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Forgot to use travel funds

ladybdaisy
Explorer C

I recently traveled and forgot to apply my travel funds.  I will not be traveling again before they expire.  Can you retroactively apply them to my recent trip to exend the use by date?

15 REPLIES 15

Re: Forgot to use travel funds

LindseyD
Retired Community Manager

Hi @ladybdaisy,

 

Travel funds cannot be retroactively applied to a reservation, and we can't extend expiration dates. Our travel funds policy is extremely flexible - you have an entire year from the date of purchase to use your funds. I hope you'll be able to squeeze in an extra trip!

 

Re: Forgot to use travel funds

casinogalb2
Explorer C

Can the funds be used to purchase points?

Re: Forgot to use travel funds

basslaw2010
Frequent Flyer B

No, travel funds cannot be used to purchase points.

Re: Forgot to use travel funds

usedtoflyswa
Explorer C

The Southwest representative failed to reveal one aspect of their policy. Their software removes any earlier added funds from your reservation before older funds. So, if you have FlightFunds available, and apply them to a higher priced ticket 10 months later, the additional funds will expire in two months, rather than the claimed 12 months (they are now associated iwth the earlier reservation, and have acquired the same expiration.)

 

This way of operating would appear to beg a class action lawsuit, but I'm not a lawyer.

Re: Forgot to use travel funds

basslaw2010
Frequent Flyer B

It's part of the Terms & Conditions agreed to when you purchase the new ticket. When travel funds are used to purchase a new ticket then that ticket takes on the earliest expiration date of the funds used (voucher, travel funds, etc.). The expiration date is included in the emails sent regarding the new reservation.

Re: Forgot to use travel funds

fate1499
Explorer C

I couldn't find the answer to this easily. If I change a reservation and it results in a credit for later travel, will I have to use the same method payment as the original ticket? We booked travel on the company credit card, but found a cheaper flight and now have $35 to use within the year. I know I will not do anymore business travel in the next 12 months; can I use it for a personal trip?

Re: Forgot to use travel funds

basslaw2010
Frequent Flyer B

No, you will not have to use the same form of payment, i.e., the company credit card you used to purchase the original reservation, to use the funds. That $35 in travel funds that you received by finding a lower fare stay associated with that confirmation number and can only be used by the named passenger (travel funds are non-transferable), and yes, you can use them for a personal trip later because they are in your name. To use the funds, when you are booking a new reservation, on the payment page, there is a button to apply travel funds. Click that button and type in the confirmation number into the appropriate box. Hope this helps!

Re: Forgot to use travel funds

lindalhh
Explorer C

Yes, it's difficult to understand what people are talking about until it actually happens to you. Let me preface my example by saying I love Southwest and do not, nor do I plan to, patronize another airline unless I must because SW does not fly there. However, this is an ugly little gotcha, IMHO.

 

Date of purchase

Trip description

Amount

Travel funds available

1/1

Trip1

$200

0

 

 

 

 

5/5

Trip2

$150

(Rebooked Trip1 to save $50)

5/5

Cancelled Trip1

 

 $200

 

 

 

 

8/31

Trip3

$450

Applied $200; 0 remaining

 

 

 

 

10/20

Trip4

$300

(Rebooked Trip3 to save $150)

10/20

Cancelled Trip3

 

 $450

 

 

 

 

12/1

Trip05

$350

Applied $350; $100 remaining

 

 

 

 

 

Since I applied $200 to my reservation on 8/31, the system changes the reservation date to 1/1. However, $250 of that fare was actually committed on 8/31.

 

The $100 of travel funds left on 12/1 must be spent by 1/1 or it is lost.

 

I did not "forget" to use travel funds; however, I did not notice the date change on my 8/31 reservation. A more fair, albeit complicated, way to do this would be to track amounts by date. And to alert the passenger when funds are expiring.  I can dream, right?

Re: Forgot to use travel funds

ncguess
Explorer C

If you still have them, I would love to use them for an upcoming trip