feedback pls: Southwest LAX->DAL and SAT->LAX

[swsc16]

I have not travelled by air for 2 years now, so thanks in advance for your help
My family (4 of us) will travel to Texas for US national taekwondo competition, on June 27. I've done a lot of fare research already, and seems that Southwest is our best bet, mainly because we will for sure check-in 1bag/person. Also, I'm always concerned about change/cancellation fees. I have 2 young kids, so last minute stuff can happen.

Current SW wanna-get-away prices for my itinerary:

6/27 LAX to Dallas: $121
7/7 San Antonio to LAX: $205

Is this a reasonable price already? Can wanna-get-away fare disappear anytime, or is it available until maybe 1 month before travel? Do they also fluctuate? Is it best to purchase it now?

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[Luanne]

I love Southwest and use them whenever I can.

No change or cancellation fees. What happens is, if the price goes down, you can change your flights and get a credit. The credit can only be used by the ticketed passenger, and has to be used one year from the date of the original booking. But it's very easy to make the changes yourself on their website.

Same thing if you cancel. The funds are there for you to use later on.

Since I do fly Southwest a lot I will usually purchase the tickets when I know my plans. Then I'll check every so often (also I get emails advising me of fare specials) to see if the price has gone down. If it has, I'll make the changes and get the credit.

 

[Passepartout]

I don't think that 'Gotta get away' fares are forever. They are aledgedly temporary, though they do last for a while. As Luanne says, if the fare goes down or plans change you do have credit on the books for a year.

'Course you DO have to fly SW to use the credit.

Jim

 

[Luanne]

I don't think that 'Gotta get away' fares are forever. They are aledgedly temporary, though they do last for a while. As Luanne says, if the fare goes down or plans change you do have credit on the books for a year.

'Course you DO have to fly SW to use the credit.

Jim

Yeah, I had to plan a trip to Santa Fe for this May so I wouldn't lose a credit I had.

 

[PStreet1]

Wanna get away fares definitely go away. They go away after a certain time, and I think there is a limit on the number of tickets sold at that price. The fare is unlikely to go much lower than a "Wanna Get Away" fare--but if it does, you can always get a credit.

 

[swsc16]

Thanks a lot for your thoughts!

So if I need to cancel, I know the credit expires 12 months from the date of purchase, right?
Now would the 12 month window apply to the date of my next travel, or the date when I will rebook the flight?
Example:
Orig purchase date: 3/15/2012
So if I cancel, the voucher/credit will be good till 3/15/2013

Using the voucher, would I just need to book my future flight until 3/15/13, even if my travel date is beyond 3/15/2013?

 

[Luanne]

Thanks a lot for your thoughts!

So if I need to cancel, I know the credit expires 12 months from the date of purchase, right?
Now would the 12 month window apply to the date of my next travel, or the date when I will rebook the flight?
Example:
Orig purchase date: 3/15/2012
So if I cancel, the voucher/credit will be good till 3/15/2013

Using the voucher, would I just need to book my future flight until 3/15/13, even if my travel date is beyond 3/15/2013?

I believe your date of travel needs to be within the one year window, not just the date you rebook.

So using your example, you would need to fly before 3/15/13.