Southwest Airlines Community

Think you really need to go on the Chase website and read the terms and conditions of the specific CC you apply for. Even then, after you apply for the card, reread the the T&C's, issuing banks change the benefits offered often, some for the better some for the worse. They are in business to make money. Safe Travels ... View more

Maybe use the multi-city option when booking flights, that gives you a 3rd destination rather than a just roundtrip or one way trip. You can string together an itinerary with multiple destinations that way. Might help? Safe Travels   ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 wrote: @bec102896 wrote: Just in: soon you can standby on another southwest flight regardless of your fare class and Business Select customers will get free Wi-Fi!  i’m curious for A List A List preferred customers what are your thoughts on this change since you could be on standby with a lot more people certain times of the year. Keep in mind it’s only standby where A list still gets same day confirmed.     I'll weigh in as I usually book WGA+ (non A-List).   I think the Same-Day Standby policy change was necessary considering competing legacy carriers were doing the same. Since the benefit appears to be morphing into a standard feature across the airline industry, it makes sense in my opinion for Southwest to offer it too. Since Southwest generally does not like to upcharge for such "basics", I think this had to be done.   We should keep in mind two factors: Same-Day Standby List is different from Same-Day Flight Change (both currently included with A-List and WGA+ fares or higher). Of all the times that I've needed to use either of the Same-Day change benefits under WGA+, I have only needed to use Same-Day Flight Change; I have not needed to use the Same-Day Standby List benefit. It appears that non A-List'ers who purchase WGA fare will not get the Same-Day Flight Change benefit.   Regarding A-List, I don't think there's much to worry about because I assume A-List'ers will still retain their priority order on the Standby List based on fare, being placed only behind those who are re-accommodated due to flight disruptions and in front of everybody else. As for me who books WGA+, the policy states that non A-List WGA+ fare also remain ahead of WGA and behind A-List.   With all that being said, I think the A-List is long past due for much needed value upgrades. I would propose a number of add-ons to A-List so that this program too can better compete with the other carriers.    Example suggested perks to add to A-List combined with all existing perks:   A-List: Free Wi-Fi Transferrable Flight Credit for WGA Standand Plus Priority Pass Reimbursement (10 lounge visits per year) 100% TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment Reimbursement 25% CLEAR enrollment Reimbursement   A-List Preferred: All A-List perks above plus Premium Beverage Prestige Priority Pass Reimbursement (unlimited visits) Free Companion Upgrades to Business Select Board after A30 if positioned at A31 or behind 100% CLEAR enrollment Reimbursement Agree with all of this!   --Jessica ... View more

@vollyhawk wrote: Very good data, and I agree with almost all of what you said; however,    A. Southwest could make this better with a software change by cutting off Early Bird purchases when all A Group boarding passes are gone. -or- B. Allow Early Bird people who have paid real $$ to board before family boarding.   It is that simple, but they won't because this is about income via the EB fees collected. Purchasing EB amounts to "gambling". You are paying money and hoping you get an A Boarding pass and you have no idea if you will or not. Why should there be a gamble? S/W should just insure that you'll go as soon as possible over anyone else who didn't pay extra.   I also didn't touch on gate agents enforcement of Southwest policy for family boarding, although many others do on here.  Gate agents often send those needing extra time to get down the gangway first. Even before A Boarding.  They also do not enforce the family boarding policy of two adults only with the child or children under 7. I see huge families line up, aunts, uncles, etc.    I just don't believe the company should sell Early Bird boarding if you don't board before families holding C boarding passes. If families want to sit close to each other, then they should have to buy that option. I can see the idea to cap EB sales but I don't think the airline is going to consider changing this policy as the primary benefit of EB is "Automatic check-in" per the Marketing language on their website; the second being "Better boarding position" with the statement that an A-position is not guaranteed. There are passengers who like the convenience of having the airline do an auto-check in and are willing to pay for it. Capping EB sales would alienate this group.   Even in my "You're going to (destination)" confirmation emails, the marketing message for EB is "Don't miss out on automatic check-in: EarlyBird Check-In reserves your boarding position at 36 hours before your flight, earlier than regular check-in."   As mentioned, I don't opt for EB because I have the ability to check in at the 24 hour mark and can purchase Upgraded Boarding if I get a deep-in-the-B boarding position.    I believe Family Boarding is where it needs to be and left as-is because it involves traveling with children ages six and under; it is best that there be enough open seats on the plane where the child can sit together with at least one of the accompanying adults.   If you're looking for a solid A-position, I would suggest going forward if you book WGA or WGA+ (and if you're able to check in manually at the 24 hour mark) to opt for Upgraded Boarding once you check in instead of buying EB.   Purchasing for Upgraded Boarding opens at the 24 hour mark to sell the remaining A1-A15 slots that were not sold as part of Business Select. It does cap out once all of the A1-A15 slots are sold. It's a little more pricey than EB and the benefit is per flight segment, but if there are spots available, you'll be in the A1-A15 group. I've always been able to snag a solid position at the 24 mark, even for full flights headed in the peak travel direction (e.g. SAN to LAS on a Friday). Just keep in mind that Upgraded Boarding is not refundable and any passenger-initiated same-day flight changes or standby's forfeits the purchase. https://www.southwest.com/upgraded-boarding/   I would also still send your original letter to Southwest and they should also be able to provide you with some official information and tips on these two services.   Also, being a frequent flyer, do you think you may hit A-List before 2024? If so, that's another option as you'll be ahead of both the EB and Anytime fare group in terms of boarding position if you buy your flight at least 36 hours in advance. You'll also be able to board in between the A and B groups as a worst case scenario.   Hope this helps! ... View more

