Southwest and seniors

[JeffV]

I just found out that all senior fares on Southwest are fully refundable, no questions asked. I wish all airlines had that policy. I had to cancel a flight, and when I did so online there was a place to request a refund. The refund took about 5 days until it was back on my credit card.

[riverside]

That's good news. What age do they classify as a senior?

[crazee]

Senior fares are for travelers age 65+.

[jlwquilter]

This thread is older but I just found this out (maybe alot of you already know/do this).

I was booking flight for my senior dad last night for early April. After deciding on the most comvenent flights, and using Adult fare prices for cost, I went online to book him. I remembered that senior fares are fully refundable so decided to go that route.

To cut to the chase, turns out that the senior fare was cheaper for the flight down, but the adult fare was cheaper for the return flight. Additionally, the senior fare round trip was more expensive than the adult round trip fare. So I bought two one way fares .... first time ever doing that. I hope it works!

[Luanne]

While the senior fares may be fully refundable, in many cases they are more expensive. I just booked a couple of flights for myself and my mother in March. I opted for the lower fares. If something happens that we need to cancel her flight, we'll still have the credit available. I can live with that.

[David]

I expect everyone knows this, but just in case: Seniors who want to check in online have to be "age-verified" by Southwest first. See http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/seniors.html .

[David]

Originally Posted by jlwquilter

So I bought two one way fares .... first time ever doing that. I hope it works!

I've done that frequently, and it has always worked.

[Luanne]

Originally Posted by David

I expect everyone knows this, but just in case: Seniors who want to check in online have to be "age-verified" by Southwest first. See http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/seniors.html .

I saw that, but had a couple of questions. First, how do you get "age-verified"? There may be something on the Southwest site and I just didn't look hard enough. Second, do you only need to be "age-verified" if you are traveling on a senior fare? As I mentioned, my mom qualifies for the senior fare, but we purchased the regular fare for her. My bigger concern is that she's traveling wheelchair assist and needs additional time to board. So, we'll need one of the special "blue" boarding passes. I think the only way to get that is to check in with the gate agent. I'll still get our boarding passes online ahead of time though.

[David]

Originally Posted by Luanne

I saw that, but had a couple of questions. First, how do you get "age-verified"? There may be something on the Southwest site and I just didn't look hard enough. Second, do you only need to be "age-verified" if you are traveling on a senior fare? As I mentioned, my mom qualifies for the senior fare, but we purchased the regular fare for her. My bigger concern is that she's traveling wheelchair assist and needs additional time to board. So, we'll need one of the special "blue" boarding passes. I think the only way to get that is to check in with the gate agent. I'll still get our boarding passes online ahead of time though.

First Question: Go to http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/seniors.html and scroll down to the heading "Checking In For Your Flight". Then look at the 4th bullet.

Second Question: Yes, only if you travel on a senior fare. No need if traveling on a regular fare.

[jlwquilter]

Originally Posted by David

I expect everyone knows this, but just in case: Seniors who want to check in online have to be "age-verified" by Southwest first. See http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/seniors.html .

Thanks for reminding me! I will have to see what I can do to get him age verified before April. I am in FL and he is in BUF so it's not something I can easily do for him. He's not going to be too keen on mailing a copy of his DL to the airlines. I wonder if I can have my SIL take a copy to the airport and do it then (without him though as he's not going) when she flies to Orlando in a few weeks...? I'll call SW tomorrow and ask.

[jlwquilter]

Originally Posted by Luanne

While the senior fares may be fully refundable, in many cases they are more expensive. I just booked a couple of flights for myself and my mother in March. I opted for the lower fares. If something happens that we need to cancel her flight, we'll still have the credit available. I can live with that.

When he came to visit us in Sept. (to go to Umbrella Beach Resort on Anna Maria Island), that's what I did...went with the lower Adult fares.

The thing that got me on the SW website is that they had a low $104 fare listed for the return flight but when selected it popped up with a NOTE that the fare had been increased to $140... not stated but clearly due to the senior designation. It should have listed the $140 right away as I was under the senior designation at the time, right from the beginning of that transaction. Kind of a bait and switch move to my mind

[Kay H]

I am flying to LAX on SW, my first flight with SW. I got the fly now or something like that and it was cheaper than the senior fair. I did send a copy of my driver's license and a copy of my passport (just in case) and got a letter from SW acknowledging their receipt of the documents. I plan on printing my boarding pass the day before I fly and hope I can print my return boarding pass on the ship. Now they have it for any future flights.

[John Cummings]

I am age verified by SWA. It required sending a photocopy of my driver's license to them. It took about 3 weeks to take effect.

I just use whichever fare is the best. Sometimes the senior fare is better and sometimes it is not. The seniors fare is very good when the cheapest web fare discounted seats have all been sold. This happens frequently on heavily traveled routes when you do not purchase your tickets well in advance.

[David]

Originally Posted by Kay H

... and hope I can print my return boarding pass on the ship.

You can check-in without printing and then print the boarding pass at the airport.

[Kay H]

Originally Posted by David

You can check-in without printing and then print the boarding pass at the airport.

Thank you, David. Is it advisable to check in extra early if doing this?

[John Cummings]

Originally Posted by Kay H

Thank you, David. Is it advisable to check in extra early if doing this?

It depends whether you have baggage to check-in. If so then there is no real advantage to arriving earlier than normal as you can print out the boarding passes while taking care of the baggage. If you don't have any baggage to check-in then it probably is wise to get there a little early as you will have to go to the ticket counter.

[Kay H]

Are there kiosks in the SW area at the airport, or where do you print the boarding pass? I plan to have just carry on luggage.

[bogey21]

Senior fares are usually a little more expensive than Southwest's Inernet Spe cial fares. Because tickets purchased with Senior fares can also be changed w/o a fare increase, I often will buy the Internet Special outbound and the Senior fare for the return as I am almost certain when I am leaving but often change my return plans. I used to buy two one way tickets because their website wouldn't let me purchase a roundtrip with the different fares. Yesterday I was able to buy a roundtrip ticket for June with the mixed fares

GEORGE

[jlwquilter]

Originally Posted by bogey21

Senior fares are usually a little more expensive than Southwest's Inernet Spe cial fares. Because tickets purchased with Senior fares can also be changed w/o a fare increase, I often will buy the Internet Special outbound and the Senior fare for the return as I am almost certain when I am leaving but often change my return plans.
GEORGE

Could you explain what that means please? If we change the flight with the sr. far and the new fare (also must be sr. fare??) is higher, he wouldn't have to pay the higher cost??