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I don't recall if I posted this here in chat when I added it to my TP forum credit card rewards thread, but for Southwest fliers who end up with expiring flight credits: there seems to be a new tactic where you can turn them into non-expiring credits....

10:39am on 11/12/25 by JJT (staff)

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I originally read about it in a travel group and that post had at least a few positive reports it worked. We just had a Liner confirm it worked for them. :) TL;DR: The trick is using the expiring travel credit plus a SW gift card to pay for a...

10:40am on 11/12/25 by JJT (staff)

..Choice PREFERRED (refundable fare) flight. When you cancel, something about that combination returns the GC value AND the travel credit to your account as a non-expiring credit. Just remember that any tactic can stop working at any time, but hopefully..

10:42am on 11/12/25 by JJT (staff)

..this one will continue. I figure worst case: you end up spending $25 on a SW gift card and still have the expiring credit. Slightly more info in forum thread: https://forum.touringplans.com/t/credit-card-rewards-points-general-thread/90803/1879

10:43am on 11/12/25 by JJT (staff)

Will read the details later-thanks!

12:14pm on 11/12/25 by KLuck

Thanks JJT!

12:43pm on 11/12/25 by RememberWhen

That's awesome

1:28pm on 11/12/25 by lizshiv

Thanks

1:57pm on 11/12/25 by burfe1501

Sfl- thank you!

2:17pm on 11/12/25 by missWishes

Saving

3:06pm on 11/12/25 by pkitt

wow

3:15pm on 11/12/25 by imadisneymom

Thank you!

3:31pm on 11/12/25 by jkcna

Sfl

3:50pm on 11/12/25 by bargerstock

Sdl

4:06pm on 11/12/25 by meggie228

Thanks @JJT. Gonna need to pickup some SW gift cards. I've got a bunch of credits. Why does it go back as non expiring? Just cuz it's a refundable fare?

7:20pm on 11/12/25 by MarioMom

Can't really tell why, but the magic seems to be contained in attaching the gift card to the transaction in combo with the refundable fare. I should have also mentioned above is it isn't clear: if I were working this tactic, I'd buy the smallest...

8:31pm on 11/12/25 by JJT (staff)

..SW gift card possible ($25?), then use a credit card as the 3rd payment method along with the travel credit that I was trying to convert. The SW GC value will get added to the travel credit & anything charged on the CC will get refunded to it.

8:35pm on 11/12/25 by JJT (staff)

Called to adjust a flight to a lower fare and ended up getting back credits that would exp in March. I told the rep I wouldn't be able to use them in time. He told me I could call once they expire and get an extension on the exp date. Will try in March.

1:59am on 11/13/25 by PixiePoppins

@Pixie To be honest, I thing that SW rep was overselling the possibility or extending credit expiration. I have heard of zero instances of that happening.

10:09am on 11/13/25 by JJT (staff)

I apologize if this was covered before, but if I book a basic fare with points and later the fare is reduced, can I cancel original flight and rebook for the reduced points, and have the excess points be non-expiring? I assume I can't modify basic rate?

9:06am on 11/14/25 by WDWchipndale

Points bookings are still a great option: the points just go back into your account regardless of fare and they are never expiring. So, cancel rebook is the way to go with them!

9:36am on 11/14/25 by JJT (staff)

Thanks

9:50am on 11/14/25 by matterhorn55

Thank you so much!

9:57am on 11/14/25 by WDWchipndale

Nice dd has some credit. This will help.

11:05am on 11/14/25 by JackOfAll

Sfl

1:40pm on 11/21/25 by Jlwagner21

Sfl

6:55pm on 11/21/25 by Jewra

Sfl

8:46am by vickiwaffles

Sfl

8:49am by Minnie-Mimi

I have a bunch of credits that I can use this on. Just to make sure I'm correct here: I buy a $25 SW GC and purchase a Choice Preferred flight using my expiring credit, GC, and credit card. I then immediately cancel and my credits go back as

8:50am by vickiwaffles

nonexpiring, the $25 goes back to the GC, and whatever I paid on the credit card goes back to that as well. I can then keep doing this repeatedly to convert all my expiring credit. Does this sound right?

