I have found several parties on Craiglist who will sell Rapid Rewards round trip vouchers from $325 to $375. They will meet you at a wifi spot. They will book the tickets as you watch. They take cash only. Has anyone else done this? How can I assure that the transaction will be legit?
Safe to buy Southwest Air round trip voucher on Craigslist?
- Thread starter gypsyman
- Start date
- Status
scam
google is your friend
https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy...1bc1589ec616832&biw=1680&bih=961&pf=p&pdl=300
google is your friend
https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy...1bc1589ec616832&biw=1680&bih=961&pf=p&pdl=300
Gothgar
Lifer
- Sep 1, 2004
- 13,429
- 1
- 0
Ok, I knew I should have done the google thing first. Perhaps someone who has had sucess at this can share their experience as how they vetted the seller/voucher to assure its validity? Would purchasing thru PayPal protect you?
Last edited:
People selling RR award flights probably aren't trying to scam you, but you can end up getting screwed anyways because it's against the rewards program's TOS to sell awards/miles. If the airlines found out, they would probably cancel the tickets.
Last edited:
Zap
Elite Member
- Oct 13, 1999
- 22,377
- 2
- 81
Why not just buy the tickets yourself for that price? What cities would you be flying between?
My last round trip with Southwest cost me just under $250 and that was including all taxes and airport fees. I had to buy it at least 2 weeks before the trip and it was from their web site Southwest.com. It was during one of their common (every month or two?) sales.
My next round trip flight is only running $145 after taxes/fees! That was, however, a super duper one day sale.
Still, for $375 I can have my pick of airlines and flights for round trip. BTW my "round trip" is from MKE to SAN. I imagine there will be some more expensive round trips as well as cheaper ones.
LiuKangBakinPie
Diamond Member
- Jan 31, 2011
- 3,903
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- 0
I will be flying from Califronia to Connecticut in June. Cost on SWA with all fees and taxes is $520. So savings would be $520 vs $375. Having read the google links, I will pass on the voucher unless it comes from a close relative, friend or fellow employee.
Though the thread has been opened for half a year, I may want to share my experience after buying the reward tickets several times.
It is always a great value to buy a Southwest RR ticket esp for last minute travel. But I guess some steps are necessary to prevent from buying from scammers.
1) Make sure the ticket is really Southwest Rapid rewards ticket. You can check in "change reservation " website on southwest.com. If you see the reward availability instead of normal booking availability, then it's reward ticket. The best way is to meet the seller in person and ask him to show that the reservation confirmation code can access the reward seat inventory on spot before payment.
2) Once you know it's a reward ticket, you will not be scammed by those who use fake/stolen credit cards mentioned in the Google search.
3) The next possible risk is that the seller cancels your ticket after your payment. You will also see this problem even though you meet the seller in person. So what you have to do is to make sure you make the payment via PAYPAL even though you meet the seller in person. This serves as black and white for your transaction and if there is anything happening, you can always file a dispute to PAYPAL and ask for chargeback.
4) Given that you need the protection from Credit card/ Paypal, your claim must be done in 60 days after your purchase. It means that your flight should be departed no later than 60 days after your purchase so that you can utilize the protections. Actually it makes sense, as the ticket prices after 60 days normally won't be much more than $375.
Hence, with all this step, you should be safe to go.
It is always a great value to buy a Southwest RR ticket esp for last minute travel. But I guess some steps are necessary to prevent from buying from scammers.
1) Make sure the ticket is really Southwest Rapid rewards ticket. You can check in "change reservation " website on southwest.com. If you see the reward availability instead of normal booking availability, then it's reward ticket. The best way is to meet the seller in person and ask him to show that the reservation confirmation code can access the reward seat inventory on spot before payment.
2) Once you know it's a reward ticket, you will not be scammed by those who use fake/stolen credit cards mentioned in the Google search.
3) The next possible risk is that the seller cancels your ticket after your payment. You will also see this problem even though you meet the seller in person. So what you have to do is to make sure you make the payment via PAYPAL even though you meet the seller in person. This serves as black and white for your transaction and if there is anything happening, you can always file a dispute to PAYPAL and ask for chargeback.
4) Given that you need the protection from Credit card/ Paypal, your claim must be done in 60 days after your purchase. It means that your flight should be departed no later than 60 days after your purchase so that you can utilize the protections. Actually it makes sense, as the ticket prices after 60 days normally won't be much more than $375.
Hence, with all this step, you should be safe to go.
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