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01-18-2024
03:49 PM
@JP66 wrote:
I have been a Southwest Customer since it was only Love Field and two other airports. I have seen so many changes at Southwest over the years. Some of the changes have been good and some not so good. ( I personally liked the plastic boarding cards.)
I cannot figure out which Southwest Partners points qualify as Tier Points. I had nearly 32,000 tier points at the beginning of December. I booked a hotel through the Southwest site with one of the partners. I earned 5000 points for my stay and they were credited to my RR account, but I missed earning A-List for another year. When I called to find out why, I was told that the 5000 points that I earned with the partner were not Tier points. I looked both before and after my stay at the hotel and could not find an explanation or a list of which points earned are tier points and which are not. I booked that stay through Southwest and paid extra for the stay because of the points that I would earn to keep my A-List.
I am very confused and more than a little angry about this policy as well as resetting all points on December 31st.
Anyone have a solution?
Herb would be so disappointed...
Hello-
Unfortunately, you are correct that Southwest Hotels/RocketMiles hotel points are not Tier Qualifying Points (TQP) toward A-List; however, they do count toward Companion Pass.
To help you determine which points are TQP or not, Southwest has a handy page published. Shortly after Southwest announced the 2024 changes to Rapid Rewards, they published this page that describes which points are TQP, good toward A-List and which ones are not:
https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/eoy-tier-communication.html
Hope this helps.
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01-18-2024
10:36 AM
01-18-2024
10:36 AM
@dfwskier wrote:
1) For me the most important A-Lst benevit is the ability to get a good seat when I do a same day change or standby -- I board at what would be A61
2) Same day change regardless of fare type
3) 25% RR points bonus
4) Dediated A-List phone number - rasier to get thru when things head south
5) Dedicated FLY BY TSA access line ((I'm Pre, so it doesn;t help me, but it might be of value to someone else.
1. "A61" Benefit - LUV It! Before A-List, I've lost count of how many times I checked in at T-24 only to have a back-in-the-B position and having to buy Upgraded Boarding to be in the A-Group so I can have a good window seat. Being able to board in between A & B ensures that there should be a good window seat available, even if it's toward the back of the plane.
2. Same Day Flight Change - LUV It! Before A-List, I would book WGA+ to lock in this benefit as I've needed to use it a few times. Saves me additional cash.
3. 25% RR Bonus - LUV It! Great addon, especially if I need to book a flight that doesn't qualify for sale pricing. If I have to pay a high fare, the added points help offset the cost.
4. Dedicated Phone Line - LUV It! I've never liked waiting in lines; hence I have Global Entry to use for TSA and at the land border. The same can be said while waiting for customer service on the phone.
5. Priority Express Lanes Access - LUV It! Haven't needed to use it just yet at both the check-in counter and at the TSA Checkpoint. But I've seen that check-in line back up and there may be a time that I may need to use it should I need help while landside. I would certainly love to see the Priority Express lane at the TSA Checkpoint feed either into the PreCheck or Standard Line as CLEAR currently does...I really can't complain though; based on my experience, if the PreCheck lane is backed up as was the case for me last July for a day trip to SMF, TSA manages to keep the line moving and I'm through quickly.
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01-18-2024
10:09 AM
01-18-2024
10:09 AM
@meeshe wrote:
I used to be able to "change" my flight to the exact same flight online so I could get a lower fare and receive travel fund credit for the difference. Now it is not showing me the same flight as an option. I would have to choose a different flight. Anyone else having this issue? Any way around it?
Hello-
I'm not able to reproduce what you describe through the standard flight change module on the SW website (the original flight shows on the screen as an option with the change-of-fare difference); however I have two upcoming active bookings that underwent a minor schedule modification last November in which Southwest marked as "Your Trip was Modified" which essentially "unlocked" the ability for me to (up to twice) change the flight date/time up to 14 days before or after the original booking with no difference in fare.
The header of these flights look like this when I open the Change Flight module:
I found that when I try to change a flight through this module, I do not see the original flight as an option, nor can I rebook with a lower posted fare. However, I have the flexibility to change the dates/times and nearby alternative airports at no difference in fare. If that's your case, you can cancel this booking and use the flight credit toward rebooking it under the lower posted fare. Keep in mind, this "forfeits" your 14-day/time/airport change flexibility from the original booking.
