Southwest Airlines Community

I have been a loyal customer with Southwest for years and fly the airline almost exclusively. More recently, back in October 2023, valuable items were stolen from my checked luggage. I opened a case Southwest and TSA per Southwest's recommendation with all supporting documentation and have been getting the run around since. I will continue to escalate this issue to the highest degree  necessary and have decided to fly other airlines after my last scheduled trip in December.  Is 2 free checked bags worth the potential cost of theft? It's a free for all for airline or TSA employees to do as they please. I am working with both to solve the issue, but nothing is being done.  I have also submitted reviews on multi-sites warning travels of this.  ... View more

@kierants wrote: Hey SWA, fix the rampant pre board abuse or many of your most loyal customers will leave you. Instead of just ranting, why don't you provide a "legal" way to do that. ... View more

The number has greatly increased and will continue just as emotional support pets did. ... View more

I haven't checked luggage in over 25 years. After the second time my luggage did not arrive, once again with very specific clothing required, a suit for an international presentation & a banquet down the first time, that was the very last time I ever checked luggage.   I do love your thinking. It's a great idea if it works for you. However, never have the luxury to sit around and wait for 30 rows of people to deplane.  But if I had the time it sounds very entertaining.  ... View more

Honestly, I didn't even read that long post you put on here.  I'm just going to cut through the chase and say this, if you're questioning if you should give your business to any company, then NO is the answer.  Best of luck on the other airlines. ... View more

Are you traveling alone? If not, could your companion take your blanket through security? You could go first, leave the area, then in the unlikely event that TSA examines the blanket you won't have to see it happen.  ... View more

Well said!!! ... View more

Is this still the policy on employee vaccinations? ... View more

If the person really does have a problem that would cause them to vomit if they did not have a window seat (propensity to vomiting in the plane is not a disability) they should buy the upgraded seat.  I much prefer a window seat and I pay up every flight.  Paying all that extra money makes me want to vomit but I don't use it as an excuse to preboard.  Southwest's preboarding policy is (from their own website):   Preboarding is available for Customers who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft or stowing an assistive device.   How this policy from their own website has turned into what they allow today is beyond me.  They need to stop allowing seat saving.   I have flown only Southwest since its inception but after my recent travel Southwest will no longer be my preferred airline due to preboarder scammers and the complicity of the Southwest staff that allow the scammers to operate without restrictions.  I 100% support legitimate disabled preboarders, but Southwest is letting this get out of control with nonsense claims people come up with and then allowing preboarders to save two separate full rows for the other people in their group that are in the C group.  On all three flights I took over this past two weeks they either allowed more than 1 person to board with a legitimate preboarders or they allowed each of the two preboarders to save rows of seats at the front of the plane.   How can they in good conscience charge one person $50 one way to upgrade and let someone without a legitimate DISABILITY preboard and save 4 seats.   In addtion to the preboarding fiasco, they have eliminated almost all of their non-stop flights and they do not allow enough time between connections.  They give no consideration to people who have to get off one flight in one terminal (carrying one personal item and a carryon because we don't trust that Southwest will get our checked luggage on their connecting flight) and only have 40 minutes to run clear across BWI to try to make it in line for the upgraded spot they paid for on the next flight. ... View more

I have several tattoos that I can't cover up. I have a tattoo near my right ear, another tattoo on my finger and a Persian tattoo on my neck. If I tried super hard, I could hide the ear tattoo by growing my hair long. Lol. And I could hide the tattoo on my finger by wearing a ring, but I can't hide the Persian tattoo even by wearing a turtleneck sweater. You can see how a Persian tattoo looks at Custom Persian Tattoo’s. I love my tattoos, and I don't wish to remove them. But I'm glad I didn't get a tattoo on my face. ... View more

My son was just boarding his delayed flight from Dallas, TX to  to return to his Navy air station in San Diego. Him and another service member neither in uniform, went to board when military was called after priority boarding. The service member in front of him clearly white, showed his military ID and ticket was scanned and he was allowed to board. My son right behind him , who is half white half Hispanic has dark hair showed his military ID and the attendant told him he could not board and needed to return to B 42 position to wait to board. I have never heard of such utter disrespect for our service members , but also the utter display of prejudice that occurred . I am appalled at the gate attendants hatred and disrespect. attendant  was at Gate 2 Dallas Lovefield airport Dallas to San Diego departure at 10:25 (delayed) originally supposed to depart at 10:05 12/29/22. I want answers!!!  ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: @floridaguy wrote: If someone "saves" a seat, I ignore them.  I sit where I want.      Said the guy who later in the thread says that he pre boards anyway. Of course he sits where he wants. He pre boards. Plenty of open seats... What a phony... Stay out the exit row, and let's all move on.     ... View more

