Non-Refundable tickets & surging Delta Variant

[jmichaelkramer]

I purchased non-refundable tickets to Las Vegas when we thought that the pandemic was calming down.  Now we are seeing hot spots including Las Vegas.  Hearing that SWA will not refund our tickets, it feels creepy that a corporation would maintain a policy that profits from the pandemic at the expense of the travelling public.  Who could predict that the world was changing.  I can only imagine how much money the airlines have in the bank and how much they gained from earnings on the stock market.   Is there a kinder approach?

For instance, I wouldn't mind SWA holding my money if they provided some returns such as interest or a more expensive fair or extended the timeframe that I could cash in the funds for tickets.  Really only 12 months before these expire?  It will feel horrible if I can't use these in the 12 month timeframe.  Its entirely possible that many of us won't travel this year.

https://bestlifeonline.com/las-vegas-delta-variant-news/

What do others think?

[TheMiddleSeat]

A lot can change (for the better) in 12 months and vaccines are widely available.  Having 12 months from the date of original purchase seems like plenty of time to use your funds. If you really want flexibility fully refundable fares are available.

--TheMiddleSeat

[dfwskier]

You KNOWINGLY bought a NON refundable fare.

You knew, or should have known, that means no refunds.

[gsking]

If you think southwest is "profiting from the pandemic", you might want to do some research.   Their accountants would disagree. 

I've flown over 100,000 miles since Covid without issue.   Why exactly are you not flying?   If you're that at risk,  you should be staying at home.   If so,  why did you buy a plane ticket? 

It's really not the airline's fault that you've succumb to the panic porn foisted upon you by the mainstream media.   You need to be a bit more discerning in your consumption of news and calculation of risk.   The world's not the big bad deadly place you seem to think it is.

[ItsMeLN]

The ones profiting from this plandemic are the pharmaceutical companies and China.

[jksobonya]

I was in Vegas July 7-10, just as the "surge" was starting. It was fine. No problems, no illness, and I was vaccinated. If you're vaccinated, you'll be fine. (Even if you're not vaccinated, chances are you'll probably *still* be fine since COVID is a mild virus for nearly everyone who gets it. Don't let the "variant" talk scare you.)

--Jessica

[chgoflyer]

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@jksobonya wrote:

I was in Vegas July 7-10, just as the "surge" was starting. It was fine. No problems, no illness, and I was vaccinated. If you're vaccinated, you'll be fine. (Even if you're not vaccinated, chances are you'll probably *still* be fine since COVID is a mild virus for nearly everyone who gets it. Don't let the "variant" talk scare you.)

--Jessica

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This is hugely irresponsible advice.

Hospitalizations in Nevada are up +29% (14 day change) and deaths are up 161%. New cases (which precede deaths) are up +38%. Las Vegas is, in fact, a hotspot. And Delta is not something to take lightly.

If you're not vaccinated, get vaccinated.

Tracking Coronavirus in Nevada: Latest Map and Case Count

[DRLaff]

Unlike others, I totally agree with you. I also think it is just awful that they only extend from the purchase date, rather than the travel date. This really seems like a gotcha-trick and does not follow logic in my mind. I used to love SWA, but something has changed in their customer relations culture!

[bwallet]

I too agree that it would be nice (and arguably fairer) if the expiration date was based upon the flight date. After all, the use by date is based upon when you fly. However, that's not the rule, and you agree to the rules when you buy the ticket. 

[leeish]

This is the main issue for me. Purchase in Jan for a trip in June, cancel in March, now I'm trying to book for a trip in March (6 months out) and my funds can't be used. 12 months, 12 months, 12 months. Yet, it hasn't been 12 months since my original booking, nor 12 months since my cancellation, nor is my trip 12 months since my cancellation, and yet I STILL can't. It's 12 months from my BOOKING?

Insane.