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@SFL1 wrote:
I soon will complete a lifelong dream to visit all 50 US states, and I have flown SWA into 29 (soon to be 30) of the states.
On Saturday, January 20, I visit the last state, Idaho. I fly SWA from BWI-->BOI. I am super excited. Fingers crossed there will be no weather delays.
Thanks for the great flights!!
LUV It! If you're willing, share some pictures of your visit to the Gem (Potato) State and your SW experience there. As of the time of this post, "Rain Likely" is in the forecast at BOI this weekend but no weather advisories. 🤞
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@DancingDavidE wrote:
I had always understood that to be a benefit of EBCI will try to confirm.
There are some misconceptions about EBCI out there but “check in” is in the name of it so I would expect to be checked in. (But not be assured of an A position, etc.)
When did you add EBCI and what was your position that you were assigned when you did retrieve it? You’ll need your boarding pass to show that EBCI was applied to it.
@DancingDavidE
Here is the defined definition under the EBCI policy.
What is EarlyBird Check-In? EarlyBird Check-In is an option giving you the convenience of automatic check-in before our traditional 24-hour check-in, depending on availability. As an EarlyBird Check-In Customer, you'll have the benefit of an earlier boarding position, a better opportunity to select your preferred available seat, and earlier access to overhead bin storage for your carryon luggage.
Also, under the Contract of Carriage (Section 9.6):
(6) Denied Boarding Priority Rules. The Carrier’s boarding priority is established on a first- come, first-served basis in the order boarding positions are secured. In determining which Passengers holding Confirmed Reserved Space shall be denied boarding involuntarily, the Carrier shall deny boarding in reverse order from the order in which the Passengers’ boarding positions were secured (i.e., the last Passenger who receives a boarding position will be the first Passenger denied boarding involuntarily in an oversale situation), with no preference given to any particular person or category of Fares.
To me, check-in is all said and done at the 36 hour mark under EBCI but I would see what Southwest says regarding of how this all relates to its denied boarding policy. The only other cause I could think of is there was a Same Day Flight Change or Same Day Standby done sometime before the flight was due to depart that would have bumped the person from their original EBCI spot to the last spot, hence the first for an involuntary bump but I could be wrong.
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01-17-2024
01:47 PM
01-17-2024
01:47 PM
@Mark7666 wrote:
Thanks So Cal…
I’m an ALP but keep finding myself in A21/22/23 kinda of positions. If what you said is accurate, and I assume it is, this is because I tend to book only a week or two out. Those with positions ahead of me are likely also ALP members, but they would have purchased their tickets before me.
I’m going to start asking those in front and behind me while in line to see if this theory holds water. I’ll report back what I discover.
Getting A21/22/23 as ALP usually means you have about 5-7 ALP's on the flight who booked ahead of you. This appears normal as you mentioned that you book 1-2 weeks beforehand. As an A-List, I'm usually placed anywhere around A25-A45 for flights booked well in advance but there have been some cases where the flight is full of A-Listers. One such flight was from SAN to SJC San Jose where the entire A16-60 pool were all ALP's and A-List; I had booked that flight well in advance during a $29 sale but never made it to the A-Group as an A-List at the 36-hour mark; thankfully, as I mentioned, A-List has the "A-61" benefit; thus I can still get a good window seat anyway.
Also keep in mind if you do an "audit" of the boarding line on the day of the flight, if an ALP with an assigned position does a Same Day Flight Change or Confirmed Standby and vacates their original boarding position, the very next person to check in for the flight will end up nabbing this spot; thus, there's a slight chance you may see a few non-ALP's ahead of you.
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01-17-2024
12:34 PM
01-17-2024
12:34 PM
@Mark7666 wrote:
Looking for an answer as to the how boarding positions are actually assigned to A-List and A-List Preferred passenger's.
Specifically, I would like to know how we AL and ALP passengers are sequenced when SW checks us in 36 hours in advance. I get the A1-15 thing. What I want to know is; If there are say 10 AL or ALP passengers, who gets assigned A16, A17, etc? How are this positions determined?
Hello!
