Southwest Airlines Community

@Mariek92 as another customer my guess is that you would have been able to find another same day Southwest flight from Midway to Tampa without any issues so I'm not sure why you didn't try. I pulled up the Southwest flight options for this coming Sunday and I see a total of 16 flights from Midway to Tampa (and that's only for the flights that depart at 11 a.m. or later because you mentioned you received a notification at 8:50 a.m.), to include 4 nonstop flights. The refund for the cancelled flight makes sense though Southwest seems generous in offering a voucher given the circumstances you described. ... View more

@ponytayl I am guessing your sister's flight was cancelled due to weather (I still can't believe they are forecasting a blizzard for Denver). As most of us here are other customers like you, it probably makes sense to contact Customer Relations. They are available via Twitter (@Southwestair), or 1-855-234-4654. Given the weather situation today it may make sense to get in touch via email or Twitter if there are extended hold times. Is your ask to have the difference in fare waived? I sympathize with the fact that your sister's travel plans were impacted though I don't know it makes sense for Southwest to move your flight too. My opinion doesn't matter, I'm playing devil's advocate, so it may be worth a try with Customer Relations ... View more

@Brewese47 wrote: Where can I go to get my w2  @Brewese47 look three posts up before yours, it has the link with instructions: https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Southwest-Careers/W-2-for-former-employees/m-p/88381/highlight/true#M5122 ... View more

Most of the folks here are other customers like you so I recommend sending your feedback directly to the Customer Relations team using one of the methods listed on this page: https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/Submitting-a-Suggestion-and-or-Complaint/ta-p/87244 ... View more

@Runnergirlfla is this a recent change? The Southwest Airport Information page still shows Fly By Security as available at FLL: https://www.southwest.com/html/air/airport-information.html ... View more

I recommend using the low fare calendar, here is a pre-populated link for May for the ORF-MCO route: https://www.southwest.com/air/low-fare-calendar/select-dates.html?adultPassengersCount=1&currencyCode=USD&departureDate=2019-05-01&destinationAirportCode=MCO&originationAirportCode=ORF&passengerType=ADULT&returnAirportCode=&returnDate=&selectedFlight1=2019-05-08&selectedFlight2=&tripType=oneway I randomly clicked on the $88 fare for May 8th and that is the fare for a non-stop flight. Your mileage may vary... ... View more

@huerta1518 wrote: Just to confirm from reading the posts, it seems as if EBCI does not qualify for the free upgraded boading? Just went on a flight on purchased EBCI thinking it would qualify and be reinburssed. Not a big deal if not.   Does the 4 free "Upgraded Boarding" only quialify when it is purchased at the gate and is A1-A15?    Thank you in advance for the clairification.      Your understanding of both distinct products is correct. ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat wrote: Check the Low Fare Calendar frequently for your desired routes to see if prices drop.    https://www.southwest.com/air/low-fare-calendar/   --TheMiddleSeat +1 @ncsunnysmith the low fare calendar mentioned by @TheMiddleSeat is the easiest way I've found to look for flights when you have flexible dates and times (with or without an advertised fare sale). ... View more

