Southwest Airlines Community

@rees30095 wrote: Dancingdavid....I'm not sure I've ever flown Southwest, but I happened by this blog so I posed this question since it seemed to be a good place to ask. The mouse house welcomes you always and thanks for the response. Southwest did do what you were describing until about five years ago whenthey stopped providing peanuts onboard. However they don't have full oversight of everyone's private snacks on board so if a customer brought their own peanut items onto the plane there isn't a control for that.    A mask might help, but the person could also need to eat or drink something, and as @tappingmom1 described it is a difficult situation.   Just general message board practice would be to start a new thread if you have questions as opposed to replying to such an old post which in this case turns out to have a lot of outdated information.    Since it is a Southwest message board I incorrectly assumed you had a question about flying a Southwest flight - this board wouldn't have any information on the other airlines necessarily although I think there is an industry-wide trend to get away from serving peanuts. Maybe try FlyerTalk.   Hopefully visiting the Mouse again in 2025! Always a great time.         ... View more

@fa27 wrote: What languages are in demand for bilingual flight attendants. I am 18 and want to use the 2 years I have to study a language that will make me a competitive candidate to hopefully become a bilingual flight attendant . For a competitive edge as a bilingual flight attendant, focus on languages like Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, or Portuguese. These align well with major international destinations and increase your chances with airlines like Southwest. Prioritizing fluency in one of these key languages will make you a strong candidate. ... View more

Thank you so much for following up! ... View more

@tappingmom1- thanks for sharing.  I laughed so hard til I cried while reading this to my husband @ceddes, the OP- thanks for a little diversion from the usual here 🙂 ... View more

I will fly this weekend, and I am worried about the bag I am planning to use as my carry-on. It is a hardshell that is 25.1” x 17.2 " x 10.3”. Would I be able to use it?  I have three checked bags already.  ... View more

I will fly this weekend, and I am worried about the bag I am planning to use as my carry-on. It is a hardshell that is 25.1” x 17.2 " x 10.3”. Would I be able to use it?  I have three checked bags already.  ... View more

The other advice here is great.   Although no warranty it will be the same on your date of flight check the gate assigned today for both flights and see how close they are. Check a few more days to see if there is any consistency.   Also I would expect you meant Midway which can be a hike from high “A” gates to high “B” gates but if you are at O’Hare it will be very close.    ... View more

Sorry I meant to say not an Aisle because they are smaller in some cases;  I think window would be best, middle you could have people trying to get past you to the restroom and could accidently step on carrier, but it should fit under the seat.  I couldn't even fit a backpack in the aisle section last time I was on ... View more

It seems that there is a new rule at the Boston airport where you can't put clothes in your ski bag anymore. The woman at the bag drop told you that TSA won't transport it if it has anything other than skis, poles, helmet, goggles, or boots. This rule might be new because last year, you had no problem packing your ski clothes in the ski bag. You might want to double-check the policy again or ask the airport staff for more details. Maybe consider packing your soft yoga leggings and other clothes in a separate bag to avoid any issues. ... View more

A huge percentage of Alaskans live in the Anchorage area, so the small amount of traffic coming from small towns can be left to Alaska.  Alaska's main hub is Seattle anyway.  Lots of cruises also end near Anchorage.   Anchorage to Denver, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, Chicago and Baltimore would make great redeye candidates.   Several years ago I took a redeye from Anchorage to Minneapolis and it worked out great.  The downside to serving Anchorage is the extreme seasonality,  but Southwest still serves Fort Myers despite it's extreme seasonality. Run flights to Anchorage in the summer and more flights to RSW in the winter. ... View more

I've never flown SWA but heard they're better than HA. Never flown on first-come, first-serve flights in general. Luckily I'm flying inter-island (Hawaii). Do you have recommendations from booking a flight for an individual? Especially with the different types of fares available. ... View more

worst flights ever,South West are liars  ... View more

Absolutely, it's great you're planning ahead! You're correct about the carry-ons. Besides the overhead bags, you and your kiddo can each have a personal item like a purse or a backpack. Perfect for snacks and a lovey! And yes, you're allowed up to 9 bottles, but they must be 3.4 oz or less. One tip: pack an extra outfit for both of you in case of spills or accidents. As for the flight, my little one's first time in business class was a treat. The extra space and attention made the journey smoother for both of us. ... View more