This was asked a while back on Twitter/X. Here's SW's response:
Priority boarding positions are assigned in this order: Business Select, A-List Preferred, A-List, Anytime fares, EarlyBird. EarlyBird boarding positions can vary, and you are not guaranteed to get an "A" group boarding assignment.
https://southwest.com/help/booking/earlybird-checkin
-Larissa
https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/1594125108129722370?s=20
The priority boarding subgroups are in order by time of booking; the earlier one books, the higher the position. In your example:
A1-15: Business Select followed by those who purchased Upgraded Boarding,
A16 and beyond:
If the flight has 10 ALP members and they booked at least 36 hours beforehand, they'll get slots A16-25, in the order of booking. Having 10 A-List's after that who booked at least 36 hours before would get slots A26-35. Anytime fares would be next (same 36 hour/booking order rule), followed by non A-List/ALP WGA+/WGA fares with EBCI.
If any ALP or A-List doesn't get an A position, they can board in between the A and B groups after the group that needs extra time to board but before family boarding and military.
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SoCalFlyer97 can't speak for the entire year, but later this winter, the destination I'm looking forward to the most will be a combined Business Trip and Personal Trip to LAS with a stay at one of Vegas' historic landmarks.
Usually my trips to LAS are day-trippers purchased during a sale; I fly in early in the morning from SAN, take care of my business, check out some sights if time permits, and return home in the late afternoon or evening. However this time I will be staying in LAS with a three-night stay at an inn that many people including the hotel's website itself say is "haunted"--The old and original Hotel Apache in Downtown Las Vegas that once catered to the builders of the Hover Dam.
Looking at the pictures, Apache resembles a depression-era interior design. Built in the early 1930's, the rooms are small and chances are I'm going to need to use either the room's HVAC system or my phone as white-noise to muffle out all the late-night partygoing down on Fremont Street. However, Apache's low prices combined with its rich history showed me that this place was a great deal.
During my hotel shopping, I learned that Apache proudly boasts that the place is "haunted" with anonymous quotes describing various noises and things magically getting moved. I don't believe that haunted spirits are going to move my things from one corner of the room to the other, nor are they the source of when the building creeks or groans due to settling. I often find my things in odd places simply because I was tired and forgot that I left them there.
The business portion of the trip involves a two-day, dual-convention at the LV Convention Center. That meant all of the big hotels in the area were charging huge room rates. Westgate for example is located next door to the convention center; a few weeks ago, it posted a $1,420 price tag for the three nights on Southwest Hotels which excluded taxes and $119.97 in resort fees for the stay (although those 19,000 CP-Eligible points looked very tempting). At the time of the post, Westgate was sold out.
Both at the time of reservation and at the time of this post, the "haunted" Apache hotel is still priced at $133 for all three nights with no resort fee ($150 total after taxes) with 1,000 points with a short RTC bus ride to the convention center area; 3-day bus pass is only $20 which also covers travel to/from LAS airport. Looking at the pictures and reviews, this little inn above the old Binion's has my name on their reservation list through Southwest Hotels.
For the record, I also reviewed the nearby Downtowner Boutique Hotel with similar base pricing and a modest $22.60 resort fee. That too looked like a nice little place to stay; however its location was a few blocks east of the Fremont Experience and little too far of a walk from the RTC bus route that would have fed me into the convention center. The Four Queens was my second choice at $236 total after taxes for the stay with no resort fee.
I booked the SW flight a few weeks ago during an "As low as $44" Fare Sale and locked in a $59 SAN-LAS flight each way. Amazingly enough, the fares from last week's WOW40 sale were actually priced higher than the $44 sale.
Looking forward to to this trip.
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@ChelseaReeh wrote:
I was on flight #3402/ #3438 to Reno on January 14th and I had the pleasure of being on board with some quality crew, namely the head Stewardess Linda! She truly embodies what I love about Southwest— professional, personable, and one of a kind. It is not everyday that someone excels at their craft or takes the time to make someone feel special. I hope she is recognized by Southwest for her dedication and representation of Southwest Airlines - LOVE
Great to hear! I LUV these stories.
Would you do Linda a kind favor. Since this message board is customer-to-customer, would you forward your praise in an email to Southwest directly:
https://www.southwest.com/html/contact-us/
That will help ensure your compliment gets processed but thanks for sharing this; it's great to see stories like these on this forum.