Double checking, when and where is your entry to the U.S. taking place?  Assuming you are flying in to Dallas and changing airlines and/or airports (Southwest flies out of DAL/Love Field not DFW) then you'll go through customs and immigration when you land in Dallas.  If that's the case then make sure you have a nice time buffer.   The short version from your post is that I'd be more concerned about making the connection, if you have one, in Dallas than in making the connection in Tampa.   Here is some the info from the Southwest web site (source: https://www.southwest.com/html/promotions/new-service-cuba.html#docstotravel)   Cuban tourist visa, which is sufficient for only certain categories of OFAC-permitted travel, can be purchased from Cuba Travel Services. You can purchase through Cuba Travel Services (CTS) via telephone, or online. You can also call CTS at (800) 963-2822 (Monday-Friday, 8 am-8 pm EDT) for assistance or to answer any visa related questions. You will pick up your Cuba visa on your day of travel inside the Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) or Tampa (TPA) airport at a CTS counter located at checkin or at your departure gate. Customers who do not purchase their Cuba visa online with CTS prior to arriving at the airport can purchase their Cuba visa on their day of travel at CTS ticket counters located inside the Ft. Lauderdale or Tampa airport.   And if you click through to the CTS site (https://cubavisaservices.com/product/sw-visa-card/) then scroll to the bottom and click "Alternative Ways to Purchase" this is what you see:   If a Southwest traveler would like to purchase the visa on the same day of travel, they may do so at any one of our Cuba Travel Services counters, which are located adjacent to the Southwest Cuba check-in counters and Southwest Cuba departure gates for connecting passengers. The cost of purchasing the visa at the airport is $75.00 (Visa price: $50.00 + Processing Fee: $25.00). In order to create a faster and more efficient airport experience for Southwest customers, Cuba Travel Service Visa kiosks do not accept cash as a form of payment. The following airport locations accept credit or debit cards at both the ticket counters and in the gate area: Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) Tampa International Airport (TPA) Good luck and safe travels! ... View more

My condolences.   You may want to give the Customer Relations team a call at 1-855-234-4654. See this external blog as it has a nice summary of the Southwest policy (for multiple airlines, not just Southwest) and what they were told when they called Southwest: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/points-and-miles-after-you-die/ ... View more

One related note is that the following blog post from August 2018 is also available:   A Resource for Family Travel: Locating Mothers’ Rooms in Airports across the Southwest System ... View more

If your trip is scheduled for April or May then it is likely that the adjustment was made due to schedule changes for the MAX 8 grounding. If the new times do not work for you then you need to get in touch with Southwest to see if other options are available. More info available here: https://www.southwest.com/html/air/737-MAX-8.html?clk=737MAX8_190408 ... View more

@JDavis3469 wrote: I get that SW feels no obligation for the additional $450 it cost me. But I still haven't received my money they said they were refunding for the original ticket. We're primarily other customers here so others and I are only able to offer opinions or experiences.  As another customer I would take the following two steps, if you haven't done so already:   Call the Customer Relations Department at 1-855-234-4654. Write to Southwest (I prefer an old fashioned letter for something like this but email is also available).  The mailing and email addresses are available here. With any communication be sure to highlight what you're requesting and why.  I think in this case you are requesting reimbursement for the original ticket AND reimburesement for the additional costs you incurred.   As you, others here, and the press have mentioned Southwest doesn't seem like they are entertaining reimbursement requests for additional costs, though putting it in writing will at least document the situation. ... View more

@LoveSpring wrote: What is ELDP?    @LoveSpring here is a Southwest blog about the Emerging Leader Development Program: https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Southwest-Stories/Leading-with-Heart-My-Journey-from-the-Military-to-Southwest-s/ba-p/86491 ... View more

I'm not aware of a way to sign up for a route notification from Southwest. The March 4th press release simply stated "Additional service details, including plans for previously announced gateways of San Diego and Sacramento, and for Lihue, on Kauai, will be announced in the coming weeks."  I'm guessing that the unannounced internal timing be be delayed given the grounding of the MAX 8.  Southwest was only using the -800 on the Hawaii routes but they've had to reshuffle their entire flight schedule and right now they're having a hard enough time taking care of all booked passengers.   The best way to get notified as soon as possible may be to set up a news alert on a third party site or news site.  For example Google has instructions on how to "Create an alert". ... View more