Yes, you can check a packed cardboard box as one of your pieces of luggage when flying. Many airlines allow this, but make sure the box is sturdy and securely taped shut. It’s a good idea to use custom cardboard boxes designed for shipping, as they are more durable. Check with your airline for specific size and weight limits to ensure it meets their requirements. ... View more

@Adventure wrote: Looking for a Southwest Airlines employee/rep to confirm.  If wheels and handle were excluded, no lecture was needed. Bag would be just fine.  Making sure I have the rule so I can counter with it.  Thanks   This is a customer forum, so if you'd like a SW rep to confirm you should either email them here or reach out to them on Twitter/X. They usually respond very quickly to Twitter DMs. ... View more

Massive abuse by people gaming the system. These are the parasites of society. ... View more

I completely get what you are saying bbland.  I feel the same way.  I have several pieces of luggage for differing situations.  Seems most of the replies don't get it. One specific situation is a carryon for Southwest, i.e. 24x16x10.  I actually have an older travelpro but it is not a spinner, just a two-wheeler.  Harder to pull and definitely won't roll down the aircraft aisle, like a spinner that you can turn sideways.  Its green, which unfortunately sometimes deceives the boarding agent and I have to prove it meets their rules by putting it in the sizer and they are astonished that it is perfectly sized, wheels and all.  The wheels are somewhat recessed.  It would be too big for other airlines and international.  I bought it in an online clearance sale 5 years ago and not seen one since. The best alternative would be the Travelpro Crew VersaPack Max Carry-on Rollaboard Spinner.  It is 55 Liters interior volume vs the one that another responder suggested (49L) and half the cost at $200.  It is 23x15.5x10 (or 2" thicker if you expand it, which I have found to be just fine, especially in the MAX 737's).   That's including wheels, etc.  So you are still not getting the maximum size for southwest, but awfully close.  Very stable and easy to roll.  I ditched the interior folding board for extra space.   https://travelpro.com/collections/standard-carry-on-luggage-and-suitcases/products/crew%E2%84%A2-versapack%E2%84%A2-max-carry-on-expandable-rollaboard%C2%AE?variant=20372015284322  There are actually a couple of 24x16x10 carryons I have found online, but they are cheap and cant possibly match the travelpro quality.  ... View more

Hello!   Be sure that the actual harness you purchase and the actual harness you receive is a CARES CRS with the appropriate labeling sewn on the harness.  Many of these that are sold on Amazon are "fakes," are not safe, and will not be allowed.  Pay attention to the 1-star reviews on the particular one you are considering...   Also be aware that this harness prevents the passenger behind you from using his tray table.  I would head toward the last row so there isn't a potential conflict. What car seats/child restraint systems (CRSs) are accepted onboard? If you're traveling with an infant or toddler, you should know that proper use of a child restraint system (CRS) enhances child safety on aircraft. For this reason, we and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly recommend that infants and children who weigh 40 pounds or less be secured in an appropriate CRS when traveling by air. If the CRS was manufactured before February 25, 1985, it must have one of the following labels. A CRS manufactured on or after February 26, 1985, must bear both labels in A and B: This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft. This child restraint device conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. FAA APPROVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 14 CFR PART 21.305 (D) APPROVED FOR AIRCRAFT USE ONLY. We also accept seats approved by the United Nations or foreign governments. The CRS must have a stamp or decal or some other mark that indicates foreign government approval. Seats manufactured under the standards of the UN must have a label with a circle surrounding the letter E, followed by a number assigned to the country that has granted approval. It is important to note that the CARES CRS is the only harness-type device approved for use onboard. The device is designed for Customers weighing between 22 and 44 pounds and must have a label that indicates, FAA Approved in Accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d), Approved for Aircraft Use Only. Additionally, please know the FAA has banned certain types of child restraints that may be harmful to a child in the event of an aviation emergency. These include backless booster seats and any device that ties the child to another person. CRSs ALLOWED IN MIDDLE AND WINDOW SEATS ONLY. If the CRS is placed in the middle seat, it must not prevent the Passenger in the window seat from exiting the aircraft. If two children are traveling, CRSs must ONLY occupy the middle and window seats. Never aisle seats. CRSs ARE NEVER ALLOWED ON EXIT SEATS. This also means an aisle seat OR the row in front of or behind an emergency exit row. WEIGHT LIMITS. Though you’re allowed to place the CRS any way you prefer, here’s what we recommend: Children under 20 pounds: CRS faces the back of the plane. Children between 20-40 pounds: CRS faces the front of the plane. SEATBELTS ARE AVAILABLE. If you feel you need extra help securing a child, just ask the nearest Flight Attendant. To make sure your CRS will fit properly when you’re onboard, check the widths of the narrowest and widest passenger seats. When booking travel, click on the hyperlinked flight number to find the aircraft series size for a specific flight. While we try our best to utilize the originally scheduled aircraft type for your journey, operational circumstances may result in a swap to an aircraft with different seat dimensions.   https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/What-child-restraint-systems-CRSs-are-accepted-onboard   Safe travels! ... View more