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01-15-2024
09:41 AM
01-15-2024
09:41 AM
@Kesque811 wrote:
I had a flight from Baltimore to Oakland. This flight was supposed to board at 5:04 and depart at 5:35. We waited until 6 just to get on the plane where we proceeded to wait another hour, due to “imbalanced luggage”. So in other words the workers packed it wrong and it resulted in a massive delay. We are finally departing now at 7:15. Completely unacceptable people should know how to do their job. Period. These people should have corrective action/write ups issued.
Hello-
I would forward your inquiry to Southwest Customer Service directly as this a customer-to-customer forum.
https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/
It appears that you are currently traveling this morning by the looks of your post. You can also speak to any available Southwest Gate CSA at OAK should you get this reply upon arriving at OAK before going to Ground Transportation. I would relay any facts related to your delay to the CSA and whether it resulted in any missed connections or appointments, or has led to any other hardships. Try not to let emotion drive the inquiry; I would stick with the facts.
Southwest baggage handlers are usually very good of properly balancing the weight of the luggage compartment area of the plane and I assume they have standard protocol to follow when packing this area to ensure even weight distribution which is required for the safety of the flight. Southwest is also usually good at addressing imbalances quickly but by the looks of your post, it appears that there was an exception somewhere that resulted in an additional tarmac delay of about 45 minutes in addition to the initial 56 minute delay and the regular 30 minutes needed to get everybody boarded.
Not sure if your overall situation would qualify for a LUV Voucher as your total delay was in excess of 90 minutes but it would be worth checking when you inquire. Hope this helps.
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01-15-2024
09:12 AM
01-15-2024
09:12 AM
@millerjack wrote:
Hi Everyone! I booked my ticket with KLM Airlines and noticed that my first name was entered as a last name on the ticket. Do any of you know the KLM passenger name change policy? Did the KLM allow name modification? Please share your suggestions and experience.
Hello-
I would not attempt to process a name change transaction through the linked Flying Rules website's phone number as this third-party service has received numerous negative reviews on its fees. Its information articles appear to have fairly accurate info but I would not dial their number nor use their paid services.
I took a quick look at KLM's website and you should contact that airline directly as this customer-to-customer message board is for Southwest Airlines, not KLM.
Looks like this international carrier has some very nice amenities and services for their long-distance overseas flights; I would assume they would process your request as a courtesy.
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SoCalFlyer97 uses two tabs on a desktop machine to shop/book flights not necessarily to save time but the intent for me is to save me from seeing numerous "Don't forget to book your trip" emails in my inbox.
When I go through the Low Fare Calendar, I'll open up a new browsing window and shop in incognito mode. Once I find something, I'll login from my standard window and book the flight. That way, if I'm looking up my different date and airport options a decide to opt out of the higher priced options, it won't trigger this email.
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Hello Community Southwest:
SoCalFlyer97 took his first flight for 2024 from ONT for a day trip to the San Francisco Bay Area via OAK. This flight was originally booked during last September's WOW50 sale with the inbound flight later rebooked from a $29 "Don't snooze on this sale" promo from last October. Upon my return to ONT, there was room for me at the Azure Inn near the airport. Here's the rundown...
I arrived at ONT shortly after 4:30am. The airport charges an $18 toll for economy parking per 24 hours which includes about 200 yards of walking or a ride on the shuttle. Rate was fair in my opinion for this day tripper. I opted to prepay which allowed me to quickly scan a QR code on the readers upon entering and exiting the lot. Got into the terminal and my outbound flight is on time.
Feeling like a VIP by going to the front of the TSA line. Did I mention somewhere else on this forum that TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are worth it? ONT also has CLEAR; however, I did not see any signage in the TSA checkpoint area for Priority Express Lanes. Screening took less than 5 minutes.
Gotta Luv those old-school red LED status displays...
On the 12th Day of Christmas, ONT was still in spirit with this decorative exit from the TSA checkpoint:
The sleeping 737-700 awaits the wake up call from the morning crew.
Outbound Flight: Plane: 737-700 About 60-65% Full, On Time Preboards: 0
Too bad I can't fly over the morning LA rush hour traffic in my car like I can on this Southwest flight.
Twilight sunrise from behind the plane at 34,000'
Passing by the San Mateo Bridge during final descent. Bridge toll $7; free for airplanes
OAK's Terminal 1 concourse got some new seating. No power outlets but they gave this old gate a fresh new look.