It's my undertanding that Southwest does not have a military boarding policy.  If such a policy exists (on the web or elsewhere) then please point me to it, I'd like to be able to provide a reference for others!   Also a side note is that seating and boarding is a big topic of discussion in these forums so it's not just military boarding, there is a bigger dynamic at work.  And there are *strong* and differing opinions on almost any boarding topic.  With many potential sequencing conflicts.  End of side note.   So without a formal military boarding policy I think what's happened is that an informal "norm" evolved where gate agents are able to use discretion to board military members early.  Some will let you board in "civvies", some state that you have to be in uniform, some say no dice.  I think in all instances the gate agent is technically correct because, without a policy, it really is their call.  Though in all instances, there should be courtesy and respect for all customers.   I'm a Navy veteran and two comments in this thread most resonate with me:   Do other airlines have open seating like Southwest?  Probably not.  Boarding early is a far bigger deal on Southwest than on an airline that has assigned seating.  Direct link to comment. There is no problem accepting preferential treatment if it is offered. However, there should never be the expectation of it. Policies and their subsequent enforcement vary from one place to another. It happens. The military is the same way.  Direct link to comment. The Knowledge Base on this site provides contact information to submit a suggestion or a complaint.  You can get in touch with Customer Relations by email (click through on this page), by phone at 1-855-234-4654 or on Twitter (@Southwestair). ... View more

@DancingDavidE wrote: I'm a fan of Seat Guru +1 ... View more

Your Rapid Rewards points post to your Southwest account after your credit card statement closes each month (check with Chase for timing of your statement close).  *Best case* scenario (as reported by several other customers in this thread) is that you will see your Companion Pass in your Southwest account about a week or so after you see the points post.  As noted by @bec102896 the terms of the offer provide a longer time frame so it could take longer.   Complete spend --> Credit card statement closes --> Points post to Southwest Rapid Rewards account --> Companion Pass posts to Southwest Rapid Rewards account.   Southwest also has a nice page explaining how to use your new Companion Pass: https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/promotions/promotions-companion-pass-tips.html ... View more

Correct, the seating capacities listed in my prior post are for Southwest, as shown in the Southwest investor 10-K. ... View more

@pagendriver thank you for your note, that is helpful context! I'm curious to hear your thoughts about how you'd like to see Southwest respond in a situation like this. My opinion, for what it's worth (I don't work for Southwest and I didn't receive email messages like you described), is that I would not expect to receive anything. ... View more

Thanks for closing the loop to let us know how it went! ... View more

@kelszl two thoughts: 1. If you share non-personal info like the circumstances of the error and/or how you feel you qualified for Companion Pass then the group of folks here may help provide guidance or experience for you to find a resolution. 2. It's April so you still have time to earn your CP. Assuming you do so through flights or points (not a credit card promotional offer) it will be good through the end of next year. ... View more

@Adorkibul wrote: she’s not sure if she will be able to go on our cruise in Sept, so I may need to change her ticket to someone else.   I hope she feels better soon! On the cruise front I also recommend checking with the cruise line about their policy to see if they allow/how they handle name changes both before and after the final payment due dates. ... View more

@davesacenet wrote: I do, however have a real issue paying over $800 for business class select, holding A1 and A2 and having to walk past the first several rows filled with folks who could just as easily sit in other seats (as they would have in most any other airline). I am drawn by discussions of the boarding/seating process and, as another customer, it's really interesting to see the dynamics of Southwest positioning of things versus the ensuing customer reactions.   All I'm doing here is simply listing how Southwest positions two items:   Boarding (click here for the direct source) "Customers board the plane based on boarding group (A, B, or C) and number (1-60). Boarding positions are assigned when you check in and will be displayed on your boarding pass."   "General boarding starts with Business Select customers, who are guaranteed positions at the front of the A Group, followed by Rapid Rewards tier Members and the remaining Customers in the A Group, children age six and under and a guardian, then groups B and C. Learn more about our boarding process."   "We have an open seating policy, so feel free to sit in any available seat when you get onboard."   Business Select (click here for the direct source)   "Purchasing this fare will enable you to receive priority boarding in the A1-A15 group" (this is the first of many bullet points listed on the page).     ... View more