Hey there, savvy traveler! Have you recently found yourself with a Southwest Airlines LUV Voucher and are wondering how to turn that little piece of digital gold into your next adventure? You've come to the perfect place. These vouchers are fantastic for offsetting the cost of flights, and while the process is fairly straightforward, a little guidance can go a long way. Let's dive in and make sure you get the most out of your LUV Voucher!
How to Use Your Southwest Airlines LUV Voucher: A Step-by-Step Guide
Southwest LUV Vouchers are typically issued as a form of compensation, perhaps for a flight delay, cancellation, or as a gesture of goodwill. Whatever the reason, they represent a wonderful opportunity to save on your next Southwest flight. Let's walk through the redemption process together.
Step 1: Locate Your LUV Voucher Details
First things first, you need to have your LUV Voucher information readily available. This is crucial for a smooth redemption process.
Sub-heading: What You Need
LUV Voucher Number: This is typically a unique string of characters that identifies your specific voucher.
Security Code: Similar to a PIN on a gift card, this code ensures that only you can use the voucher.
Sub-heading: Where to Find Them
You'll usually find these details in the email Southwest sent you when the LUV Voucher was issued. If it was a physical voucher, the number and code would be printed directly on it. Make sure to keep this information secure!
Step 2: Plan Your Southwest Flight
Before you can apply your LUV Voucher, you need to know where and when you want to fly. Southwest's website is the primary hub for booking flights.
Sub-heading: Navigating Southwest.com
Go to the official Southwest Airlines website: Southwest.com.
On the homepage, locate the flight search bar. You'll typically find options to enter your departure and arrival cities, travel dates, and the number of passengers.
Fill in your desired travel details. Be as flexible as possible with your dates if you're looking for the best deals, as prices can vary significantly.
Sub-heading: Choosing Your Fare
Southwest offers different fare types (e.g., Wanna Get Away, Anytime, Business Select). Your LUV Voucher can be used with any of these. Consider which fare best suits your travel needs, keeping in mind factors like refundability and points earning.
Step 3: Proceed to the Payment Screen
Once you've selected your desired flight(s), you'll proceed through the booking process, providing passenger information and eventually reaching the payment section. This is where your LUV Voucher comes into play!
Sub-heading: Applying Your Voucher
On the "Payment" screen (or a similarly named section), look for an option to apply "Southwest LUV Vouchers," "Gift Cards," or "Travel Funds." It might be a clickable link or a dropdown menu.
Click on the appropriate option. This will usually open a new field or section where you can enter your voucher details.
Carefully enter your LUV Voucher number and the security code into the designated fields. Double-check for any typos!
Click "Apply" or "Add" to credit the voucher's value to your booking.
Sub-heading: Important Considerations for Multiple Vouchers and Remaining Balances
Multiple Vouchers: You can typically use up to two Southwest LUV Vouchers per passenger per reservation. If you have more than two, you'll need to use them on separate bookings or explore other options (see FAQ below).
Taxes and Fees: Keep in mind that LUV Vouchers generally apply to the base fare of the flight. Government-imposed taxes and fees will often need to be paid separately. This is where you might need another form of payment, like a credit card.
Remaining Balance: If your LUV Voucher doesn't cover the entire cost of the flight, you will be prompted to provide an additional payment method (e.g., credit card, another LUV Voucher, or a gift card) to cover the remaining balance. Southwest allows up to three forms of payment per passenger per booking.
Voucher Balance: If there's a remaining balance on your LUV Voucher after your purchase, be sure to retain the voucher number and security code for future use.
Step 4: Review and Confirm Your Booking
After applying your LUV Voucher and any additional payment methods, take a moment to review your entire booking summary.
Sub-heading: Verifying Details
Check your flight dates, times, and destinations.
Confirm passenger names.
Crucially, verify that the LUV Voucher amount has been correctly applied and the total balance due reflects the reduction.
Sub-heading: Finalizing Your Purchase
Once you're satisfied that all details are correct, proceed to "Confirm" or "Purchase" your flight. You will then receive a confirmation email with your itinerary and e-ticket information.
