibly if you didn't, you can change your trip without charge within 14-days either way if you make the change by 11:59pm (CDT) August 25, 2019. Details of how the latest round of free changes actually works are still being explored by FT members at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sout...sep-oct-4.html

nsx

On September 26, 2019 the schedule will open for travel through April 13, 2020.

In other news:

1. Expect the big winter sale October 8-10. This will be your best opportunity for low fares for non-peak travel times.

2. The rolling bonanza of free changes appears to be over. Southwest allowed online free changes for several days at a time covering a couple weeks of travel dates each time as discussed at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sout...t-nov-dec.html

The last free changes covered travel dates up to January 5. If the MAX8's are not flying by January 5 we should see another round.

3. I have unstuck the dormant thread on rental car codes: any SWA promo codes for rental cars
There just don't seem to be any good codes anymore.

4. I will try to remember to use the Wiki thread, which remains sticky, and the FT WIki could use an update. Don't be shy: you can help with those tasks if you are so inclined.

5. Mid-October or November is a good time to apply for a Southwest credit card to earn a Companion Pass good for 23 months. But FTers love to cut everything close. Every year several people screw this up by having their bonus post in the old year rather than the new one. Don't be one of them. Play it super-safe by delaying your spending until January, or at least until you have your December statement in hand. Spending that posts on your December statement or earlier is useless toward your 23-month Companion Pass. Try to complete your spending at least 5 days before your January statement date.

For a partial list of the ways your plans can fail spectacularly, see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31548771-post5.html

Note that you can no longer earn a bonus on two different personal (non-business) Southwest cards. This makes the 80,0000 point business card (Southwest Priority) the most attractive target. It puts you within 30,000 points of your goal off the bat.

Late December charitable giving is one way to rack up companion pass qualifying points (CPQP's) that post to Rapid Rewards on the January statement. If the transaction date is in the old year, your charitable deduction should be allowed in that year. Consult your tax advisor to be sure, and ask whether the recent change to a higher standard deduction favors bunching your deductions into alternate years.

nsx

Customers have reduced their travel due to CV19 fears. Airlines can't fill their planes. Southwest has joined other airlines in offering deep discounts for travel. This has produced what you could call a Fare Curve Inversion: Prices for travel next week are lower than prices for travel next month, which are lower than prices for travel four months from now, especially in leisure markets.

Check your Southwest trips now for opportunities to refare and pocket the difference as a travel credit or points redeposit. If you are feeling invincible, book a cheap segment run.

Discussion at Reprice your trips now! Super-low fares for travel through early June

nsx

Southwest's schedule just opened for travel through January 4, 2021.

Nobody knows what the airline business will look like in November and December, but if you book with points you can refare down if and when the prices decrease, or you can cancel your trip without penalty. Out: Cash is King. In: Points are King.

If you haven't already done so, you should check out Southwest's comprehensive accommodation on funds expiration and status extension at Extensions of Elite Status, CP, Travel funds, and option to convert funds to points

We are all hoping once again to be "free to move about the country".

nsx

Southwest's annual Fall sale ends tomorrow night (Thursday night). This is an excellent sale relative to recent years. Fares to Hawaii are very low. Join the discussion at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sout...-tomorrow.html

As mentioned in that thread, funds expiration rolls forward to September 2022 every night around midnight Central Time. If you use the funds before that, the expiration date will not be advanced. Therefore you should create the funds the day before you plan to use them.

We are all waiting for Southwest's promised option to convert travel funds to Rapid Rewards points. The implementation may be incurring a delay due to a policy dilemma described here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32445433-post220.html

Another round of free moves due to schedule change just ended over the weekend. If passengers don't step up to fill Southwest's currently scheduled flights in the Fall, we may see more schedule cutbacks and free moves. Who knows, we might even see a shift in the magic September 7 date, even though that date was and remains more generous than other airlines have offered for analogous relief.

nsx

Southwest's promised option to convert travel funds to Rapid Rewards points is now live!