@Sasgirl wrote: This might be a weird question. If I want to upgrade my boarding position would the credit card I used for purchasing the tickets be used or would I be able to enter a new one? I'm a frequent buyer of Upgraded Boarding and have the option to use a different credit card to purchase it when I purchase after checking in via the Southwest website. I assume the same applies when checking in and purchasing via the App. Note that there is no option to buy this option with Rapid Rewards points, LUV Vouchers, Flight Credits or Southwest Gift Card. ... View more

@tappingmom1 wrote: DancingDavidE said: "so I’m here in a middle seat now..."   Why, DancingDavidE, why???  I'm sad for you...😥 No worries!   I had A16 even a little better position than usual, but pre-boarded with my mom and I had her take the window while I took the middle. Full flight so not much chance of sitting aisle/window that close to the front.          ... View more

In today's Litigious world, airlines as employers have generally instructed their employees not to lift heavy objects into overhead bins for passengers. The statement I have heard often is, "if you are unable to lift and stow your luggage yourself, we will check your bag." Carryon luggage can weigh from next to nothing to over 50 pounds, so I "get" the airline's position. The FA was not being rude or singling you out. Also FWIW, One of the main reason's preboarders are allowed a "plus 1" is to help stow their baggage/devices for them since the FA's are not supposed to lift heavy bulky items into the overhead bins. Safe travels  ... View more

This may not be useful three weeks later but you can also try buying one or two or three tickets at a time and see if the price goes back down, if it is tolerable to have one of the tickets be on a separate reservation.  The example @dfwskier gave you is great - one follow up is that if one of the remaining seats was taken out from under you there might still be three of them left.    ... View more

Please come visit Florida and leave behind those tax dollars so those of us who live her don't have to pay any takes.   Many thanks. ... View more

Boarding finally!!!! ... View more

Now that the train is up and running, for $79 I can go Orlando to Miami in nice comfortable leather seats.  Living in Florida is so nice.  No state taxes either! ... View more

@DancingDavidE wrote: @srogers19 wrote: Thank you! Yes I did mean upgraded boarding, so I will try when I am within 24 hours of boarding. Thanks again Ill report back with any issues 🙂 Just to clarify I've usually seen this the same day of the flight, I'm not sure if they offer it when you check in at T-24 for a flight the next day. It is usually something you get at the airport.   Yes, Upgraded Boarding is available for sale on the phone app and website at the 24 hour mark and after completing check-in. Since I normally don't buy Early Bird Check-In, I usually make the decision to buy Upgraded Boarding at the 24 hour mark if I check in and get a deep B or further back position and flight demand appears to be high enough where the probability of a full flight will be likely. ... View more

@kbs915 wrote: Yes, I've upgraded my family when they're flying with me 🙂 My question is when I buy a ticket for my son who is flying solo and whether the upgraded boarding will be refunded on my SW Priority. I'm trying to find out it just sees a charge for an upgraded boarding to use one of the 4 free passes or if the system is specifically looking WHO the upgraded boarding is for 🙂 Yes, it should work as described, it has for me.     ... View more

Might delete just in case  ... View more

Most of the time I am sympathetic to people who feel cheated by Southwest.  I've been a promoter of more goodwill given the Holiday DISASTER and basically, cutting people some slack.   However, getting to the ticket counter 35 minutes prior to departure is completely implausible.  Every airline in the country tells you to arrive at the airport two hours before your flight departs.  Yes, sometimes you have an hour or more to spare, but when you cut it closer, you just end up with messed up plans, like yours.   You should have arrived earlier.  If you couldn't then work with Southwest.  Had you cancelled your flight you could have preserved a flight credit.  Instead, it sounds like you went off in a huff and put yourself in financial loss.   Get to the airport on time. ... View more