8:53am by vickiwaffles

No, different, read back from above: from reports, the $25 GC comes back as part of the non-expiring credit along with the previously expiring travel credit. So, if you have a lot of credits, will take a few rounds of GCs since you can only use up to..

10:15am by JJT (staff)

..3 forms of payment. I believe could be possible to use GC & 2 travel credits instead of the GC/travel credit/CC combo & it might work, but reports I saw used the format I listed above. So, you'd have to test that if you want to minimize buying GCs.

10:18am by JJT (staff)

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Ok I think I understand better now. Thank you. Another question... I have 3 credits that expire on 12/25 and 1 that expires on 2/6. Would I be better off first trying to buy a couple flights just using credits so they combine and then buy a flight using

2:14pm by vickiwaffles

your method with the GC?

2:15pm by vickiwaffles

@vicki Yes, it is my understanding that you can still book flights with travel credits and when you cancel they all come back combined into 1. But, important to know that they will come back with the expiration of the flight credit that had the earliest..

1 min ago by JJT (staff)

"What's cookin'?" Delayed edition: We just came in from putting up our Christmas lights. I was prepared for dinner; I'm roasting garlic chicken thighs, Stove top stuffing and some sweet peas. Cherry stollen for dessert. Let's see what you're having.

5:54pm by TacMed

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Impressed at the Christmas lights- we have to make a start in the morning but will go into next weekend. Had friends for dinner so chipotle butternut soup, lemon garlic chicken w smashed potatoes & tomatoes, New York cheesecake & apple clafoutis.

16 min ago by hodg

Too many empty wine bottles- not all me & Dh- but now I need to get to sleep!

16 min ago by hodg

Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, and green beans. No idea about dessert

12 min ago by momshappyplace

Howdy Liner Pals! Got $1100 worth of Disney Gift Cards today at Target. Needed to do 11 transactions (super patient person at the register). Got $10 for in Target GCs for each $100 spent. Used Target Card and got 4.5% off (Last day)

4:42pm by IMarriedMyEllie

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High five! Excellent Liner skills!

6:47pm by Jennyhirsch

I just tried and it cancelled starting the 4th one. Seems like they changed the limit down to 3

50 min ago by Totsypooh

Ooh. I switched to the mail delivery option and its letting me again...

13 min ago by Totsypooh

Heading to Disney middle of December. Any brunch recommendations for Disney Springs on a Sunday?

1:01pm by Dischaser

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Definitely want to check the schedule if you want to see the stage at RR. Our brunch there is WBG. So yummy!

2:00pm by youcanfly

Homecomin' also does a good brunch. There's also Jock Lindsay's Holiday Bar that time of year that has some festive eats.

57 min ago by njhyndman

Raglan and Wine Bar George are my favorites but there are a lot of great places to choose from.

33 min ago by PrincipalTinker

What does the "/ " mean for the park hours? Example Monday Nov 24 Epcot is 9pm/ 11 ?

59 min ago by mjod0823

The 11 p.m. represents the deluxe evening hours.

57 min ago by utang44

Ahh ok. Thank you

49 min ago by mjod0823

DS10 will be with me for my upcoming trip. I know at prix fixe restaurants, I'll be charged the adult price. Is he allowed to order off the kids menu on the non-prix fixe restaurants? (I.e. skippers canteen, plaza, steakhouse 71, etc)

3:17pm on 11/21/25 by NervousRex

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Generally yes. Sometimes they'll make it a larger portion at a higher price.

3:35pm on 11/21/25 by TumbleMonkeys

Yes but you still be charged the adult price

4:33pm on 11/21/25 by WorldTraveler34

Our experience was that tween kids could order the kids menu at kids prices at non prix fixe/buffet/family style locations. Correct on adult prices at prix fixe

6:08pm on 11/21/25 by kcaseybooks

Yes, even as an adult I've sometimes been able to do that. Most recently at Ale and Compass breakfast. I will tip higher to compensate for my check being less.

