Good morning everyone. This morning, Southwest Airlines updated their flight schedule and you can now book Southwest Airlines flights through January 4, 2017. Here is an update from SWA:
Currently we are accepting air reservations through January 4, 2017.
On July 7, 2016 we will open our schedule for sale through March 7, 2017. This date is subject to change. Please check back frequently.
In controversial Southwest Airlines news, Doctor of Credit has a great post called Southwest Devalues Miles Without Notice (72 Points Per Dollar, From 70 Per Dollar). Previously, Southwest Airlines points were worth ~1.43 cents per point (CPP) (70 SWA = $1), but now it looks like Southwest Airlines points are worth ~1.39 CPP (72 SWA = $1). While booking a few Southwest Airlines flights, I decided to check the value of my Southwest Airlines points.
Here is my first booking of SFO to SNA:
- $115.98 or 6,823 Southwest Airlines miles + $5.60 in taxes/fees.
- $115.98 – $5.60 = $110.38 / 6823 = 1.62 (CPP)
1.62 CPP is definitely higher than ~1.39 and ~1.43…
Here is my second booking of SFO to SNA:
- $146.98 or 8,900 Southwest Airlines miles + $5.60 in taxes/fees.
- $146.98 – $5.60 = $141.38 / 8900 = 1.59 cents per point (CPP)
1.59 CPP is definitely higher than ~1.39 and ~1.43…
So what does this all mean? I’m not sure. I bet if you spent enough time looking, you could find a Southwest Airlines flight with lower CPP values, but for the 2 cases mentioned above (both realistic cases), I did not notice any devaluation in Southwest Airlines points.
As a reminder, after you book a Southwest Airlines flight (either with cash or points), check your existing Southwest Airlines flights for price drops and then rebook. It takes a few minutes, but you can easily save $10-$50 on some flights.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Have a great day everyone!
If you go back and click the ‘fare breakdown’ link on the paid flight, you’ll see the base fare of $95 on the first ticket and $124 on the second. This is what determines the number of points required. Before the latest little devaluation, those tickets would have required 6,650 and 8,680 points.
Hmm, thank you Kenny. Personally, the fare breakdown doesn’t really matter to me since at the end of the day, I only care about how much money I save with each SWA point.
But that’s what the 70/72 points/dollar is BASED ON. You don’t get how WN fares are calculated, therefore, this entire post is completely inaccurate.
Sorry Doug, I’m sorry. I’ll try harder next time :)
I prefer and agree with your valuation. It’s all about how much save per point. My latest redemptions were 1.61 and 1.64, although previously I was getting 1.66 – 1.70, so this does reflect the devaluation. I think the “true” valuation is important since in my book it’s a good UR redemption (~1.6).
Yes, I agree since that is how I calculate CPP with all other frequent flyer programs. At the end of the day, how many points did you use to save $X amount of money.
You are getting confused in the DoC description. The 72 miles per dollar is towards the base airfare, not the total airfare which includes taxes beyond the $5.60 per way 9/11 security fee.
As I posted on VFTW, in reality, the values were about 1.62 cents/mile before and have gone down from that. I just booked a 1.58 cents/mile booking today.
Gotcha, thank you for sharing.
What’s curious to me – that I have never seen before on a Southwest fare – is that a DAL-SJD r/t ticket (12/25-12/28) is pricing out at $389 for the SJD-DAL segment. When I price out the segments as OW fares the SJD-DAL segment (for the identical flight on the same day) is $401. I have never experienced a OW penalty on Southwest before and am wondering if this is due it being an international fare somehow or if this is also a new policy change. Also, this trip will also not allow me to add my companion on-line even thought the flights are not sold out, which has left me stuck on hold for an eternity.
Hmm, I believe you have to call SWA to add a companion to an international reservation. If you book it one way, I think you pay an extra tax/fee that doesn’t show up when you make a round trip reservation.
The flight won’t sell out today, and everybody who can figure out this new ‘intenet’ thingy is calling Southwest. Call tomorrow or, better yet, next week. I’ve never been able to add companions to international tickets online, but that may be due to the fact that they’re minors.
You can add companions to international tickets online.
Adult Companions – Yes, Minor Companions – No
Thanks Grant. I have added a companion on an international flight before, on-line. The error message that displays states that the dates are incorrect, which makes me wonder if this is due to these dates just being released this morning. Thanks so much for your your thoughts on the fare difference question!
Dates incorrect? That’s strange, maybe just a small IT issue this morning.
When rebooking existing reservations at the cheaper rate, do you cancel first and then immediately repurchase the same tickets? I’ve cancelled then tried to rebook later and prices were much higher.
You don’t need to cancel your first reservation. Just go through the process of changing your fight and then pick the same exact flight. It should tell you during the checkout process how much of a refund/travel credit you are getting. Save the reservation number and the value of the travel credit someplace safe for future use.
Saved $58 already. Thanks so much!!
Awesome, glad to hear that. Happy travels!