Southwest Airlines Community

I was in Vegas July 7-10, just as the "surge" was starting. It was fine. No problems, no illness, and I was vaccinated. If you're vaccinated, you'll be fine. (Even if you're not vaccinated, chances are you'll probably *still* be fine since COVID is a mild virus for nearly everyone who gets it. Don't let the "variant" talk scare you.)   --Jessica ... View more

@mwilcox1 wrote: There is no reason for us to trust Facebook, twitter or google w/ our data.   Hahahaha. Too late. Pretty much every human on earth with their own computer / smart phone / etc. uses some form of social media, and who doesn't use Google or Gmail?    I've tried many times to "quit" Facebook, but I've given up because it's so engrained into our lives, it's impossible to stop using. So I did the next best thing and set an app limit so I'm only on it for 30 minutes a day. I also block my FB news feed on Chrome by using an extension. It helps so I'm not wasting so much time on it mindlessly scrolling. That's the best I can do.    --Jessica ... View more

Jealous! I wonder how prizes went "unclaimed" - you didn't have to claim points prizes, so it's a little confusing how they are giving more points away now. Maybe the prices given away specifically on June 18, like the large point prizes, had to be claimed? That would be a shame if the bigger prizes were never claimed by anyone!   --Jessica ... View more

@chgoflyer wrote:   Again, as I've noted before, redemption is not "paused."   It's absolutely available, but only for those with a Rapid Rewards Visa card by Chase.   Hope this clears up the confusion.     (You are correct that this wasn't always the case. About a year after launching More Rewards as a cardmember benefit, Southwest opened up redemptions to all RR members. Then, just after the beginning of the pandemic, Southwest removed that ability and reverted to cardmember only access again.) So does the second link I posted take you to a page that shows something other than the COVID message I posted above? Because that's all I see when I click "Explore Rewards" from the first link. If you can actually redeem points, they need to update that landing page with a much better message.    Ironically, I tried it again while logged out of my account and clicking Explore Rewards took me to a different page:    https://www.1.awardhq.com/24468SWABROWSE    And "Shop Exclusive Offers" takes me to a page that lists stuff you can redeem, etc.   https://www.1.awardhq.com/24468SWA0SWARR    So it looks like the page is accessible and browsable but only if you're not logged into Southwest.com. I would consider this a bug. I feel like you should be able to get to the page/site regardless so you can browse what's there.     --Jessica ... View more

It seems counterintuative to use Southwest points for other airlines, but More Rewards has a line that says you could redeem points on "international flights on global carriers" - however, the ability to redeem points is currently paused.   https://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/redeem-more-rewards   Clicking "Explore Rewards" takes you to this page:   https://www.1.awardhq.com/24468SWANCMSWARRNCM    Which displays the message: "Due to circumstances resulting from COVID-19, we have temporarily paused the ability to redeem points in More Rewards. We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope to resume normal operations soon. Thank you for your patience and grace during this time."   Not sure when you will be able to redeem points again - but you also need a SW credit card to redeem points, apparently. (I feel like this wasn't always the case.)     --Jessica ... View more

One hour is normally plenty of time - pending no delays! Some connections are as tight as 30 minutes.   --Jessica ... View more

Southwest has been making a lot of schedule changes but I would think you would have been notified of a flight difference of this magnitude prior to the day of flight.   Southwest Vacations is technically a third party company not directly related to Southwest, so you will have to contact Southwest Vacations to resolve this.     --Jessica ... View more

Check your e-mail - when Southwest changes a flight you are notified via e-mail and if you are not happy with the change you can modify it yourself to *any other flight* **for free**.   You can also log into Southwest.com or the app, view your flight, and you should see a notification that "Your flight has been modified" with instructions on how to change it.    You have to make a change within 72 hours of being notified.   --Jessica ... View more

Woo hoo! Glad that worked out for you!    --Jessica ... View more

@keasbey wrote: How long will my 3.5 hour flight be today ? Probably near 6 hours. Feel bad for the people on my flight who think they are actually connecting to Baltimore  Why are you even flying Southwest again, on your credit card with "unlimited" funds? Give me a break. Go complain to your elite pals, and the rest of us will enjoy Southwest and all the benefits they offer.    --Jessica ... View more

@keasbey wrote: Lol the bags and everything are just rolled into the cost of the ticket. Get a calculator out with another airline. Its near the same price if not more for SW. Everytime.  Take the bags out of it then. The free changes and free cancellations are worth it. You simply don't have the flexibility of changing or canceling flights at whim with another airline without paying ridiculous fees to do so. Heck, American charges $200 just to cancel your flight, and $750 to cancel an international flight. Absurd.    --Jessica ... View more

@keasbey wrote: I have a credit card with no limit Well pin a rose on your nose. 🌹   ... you have a credit card with "no limit" and you are flying Southwest Airlines? 😂   Why don't you go get some first class seats somewhere. But for what it's worth, I don't think *any* airline is serving alcohol at this time, sooo you're SOL anyway.   According to the below, alcohol will be suspended on Southwest and American until at least September 13, which is when the mask mandate is supposed to be relaxed.    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/29/business/american-southwest-passengers-alcohol.html    --Jessica ... View more