6:33pm on 11/21/25 by TumbleMonkeys

I order kids meals all the time. Obviously not able to do at a price fixe or buffet but in a place with menus constantly.

11:22am by sjgertz

My mom was told no twice. Once at WCC and once at Coral Reef.

11:47am by popupcamper

Just be clear that they are charging you the kids meal price. I once ordered a kids meal for DD 11 (entree and 2 sides) and it got rang up as 3 separate sides which was more than a kids meal. And she didnt even want the sides. Hmph.

1:00pm by Totsypooh

I'll say it seems to be at server's discretion, so more likely to get charged less if you interact nicely with CMs.

1:08pm by Ali Ababwa

I promise @totsy wasn't a jerk to the CM. She's absolutely lovely.

3:53pm by popupcamper

I think leaving that to server discretion isn't a great idea anyhow. Puts the CMs in an unpleasant spot.

4:07pm by utang44

Agreed!

4:08pm by Ali Ababwa

If ordering off the kid's menu is a problem, sharing an adult entree, and adding an appetizer if you think you need a little more food, always works.

4:10pm by PrincipalTinker

@popup, I love that you came to @totsy's defense but not your mom's! I'm betting your mom is also not a jerk. ;)

5:11pm by evamarie320

Hahaha! :) no it was a totally neutral interaction. Thats actually why i was surprised when the bill came. It kinda left a bad taste - like the server did it to raise the bill total and therefore the tip. But i didnt comment on it even then :)

5:18pm by Totsypooh

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Hahaha no she's not either.

6:11pm by popupcamper

@totsy Please be assured that I wasn't thinking of you!! I was thinking of numerous entitled complainers I've seen on FB to which I reacted "they had it coming!" when they got undesirable results.

6:23pm by Ali Ababwa

Nah, i didnt take it that way either :)

49 min ago by Totsypooh

Hello Friends! I'm back in the World after 8.5 years of enjoying Liners' trips vicariously. I couldn't quite believe this trip was happening until the plane touched down in Orlando today. Just wanted to say I'm thinking of all of you and thanks!

5:07pm by disniddles

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Have an amazing trip!!

5:43pm by JNDLTOT

Have fun!

5:48pm by PrincipalTinker

Sweet have a great trip

6:30pm by burfe1501

I have a 9 yr old, 6 yr old and 1.5 yr old. We're trying to decide between Animal Kingdom and Epcot. We do have a park hopper ticket and could technically do both but I'm thinking it's more reasonable w kids to pick one then Disney Springs in evening?

2:30pm by cocoapuff

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My DGD5 loved AK! Definitely skip DS!

5:26pm by goofygrandpa

If you aren't going to do both drop the hopper. It will save lots of money.

5:30pm by JodiF

AK then Epcot. Or all day Epcot. DS is just a mall. Never understand the point unless you just have to go to one of the restaurants

6:23pm by mary32830

I don't see the Festival of Fantasy parade in the wdw website for the week after Christmas. Do they not do the daytime parade that week?

9:40am by Jlwagner21

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My point still holds; the schedule will be finalized at a later point. For our November dates, the afternoon parade was on the calendar for a long time before the nighttime parade times were added.

2:31pm by utang44

They do the Christmas parade for the daytime parade that week. FoF will resume Jan 1.

3:54pm by Jennyhirsch

Aha, I was thinking they did it the week prior to Christmas, so had it backward. That makes sense. So, yes, a daytime parade, but not FoF.

4:06pm by utang44

2025 Black Friday deals on travel items? Please share!

9:35am by Ali Ababwa

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BJs Disney cards today - $48.49 for $50, $144.99 for $150

3:24pm by Ali Ababwa

The best Disney gift card deal this week is to buy them from Target with a red card in $100 increments. When you do that, you get the usual 5% off, plus a $10 Target gift card for each $100 purchase. Deal is only good through today.

4:03pm by utang44

You can get the $10 deal without the red card, as long as you have their Target Circle, but you don't get the additional 5% off that way.

4:04pm by utang44

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