After 4 flights in 2 days which each had over 25  pre-boarders- I'm over it. And breaking news states that SW has increased the maximum charge for earlybird check-in and upgraded boarding ( up to $149!).  That will surely increase the number of pre-boarders.   Also- SW policy regarding saving of seats ( they don't officially have one)  has also been put out there on social media and now abused. Between the 2 policies- the abuse has gotten out of control.   I used to like no assigned seating  - but now I wish that Southwest had pre-assigned seating.  ... View more

Here is the current status of Flight 1402: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/wn1402   The assigned plane is N8323c: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n8323c   According to the tracker, the plane for Flight 1402 left Fort Myers airport early in the afternoon local time but was turned around upon approaching the Chicago area and was therefore diverted and landed at IND for a few hours (assuming the reason was due to severe weather passing through Chicago according local weather reports). Thus, the excessive delay. ... View more

@Acolvin73 wrote: I HAD A CROSSOVER BAG VERY TINY JUST ENOUGH TO HOLD MY PHONE AND MY WALLET AND MY ID   You say your purse was so tiny it only held a phone, wallet, and ID... yet you had to spend 20 minutes emptying your entire suitcase to fit it in there?  I call BS.   It was, however, nice of you to apologize to the other passengers on the flight for the late departure, because it was absolutely your fault for not complying with the stated rules.    Your post is painful to read. It's really not that difficult to use the shift key.  ... View more

We see people gaming most any system put in place. This is just one such example. I have been in line with a veteran of war that could easily legitimately qualify for pre board but he would not have it. He was pretty outraged at the people he saw clearly gaming the policy. This was going on with emotional support dogs as well. To the people that do this, shame on you. ... View more

@tappingmom1 wrote: Hi @ecurl ,   This is a community message board...and we love to read positive reviews of service provided by Southwest airlines!   To leave your review with Southwest, click on the blue Contact Us at the bottom of this page.  After it opens, scroll down to Provide Feedback.  And after it opens, click on Complements. It's always helpful if you can provide the date of service and airport.   Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge the assistance this SWA employee gave you!! They will also potentially ask for your confirmation number which helps validate what your pathway was as far as airports and aircraft during the day. Don't ever post that publicly, save it for the contact us form.     ... View more

For most of my day-trippers and one-nighters, with a little help of rolling up my clothing, I can get everything packed into a standard school-sized backpack. For my multi-day trips that require more clothing, I roll with the 50L Carofield backpack duffle (about20x13x8). This piece came complete with packing cubes and a separate compartment for the laptop that allowed me to make the most of the space. I roll the clothes up and pack 'em in the cubes.   Also, I place the 311 bag, laptop/electronics, and any other 'unusuals' in an easily accessible area in case TSA ever needed to look at it.   One key benefit of this Carofield backpack...If there's no overhead bin space next to a vacant window seat, this bag (believe it or not) does fit under the seat in front of me, even toward the front of the plane where the total width is slightly narrower. Also works for middle seat, but not for the aisle seat.     This basically allows me to pick any open window seat regardless of how full the overhead bins are. Plus, a side benefit is I can have access to the bag during all phases of the flight anytime above the 10k' mark regardless of whether the seatbelt light is on.  ... View more

@JimmyKelly01 wrote: Please contact us for flight cancellation and changes at +1 (888) 495-1194.   Do not call that phone number.  It is not associated with Southwest Airlines.  Post reported for removal. ... View more