@keasbey wrote: Last time I flew with SW, they canceled my nonstop flight due to weather. Put me on a connecting flight orlando-pittsvurgh-denver. Delayed hours at Orlando. Delayed hours at Pittsburgh because their communications went down. Was about to just rent a car because I have an actual schedule to keep.    0/10 would not recommend SW. They should've auto-issued a refund for the last flight I took. But they actually felt secure taking my money. I feel insecure spending it with them ever since It is as I suspected. You flew when SWA had all the issues a month ago and were caught in the middle of it. Many were. It sucks. Southwest has been trying to make it right, even with giving refunds (which, FWIW, you are entitled to anyway when Southwest cancels your flight - but you are not entitled to a refund if they reroute you and you actually take the flights you are assigned).    --Jessica ... View more

@keasbey wrote: Not a single soul cares at southwest , they can't help you. They're motto is "hope nothing goes wrong"   Which is why I'm on this forum blowing it up. Tired of this unaccountable company that sells you on an image of superior service 🤣🤣  Where's my eyeroll smiley when I need it?   Oh here it is: 🙄   The fact that you think Southwest's motto is "hope nothing goes wrong" and that they are "unaccountable" tells me everything I need to know about you.    I'm willing to bet my next paycheck that your flight delay occurred over the last month (particularly in mid-June) when Southwest had numerous delays and cancellations due to a) weather b) technological issues c) internet outages and d) a literal ground stop of the entire fleet which took days to rectify. All of this made the news and was posted here, a lot of it by me. Southwest had little to no control over any of this and they have been trying to make things right *despite* having so much out of their control. Have a little empathy for an airline trying to best service its customers.    --Jessica ... View more

I fly Southwest because it's cheaper than most other airlines, for these reasons:   1) 2 free checked bags, AKA no checked bag fees 2) No change fees. You can change your flight as many times as you want if the price is lower since you booked and you get the difference as a credit to use later. This is HUGE. 3) No cancel fees. Want to cancel your flight at any time? No problem. Use what you paid as a travel credit for up to a year after you initially booked your flight. You are not charged *any* fees to cancel. This is also HUGE.   Those 3 reasons alone make Southwest worth it, but I'm sure I can think of many more if given the time ...    --Jessica  ... View more

I am willing to bet my next paycheck that this is entirely made up.   Emotional support turtles are not a thing.   Even if they were - Southwest only supports small cats and dogs in carriers on domestic flights. As far as trained service animals, only dogs are allowed on domestic and international flights - no other species are allowed.    More info here: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/traveling-with-animals/index-pol.html     --Jessica ... View more

FWIW, I have a flight booked for the first weekend of October and Southwest has already changed it three times (1 change outbound and 2 changes returning) but the changes are minimal, and I really have no other options other than the flights that I'm on, so I'm leaving it as-is.    I agree with others - the connecting flight doesn't matter to Southwest, what matters to them is that you get to your final destination. I have had flight changes in the past where my layover completely changed as well. If you need to get to that connecting destination, do what others have said and book each leg/portion of your trip separately - on a separate reservation. That way, you are guaranteed to go there.    --Jessica ... View more

Flight cancellations have been happening constantly since the pandemic started in March of 2020. It's not nearly as bad now as it was a year ago, but schedule changes are happening all the time due to increasing/decreasing demand in various areas.    --Jessica ... View more

I once had a flight get cancelled as I was on my way to the airport - but that was a few years ago, and not Southwest. The weather was perfect where I was, too, so I have no idea why it was cancelled. Sometimes things just happen ...   --Jessica ... View more

@Jpomp wrote: WOW,  are you personally offended in some way?   My point is that any Business should Not be offering services that they are not staffed for.  It only frustrates Loyal customers and tarnishes their reputation.  I was REALLY disappointed that SW did not do anything For my DIL.  After 16 months of  working in ICU WITH Covid patients, many hours missed with her children and NO Holiday or vacation time,  Rhey only caused her frustration and a lot if expense.   Maybe SW should have Mgrs. On staff, near by to talk to Customers as a group when these things happen. instead of the poor SW STAFF facing the customers with no information or alternatives.  I don't blame SW STAFF, I blame management.  Nope, just stating the facts as I see them. In these COVID times there are a lot of people these days who do nothing but complain about various situations when, most of the time, their situations are entirely resolvable by doing XYZ and/or they aren't the crises that they claim they are. As we say, people rarely write about positive experiences, but boy do they like to write about a negative one ...  Are you saying that your DIL's flight was cancelled due to lack of staff? It's possible, but things also happen that are out of Southwest's control that causes cancellations (weather, technological problems, etc.). Especially over the last month, cancellations have been much higher than normal due to the above reasons.  Assuming your DIL's flight was cancelled by Southwest, she is entitled to a refund. She will have to contact Southwest to request one. IMO, that's more than enough for Southwest to "do". In some cases when flights are delayed or cancelled, Southwest also gives out vouchers, but that's on a case by case basis. You can't compare and contrast what happened - a cancellation - with personal life experiences (a difficult job, a divorce, a death, whatever it is) and expect compensation above the standard procedures. Sometimes, you may get more than you expect, but complaining about it isn't (or rather, shouldn't be) the way to get them.  --Jessica ... View more

