Need Fare Totaling EXACTLY $100 or $200
Jul 5, 2008, 6:27 am
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
Need Fare Totaling EXACTLY $100 or $200
Here goes: I'm looking for a Southwest fare - after all taxes/fees etc - that equals exactly $100 or $200, I guess $150 would be OK also. The cities involved don't matter, it can be one-way or roundtrip and a refundable fare would be preferred but not mandatory.
I know this a weird request but any help would be appreciated.
I know this a weird request but any help would be appreciated.
Jul 5, 2008, 9:03 am
#4
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Jul 5, 2008, 9:51 am
#5
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I am fairly certain that every fare after taxes and fees comes out to whatever and 50 cents. That is just the way they calculate their base fares.
OK, I played with it some more and I am not correct. Base fare plus 'US taxes' is always and even number. That leaves 'PFC' and 'security fee'. Those fees are sometimes even numbers and sometimes 50 cents. So you need airport combinations with the correct number of stops ( because there is a PFC and security fee for every stop - however the base fare does not change depending on the number of stops ) so that the PFC and security fee come out to an even number. Then you need the correct base fare. Good luck.
Obviously, I have way too much time this morning.
OK, I played with it some more and I am not correct. Base fare plus 'US taxes' is always and even number. That leaves 'PFC' and 'security fee'. Those fees are sometimes even numbers and sometimes 50 cents. So you need airport combinations with the correct number of stops ( because there is a PFC and security fee for every stop - however the base fare does not change depending on the number of stops ) so that the PFC and security fee come out to an even number. Then you need the correct base fare. Good luck.
Obviously, I have way too much time this morning.
Last edited by lougord99; Jul 5, 2008 at 9:59 am
Jul 5, 2008, 9:54 am
#6
Moderator, Southwest Airlines and Choice Privileges
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Why do you mention that a refundable fare would be preferred? If I understand correctly, you want to make a dummy flight purchase to siphon off some of the dollars on the large denomination gift card before giving it away. Is that correct? You'll have the same one year expiry for the siphoned off funds whether you purchase a refundable or non-refundable fare.
The final total for any particular stated fare can vary based on where you land, and it changes as airports increase their facility charges. (For example, a $64 fare I purchased in June was $73 total then, $74.50 total now.) It could take an awful lot of searching to find a fare (or combination of fares) to come to exactly $100, $150, or $200. To save yourself a lot of trouble, why not approach it one of these two ways:
The final total for any particular stated fare can vary based on where you land, and it changes as airports increase their facility charges. (For example, a $64 fare I purchased in June was $73 total then, $74.50 total now.) It could take an awful lot of searching to find a fare (or combination of fares) to come to exactly $100, $150, or $200. To save yourself a lot of trouble, why not approach it one of these two ways:
- If you are relatively sure your friend will travel within a year, pick a destination you think your friend might want to go (maybe you even already know) and just buy the ticket. Explain it is fully changeable with no fees if used within one year.
- Just find some random itinerary that comes to about $10 to $20 over the amount which you want to siphon off the card. Buy yourself a new gift card that exactly covers the difference. Purchase the itinerary you found, applying first the new small gift card, then the large gift card. Example: You find a routing that comes to $112.50; buy a $12.50 gift card; wait 12 hours for Email delivery of the gift card; purchase the $112.50 routing applying all of the $12.50 gift card and then $100 of the large gift card.
Jul 5, 2008, 10:35 am
#8
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Friend might also be perturbed that he's getting a castoff gift card that's been used already. 
Jul 5, 2008, 11:28 am
#9
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[*]Just find some random itinerary that comes to about $10 to $20 over the amount which you want to siphon off the card. Buy yourself a new gift card that exactly covers the difference. Purchase the itinerary you found, applying first the new small gift card, then the large gift card. Example: You find a routing that comes to $112.50; buy a $12.50 gift card; wait 12 hours for Email delivery of the gift card; purchase the $112.50 routing applying all of the $12.50 gift card and then $100 of the large gift card.[/LIST]
Jul 5, 2008, 1:33 pm
#10
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Not sure if this is what ConciergeMike meant, but a southwestgiftcard in an odd dollar amount could look like a castoff, unless it came to exactly the amount required to purchase a particular itinerary the recipient has been eyeing (and such an amount would be hard to nail down). Otherwise, I don't think it is possible to tell that a southwestgiftcard has been partially depleted. IIRC, when you use it or check the balance, the original full amount is not displayed anywhere.
yanxfann, thanks, glad you liked the idea. A gift consultant would probably say my suggestion #1 would make for a more thoughtful and personal gift. (Others might just call that old-fashioned nonsense.)
yanxfann, thanks, glad you liked the idea. A gift consultant would probably say my suggestion #1 would make for a more thoughtful and personal gift. (Others might just call that old-fashioned nonsense.)
Jul 5, 2008, 5:20 pm
#11
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Even $666.
I gotta get some new, wealthier friends.
To be serious, couldn't you use some oddball amount to bring it down to a desired even figure?
Like if it's got $486.97 on it, use exactly $86.97 the next time you are buying a ticket, putting the rest on a CC or other gift card. Unless, I suppose, there is time pressure and you have to do something immediately.
Jul 6, 2008, 3:17 pm
#13
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Here goes: I'm looking for a Southwest fare - after all taxes/fees etc - that equals exactly $100 or $200, I guess $150 would be OK also. The cities involved don't matter, it can be one-way or roundtrip and a refundable fare would be preferred but not mandatory.
I know this a weird request but any help would be appreciated.
I know this a weird request but any help would be appreciated.
Jul 6, 2008, 3:56 pm
#14
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