Join the lively discussion at Funds to Point Conversion Now Live!

nsx

Today, Labor Day, September 7, 2020, is the last day to cancel your reservations and get an extension of expiration to September 2022.

This is also your last opportunity to create travel funds which are eligible for conversion to Rapid Rewards points. Only travel funds with that 2022 expiration date can be converted.

Barring any new announcement by Southwest, any ticketless funds you create after today will not be eligible for expiration extension or conversion to points.

See the discussion at:
Reminder -- Act TODAY to protect your pre-COVID-19 Travel Funds
Extensions of Elite Status, CP, Travel funds, and option to convert funds to points
Funds to Point Conversion Now Live!

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Save 20% on points bookings today and tomorrow for travel before November: SAVE20NOW coupon for points booking

Middle seat blocking has been extended through the end of November: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sout...31-2020-a.html

Your "My Account" page has a new look: "My Account" makeover

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Southwest continues to get creative with promotions. This one gives you a January-February Companion Pass after just one revenue flight 9/22 - 11/15. New bookings 9/22 - 9/24 only:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sout...ne-flight.html

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Southwest has major 3-day sales twice a year, in June and October. This one ends tomorrow night. Note that sale prices for Hawaii extend though April 8.

Terms & Conditions

• Purchase from October 20 through October 22, 2020, 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
• Continental U.S. travel valid December 1, 2020, through March 4, 2021. Travel Continental U.S. to/from Hawaii valid November 12, 2020, through April 8, 2021. Interisland Hawaii travel valid November 12, 2020, through April 8, 2021. Travel to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico valid November 12 through December 3, 2020, and January 11 through March 4, 2021. International travel valid November 12 through December 9, 2020, and January 11 through March 4, 2021.
• Continental U.S. travel blacked out December 18-19, December 23, December 26-27, 2020, and January 2-3, 2021. Travel from continental U.S. to Hawaii blacked out November 19-22, December 17-27, 2020; February 11-14, March 19-20, March 26-28, & April 1-3. Travel to continental U.S. from Hawaii blacked out December 26, 2020 to January 4, 2021, February 19-21, March 27-28, April 2-5, 2021.
• Except as otherwise specified, continental U.S. travel is not valid on Fridays and Sundays. Travel to Ft. Myers/Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Steamboat Springs/Hayden, CO, Montrose, CO, and Las Vegas and from Ft. Myers/Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Montrose, CO, and Steamboat Springs/Hayden, CO to Las Vegas is valid only on Sundays through Wednesdays. Travel from Ft. Myers/Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Montrose, CO, Steamboat Springs/Hayden, CO, and Las Vegas and from Las Vegas to Ft. Myers/Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Montrose, CO, and Steamboat Springs/Hayden, CO is valid only on Tuesdays through Fridays. Travel continental U.S. to/from Hawaii is valid Monday - Thursday. Interisland Hawaii travel is valid Monday - Thursday. Travel to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico is valid Monday - Thursday. International travel is valid Monday - Thursday. Travel to Mexico is valid only on Sundays through Wednesdays. Travel from Mexico is valid only on Tuesdays through Fridays.
• Fares valid on nonstop service where indicated; if not indicated, fares are valid on single connecting service.
• Displayed prices include all U.S. and international government taxes and fees.
• Points bookings do not include taxes, fees, and other government/airport charges of at least $5.60 per one-way flight.
• Seats and days are limited. Fares may vary by destination, flight, and day of week and won't be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods.
• Travel is available for one-way Wanna Get Away® fares.
• Fares may be combined with other Southwest Airlines® combinable fares. If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare's rules apply.
• Sale fares may be available on other days of week, but that's not guaranteed.
• Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines®, as long as reservations are canceled at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Failure to cancel prior to departure will result in forfeiture of remaining funds on the reservation.
• Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel may require an upgrade to the Anytime fare depending on Rapid Rewards® tier status.
• Fares are subject to change until ticketed.
• Offer applies only to published, scheduled service.

In other news:

Reductions in scheduled flights continue. Check your trips for time and routing changes.