Not being able to check in at 15 hours isn't an early bird issue. With EB Southwest 'automatically' checks you in 36 hours ahead of departure, where the standard check in is 24 hours. Despite that, you still have to 'check in' yourself to retrieve your boarding pass and print it, add it to your phone, etc.  The benefit of EB is that you can check in any time within 24 hours of departure and your boarding position has already been assigned to you. Without EB, your boarding position is assigned the moment you check in.   If you aren't *able* to check in at all, that's a separate issue.    --Jessica ... View more

Thank you for sharing your story!! I'm glad Southwest was able to be there for you in a time of need ❤️   --Jessica ... View more

Just log onto Southwest.com and change your flight. When you go to change it, you will see your available options and whether the price is higher or lower for each option, and you can select the exact same flight you already booked and either get a credit if it's lower or pay the difference if it's higher. In your case, you'll get a travel credit - you don't get a credit card refund when flight prices go down, you get travel credit to use later.    However, since Southwest made the change, they give you 72 hours to change the flight to a different flight for free, so you won't be able to do this until 72 hours passes. I'd take advantage of another flight option, if you find one that's better than the one you have booked now.    @dfwskier wrote: If the price is lower, you have to cancel the ticket, get travel funds, and then use those travel funds to buy a new ticket. If the new ticket is lower priced than the original, then you will have residual travel funds for future use. You don't have to cancel the ticket first. You can just change the flight, select the same flight you already have booked, and you'll get the travel credit difference when you reconcile the changes.    --Jessica ... View more

IMO the early bird doesn't matter as much for the connecting flight as it does for the initial flight, due to the reasons @dfwskier stated.    And actually, a plane that lands at 7:20 with the connection departing at 8:05 is a 45 minute connection. It's plenty of time. Most of the time your connecting plane is very close to the gate you are deplaning from - if you're lucky it's literally the next gate over, or the gate across, which has been the case for me many times. Assuming there are no delays you should get to the gate right when A starts to board - but there are no promises or guarantees.    --Jessica ... View more

You're kidding - right?   Mid-June was when the entire airline industry was hit with inclement weather across the country and Southwest, American, United, Delta, others had that to deal with plus a few technical issues on top of it. In fact, on June 15 Southwest was under a ground stop due to the technological issues they encountered, and various issues stemming from it went on for days. Thread here: https://community.southwest.com/t5/Check-In-Boarding/Southwest-in-process-of-resuming-normal-operations-after/m-p/122122#M8100    I'm sorry you had issues with your flights, but mid-June was a bad time of the month for many fliers due to situations that were quite literally out of Southwest's control - regardless if you think otherwise.    Also - if you have truly flown for 20+ years, I would think you would have a little more empathy when situations arise that cause cancellations, especially in this particular  circumstance.    Also also - you got a $200 voucher and your wife/son got $250 vouchers - that equals $700 in vouchers. And you want *more* compensation? Be thankful you got what you did! Some people want the world ...    --Jessica ... View more

If you have truly flown Southwest for 30+ years and fly once a month, I assume that means you flew all of last year and this year as well, and that means you know first hand about all about the struggles the entire airline industry has faced over the past 16 months and Southwest is not to blame for the problems at large -- weather most certainly has been a problem over the past month alone, as is staff shortages in almost every sector across the country. Southwest has been making major modifications to their flight schedules (including flight changes and cancellations) since *before* the pandemic - it actually started with the MAX 8 shortage in the spring of 2019 - remember those days? You fly once a month, you should.    If you have never had a problem until now, consider yourself lucky.   --Jessica ... View more

@ODETYMES wrote: Well they did it again!  Changing flights and times, send travels south when going north, making additional stops, increasing times and waits, and then offering to change the flight when nothing better or equivalent is offered.  Come on guys, you're trying to load the plane at our expense, time, and inconvenience.  Not very fair or business like.  Yes, you are starting to behave like the other "big airlines" and that is a no no for Southwest (I thought). Yep - this is nothing new. They've been changing flights around based on increasing/decreasing demand for well over a year now. Thank you, pandemic and MAX 8 shortages before that!   --Jessica ... View more

You won't need to show an ID at your connecting airport when going onto a different airplane.   If you - for some reason - exited the airport, you would need to go through TSA security to re-enter the airport and go to your gate; then you would need to show an ID.    But when you are just catching a connecting flight you don't have to leave the airport terminal gate area, and you don't need to show an ID there because it's already past TSA.   --Jessica ... View more