Hello i read this and thought it was me writing. Did you ever find a solution to this fear?  I am trying now. Any suggestions would be appreciated.  ... View more

@Momojiggalo wrote:   Glad to hear you had a great experience.   However, because this is a customer forum, it is unlikely the crew will get recognition because of anything you post here.   If you really want the crew to get recognition, then you need to contact SW directly. To do so, click on "contact us" below and proceed.   ... View more

In another post, someone got really upset about preboarding.  The discussion turned very toxic and I reported the hostility.   Southwest came and closed the subject.   I really do not get all of the hostility on this board.  Just because someone preboards? ... View more

@GregoryAllen wrote: I am AList, spend a lot of money on this card to get this status and stand there in disbelief as most of the time 10-15 people pre-board and most have no trouble boarding, no wheelchairs etc. It is ridiculous the amount of people who claim pre- board status. Physically disabilities aside it is much more prevalent in this airline than others. Today out of St. Louis people with water bottles and workout clothes are pre- boarding. And it is a sham in most cases, all comments about anxiety, dogs, etc. aside.  Apparently you do not understand that  Southwest is merely complying with federal law. By law:   !) Southwest CANNOT ask anyone why he/she needs to pre board 2) Southwest MUST allow anyone who claims  a need to pre board to do so.   Now I don't pre board, but I do have sciatica. By my disability, I would be allowed to pre board. I don't need a wheel chair. Sometimes my condition causes me a whole lot of problems. Other times it does not. Lots of people with various disabilities do not need a wheel chair.   If you don't like the law, contact your members of congress and tell them you want to see it changed. Until that happens Southwest IS REQUIRED to follow federal law ... View more

Then please dont fly!  The rest of us dont like masks and they really dont do much anyway. ... View more

… ... View more

“Lets also give that to police and firefighters as well, and the retirees as well.”    Absolutely. Military, police, firefighters, all who put their lives on the line for our safety.  It world really show where SWA stands if they allowed all true heroes and their families to board first. I’d gladly step aside.  ... View more

You probably don’t know that, as of today, 56% of US population is injected. A lot of nurses got fired because they refused to be injected. Ask “why”?  ... View more

Just FYI @ffflyer  it would be best to start a separate thread on your own question, but the answer is “no” because you would have to check in with another boarding pass and board the plane twice.   Customers of Size have this option as discussed above, and I believe musicians can purchase a second seat for things like cellos.  There may be a few other exceptions I’m not aware of, but they all involve bringing something onboard that can’t go in an overhead bin.  ... View more

There are no requirements but if you’re going to take an airline that doesn’t require their employees to be vaccinated to visit a high risk state then do yourself a favor and tested after the trip.  https://covidactnow.org/us/virginia-va/  ... View more

If it’s acceptable to you to expose your child to a high risk city on an airline that does not require it’s employees to be vaccinated, then you should probably at least get the poor kid tested after the trip.  Chicago ... View more

Sorry to hear of your problem, but you are dealing with a federal regulation. Southwest has no control in the matter.   If you want to  complain, You should contact your elected federal reps  ... View more

Not sure about the purpose behind your smarmy "rant." Southwest is already one of the worst airlines when it comes to forcing paying customers to smother themselves with medical devices (face masks).    The flight attendants, gate agents, and even some ramp workers who work here are some of the most hypocritical people on the face of this planet. They'll deny you boarding for not social distancing, yet they themselves HUG each other in the gate (you often see this while waiting for your flight). Another classic case of rules for thee, but not for me.    I'm not sure how "bully passengers" applies here when passengers have no power. The U.S. government steals our money through taxation and gives it to criminal corporations like airlines. EVERYONE could boycott Southwest today...and it would still be in business because the Federal Reserve keeps printing money and giving it back to the airlines. The ostensible "private ownership" of Southwest is a mere illusion.    The ONLY reason I fly Southwest is because they allow you to choose your own seat; that's about it.  Other than that, none of the employees have any redeeming qualities.  ... View more

@kshawn  I totally get your frustration. I too have seen this.  ... View more

@runninggosteve wrote:   I noticed that you joined the community 18 minutes ago and posted 5 minutes ago.   How could you have possibly typed that long post in 13 minutes? I bet you joined specifically for that one post.   Oh, the incident you referenced happened over 6 months ago.   Do you have anything "new" to share? ... View more

Bye    Enjoy United, Delta, American, JetBlue or whatever other airline that’s also no “social distancing”.  ... View more