If you created travel funds on or before September 7 by canceling or downfaring a flight, you have until December 15 to change those travel funds into points. If you have travel funds created after September 7, you will need to use them or lose them unless Southwest opens a new window for travel funds extension.

Southwest recently announced that it intends to start service at IAH and ORD, both United hubs. No information on routes has been released yet. This on top of new service coming to Steamboat Springs, Telluride, Palm Springs, and Miami. And additional service at Long Beach after jetBlue decamped. These are strange times. Excess capacity is searching for customers, especially leisure travelers.

Your Rapid Rewards account may have been targeted for a credit card offer which in normal times would be exciting: Targeted: Companion pass through 12/31/2021 with Visa Card sign up and $4k spend

If you want to trade your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for Rapid Rewards points, you get an extra 20% through the end of October: Chase Ultimate Rewards to RR is 1:1.2 for October 2020

The "My Account" pages on southwest.com have been redesigned: "My Account" makeover

In 2020 it is possible to attain A-list status without flying! How did I earn A-List with just Credit Card Spend?

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On December 10, 2020 the schedule will open for travel through August 16, 2021.

In other news:

1. There are two days left for the Black Friday fare sale. Fares start at $39. Hawaii flights start at $99. Values are similar to Southwest's traditional twice-yearly sales.

2. Southwest highest-ever credit card new account bonuses appeared yesterday. Personal cards award you 80k points after spending $10,000 in 9 months. The Performance business card awards you 100k points after spending $25,000 in 6 months. See RR Visa News ONLY

3. DO NOT FORGET to convert your travel funds to points! If you were alert enough to book and cancel by last September 7, you have only until December 15 to convert those 2022-expiring funds to Rapid Rewards points. If you missed the boat on extending your funds expiration, you are out of luck. No extensions of the September 7 date have appeared. Don't expect any extension of the December 15 deadline either.

nsx

It might be extended a day, through Friday, but officially today is the last day of a $29+ fare sale. Fares are lowest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. This sale is exceptional in light of the return of full ticket taxes on January 1. Southwest is absorbing that increase to offer these low fares.

What's more, the points prices for award travel are now lower. Some $29 flights are only 1058 points plus $5.60. You can save up to 2.2 cents per point spent on these low fares.

In other news this week, the promotional 2-month instant Companion Passes have been activated.

nsx

Today the schedule was extended through January 5, 2022. Service was initiated to Syracuse and Bellingham (near Vancouver Canada).

Tomorrow there's a one-day deal for Southwest credit card holders. Buy a $100 Southwest gift card with your Southwest credit card and you will earn 5000 points, 50 times the normal amount. This is equivalent to less than half price. 50x points on $100 purchases on Chase Southwest credit card - June 11th only

If you missed the fun historical article about Southwest, take the time to read it: Hot Pants, Love Potions, and the Go-go Genesis of Southwest Airlines

Southwest is running a 50th anniversary sweepstakes that's earned raspberries from FlyerTalk: Hot Pants, Love Potions, and the Go-go Genesis of Southwest Airlines

The MAX8's are back in service and you won't get a knee in your back: Proper etiquette when passenger uses your seat back as a footrest?

The return of full drink service has been delayed indefinitely: Delayed NTP: WN Announces Return of Full Drink Service

Hidden city travel, once explicitly allowed, is now explicitly prohibited: Is hidden city travel allowed?

Southwest offered points purchase subscriptions, drawing much derision by FlyerTalk members: New: Rapid Reward Point Subscription Plans

In case you didn't already know, Southwest devalued your points by 6% without notice. April seems to be month for that: WN devalued points to 83 per $ without notice 4/14/2021

The free change game may be changing from all flights within the current window to selected flights: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sout...ither-way.html

There's a target promotion for tier qualification: 10000 TQP or 3x (Option 1, 2, or 3) Offer

A friendly reminder of the customer-unfriendly policy that your CP companion is not permitted to standby for an earlier flight for free even though your A-list status allows you to fly early: Same day standby for A-List with Companion Pass