The next time my companion and I are A and C boarding, I'll save the seat and say "she's in the bathroom." Hopefully it'll work! (My companion never checks in in a timely manner.) ... View more

@perton wrote: I have a quick question, I will soon be traveling, and it will be my first time having a layover flight before reaching the final destination; when I arrive at the first stop, should I claim my luggage and recheck it, or does it get moved onto my next flight without me having to do anything? Not sure if this will affect it, but there is about a 5-hour difference between when I stop and when I depart again. Don't send us any personally identifying information but if you wanted to share the route cities it might help us.   For instance if this is an international flight into the US then you will claim your bags and go through customs and re-check.   For all other scenarios if you booked it as a one-way ticket then I think you can collect everything at the end.   Five hours is atypical but there might be an exception for some of the infrequently served airports.              ... 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

@Beckynh10 wrote: We are seriously considering changing flight companies because of the options and discounts offered by Frontier. They offer an unlimited flight pass for summer (May-Sept) for $499 they also offer an annual unlimited pass for $999. Kids also fly free with a paying adult. We have a southwest credit card, we fly often because I live in California and my husband in Texas. We have 6 kids. 4 here with me and 2 with him in Texas. And somehow we aren’t even eligible for a companion pass?! We fly all the time but with a  customer service that could care less if we leave to another airline we probably won’t be flying southwest anymore. It’s extremely frustrating and disappointing  Keep an eye out for promotional companion pass offers. This includes the kids, I've had my 7 year old get a promotional offer and take the 4 year old as her companion 😁 unfortunately these were short-term offers but take what you can get.   Obviously from credit card spending you'll have at most one or maybe two of the group of you who can qualify from points in that way. Just make sure to strategize who flies with who the most often. If you are bringing kids back and forth then each adult might be the best companion pass holders, with the kids as the companions respectively. (Can be changed a few times, but have a plan in place.)         ... View more

@bec102896  thanks for saying so, this was explained by different representatives through the course of this situation so far.   Update: Customer Relations has responded, in the form of an email... the representative has mentioned calling at a specified time/date, and unfortunately that was yesterday and failed to do so.   Will continue with emails to Customer Relations, since it is the only option... ... View more

@DancingDavidE wrote: @oautrey wrote: thank you for that explanation - agree!  Sorry that there wasn’t a better answer for you. As the schedule shifts maybe there will be a valid connection through OAK or DEN again in the future.  Feel free to mark a solution if you are satisfied with the answers.    Also for the future keep an eye out on BNA - that's your key to getting into PNS as late as possible. If you can find a no-plane-change (aka "direct") flight to BNA from EUG then it should work and allow you to book it normally.   There is sometimes a MDW-BNA-PNS flight that is no plane change as well, maybe you can get to MDW on one plane change and then take that flight number, no change in BNA, on to PNS.   (I go to PNS 3-4 times a year but mainly in January so I may not be seeing the same schedule that you see.)         ... View more

Today when I checked I received a "Customer Service Adjustment" for 6,000 TQP.  So case closed.  Apparently just took them a little bit longer.  And it seems it may have been manually entered.  Usually the system generated point awards are labeled "RR Credit Card Tier Qualifying Points" in my account. ... View more

Next we will read where Motor Trend magazine retroactively nominates the AMC Hornet as Car of The Year. ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: @floridaguy wrote: I'm wondering if this will come to be known as the Spring DISASTER? Better luck next time... My mother-in-law arrived on her flight even a little bit early today. So for Southwest no impact to us today, I'd say not a disaster.        ... View more

@rnylin wrote: I am currently on the phone with them. I have numerous case numbers regarding my 25k points. They have told me that they are still working on issuing the points. I have probably called 10 times to resolve this and I am very frustrated. I suggest you review posts up thread that suggest either writing the CEO or using social media. That is certainly going to be better than continuing to call ... View more

Most software systems attach the suffix to the last name, or there is a separate field for suffix.     Agree that you need to contact Southwest and have them align your name in their "system" to your passport. ... View more

@floridaguy wrote:   If it was included, I want a credit for the implied value.     Congrats @floridaguy, this is one of your more ridiculous statements.  Despite not actually succeeding, I appreciate the effort you made to try and make your statement slightly relevant to the conversation   --TheMiddleSeat ... View more

If I wasn’t ALP I think I’d pay the extra $20ish to get A1-15 during peak travel season if going with a group buy 1 upgrade boarding then save seats further back in the plane (row 10 vs row 1 isn’t that different) less people might ask for your seats and one of the first on the plane (after preboarders) is better than you could still be last  ... View more

I stand corrected, my bad. ... View more