Step 5: Understanding LUV Voucher Expiration and Extensions
LUV Vouchers do have expiration dates. It's vital to be aware of these to ensure you don't lose out on your travel funds.
Sub-heading: Expiration Dates
Southwest LUV Vouchers must be redeemed and all travel completed by the expiration date indicated on the voucher.
If you book a flight with a LUV Voucher and then cancel that flight, the funds often convert into a flight credit. The expiration date of this flight credit may adopt the expiration date of the original voucher or expire six months from the original booking date, whichever comes first (for Basic fares). For Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fares, the resulting flight credit will adopt the voucher's expiration date or be valid for 12 months from the date of original booking, whichever is later. However, note that flight credits created on or after July 28, 2022, generally do not expire. This is a significant positive change from Southwest! It's always best to check the specific terms when your voucher converts to a flight credit.
Sub-heading: Maximizing Your Voucher's Life (The "Hack")
A clever strategy many travelers use is to book a "Wanna Get Away Plus" or higher fare flight with their LUV Voucher, even for a short, inexpensive trip, and then cancel that flight. Because Wanna Get Away Plus (and higher) fares often convert to Transferable Flight Credits upon cancellation (which generally do not expire for credits created on or after July 28, 2022), this effectively converts your expiring LUV Voucher into a non-expiring travel fund. Just make sure the fare you book is eligible for the non-expiring credit.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some common questions about using Southwest LUV Vouchers, along with quick answers:
How to check my Southwest LUV Voucher balance?
You can usually check your LUV Voucher balance and expiration date on the Southwest Airlines website by going to their "Check Travel Funds" page and entering your voucher number and security code.
How to use multiple Southwest LUV Vouchers on one flight?
You can typically use up to two LUV Vouchers per passenger per booking. If you have more, you'll need to use them on separate reservations or combine them with other payment methods if the voucher value doesn't cover the full cost.
How to use a Southwest LUV Voucher for someone else?
Southwest LUV Vouchers are transferable, meaning you can use them to book a flight for anyone, not just the person whose name is on the voucher. Simply enter the other person's details during the booking process and apply your voucher.
How to pay for taxes and fees with a Southwest LUV Voucher?
Generally, LUV Vouchers cover the base airfare. Taxes and government-imposed fees often need to be paid with another form of payment, such as a credit card, or potentially a Southwest Gift Card (which can cover taxes and fees).
How to combine a Southwest LUV Voucher with other payment methods?
Yes, you can combine a LUV Voucher with other forms of payment like a credit card or a Southwest Gift Card if the voucher doesn't cover the full cost of your flight. Southwest typically allows up to three forms of payment per passenger per booking.
How to convert an expiring LUV Voucher into a non-expiring travel credit?
Book a "Wanna Get Away Plus" or higher fare flight with your LUV Voucher. Then, cancel the flight. The funds from the canceled flight will convert into a Transferable Flight Credit which, for credits created after July 28, 2022, generally do not expire.
How to use a LUV Voucher for Southwest Vacations?
Southwest LUV Vouchers generally cannot be used for Southwest Vacations packages. They are primarily for direct flight bookings through Southwest Airlines.
How to get help if my LUV Voucher isn't working online?
If you're having trouble redeeming your LUV Voucher online, contact Southwest Airlines Customer Service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). They can assist you with troubleshooting or processing the redemption over the phone.
How to use a Southwest LUV Voucher for EarlyBird Check-In or other add-ons?
Southwest LUV Vouchers are generally for flight bookings. They cannot typically be used for add-ons like EarlyBird Check-In, upgraded boarding, or baggage fees. These usually require a credit card or other payment methods.
How to reactivate an expired Southwest LUV Voucher?
In most cases, expired LUV Vouchers cannot be reactivated. However, if your flight credit expired before the policy change in July 2022, you might be able to call customer service within 6 months of expiration to have them reinstated as a LUV Voucher, though a fee may apply. Always check the current policy on Southwest's website or by contacting them directly.