Time to get some work done in the terminal (and check this message board) before I head into town for my appointments. My work computer for some reason was not allowing me to connect to OAK's public Wi-Fi system which is powered through Boingo Wireless. Thankfully, a Vino Volo wine bar that also had free open Wi-Fi was directly in front of me and I had no trouble logging into theirs. Speeds were on par with Boingo's advertised free service but without having to watch a commercial...Nice!
There's the BART Beige Line cable people-mover that costs $7.10 for a 9 minute ride to the BART Coliseum Station...
...or the AC Transit bus that goes to the same destination at Coliseum BART for $2.50 cash ($2.25 w/ Clipper Card) at 10-11 minutes. I opted for the basic economy Ground Transportation option.
Getting ready to board my $4.95 train ride to Downtown SF to take care of some business. I guess it's the A-List's turn to get on.
Took care of my business in downtown San Francisco. Checked out the Fisherman's Warf area during the afternoon hours before heading back OAK.
This bird senses turbulence ahead. Better stay grounded at the gate.
On this 12th Day of Christmas, OAK too was still in spirit!
Headed over to the TSA Checkpoint...TSA was doing very frequent random secondary searches of baggage through the PreCheck Lane at OAK during my return; it looked like about 1 out of every four or five trays were pulled...and I won their lottery again. The search was a quick electronics inspection of my work laptop. Computer's network card likely had too much to drink from that wine bar from the morning...just kidding.
Return Flight: Plane: 737-700, About 80% Full
Status: Minor delay of about 15 minutes from the gate Preboards: 6
I wasn't able to get too many good skyline pictures from the return flight because the main cabin light was on and created a glare between the window and my camera, but I was able to capture a shot of the final descent.
Upon second thought, I should have listened to that seagull. As the plane crossed over San Bernardino Mountains toward ONT, the descent got very bumpy (right on par with a ride aboard Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure)...still the pilots kept the plane on its prescribed route and with a perfectly aligned landing at ONT.
The flight also recovered about 10 minutes during the ride and arrived at the gate only five minutes behind schedule.
Now over to the Hotel...
I stayed at the Azure Inn which is less than a mile from ONT's main parking lot and booked the reservation through Southwest Hotels. The room was a near-last minute booking, done within 48 hours of the single-night stay; thus all the SW Hotel Points Plus options were non-refundable.
Yes, I stayed over at a hotel near my origin airport because I had business early the next morning near this area. No issues at all with Southwest Hotels Booking or Check-in. Here's the pricing run down which includes all taxes and fees:
Room Type: 1 King Bed Rapid Rewards Points Plus: 2,000 SW Hotels/RocketMiles: $136
Competing Booking Site Rates: Other 3rd Party Lowest Price per Trivago: $114 Direct: $113 w/ Loyalty Markup $23 for 2,000 CP-Eligible RR Points: Great tradeoff in my opinion
For anybody who is a fan of vintage elevators might like the fixtures in the hotel's lifts. The chimes actually come from a real bell.
Full review of the inn forthcoming via TripAdvisor.
Prior SW Flight Reports: https://community.southwest.com/t5/Inflight-Experience/Sept-23-Promo-Companion-Pass-Photo-Trip-Report-SAN-PHX/m-p/164424
https://community.southwest.com/t5/Inflight-Experience/Nov-23-Photo-Trip-Report-SAN-LAS-with-Formula-1-Track/m-p/165643
Prior SW Hotels Reports: https://community.southwest.com/t5/Rapid-Rewards/December-23-Southwest-Hotels-Photo-Stay-Report-Corona-CA/m-p/167112
https://community.southwest.com/t5/Rapid-Rewards/December-23-Southwest-Hotels-Stay-Report-San-Diego-Kearny-Mesa/m-p/166645#M11453
Enjoy!
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@Ashton4365 wrote:
I flew out of DIA today and there was problems with the baggage service for maybe 90 mins. My bags never made it on the plane. Over 12 hours later my bags are still in Denver. According to the bag tracker it still says it was tagged. I even chatted in while in flight and the agent I spoke with said they can see it was loaded on the plane. Lies!! When I got to Orlando the baggage agent there said it is very clear it was never loaded.
Calling was no help and they said there was no guarantee of finding the luggage OR being reimbursed for expenses while traveling for new clothes etc. “It’s up to corporate”
I always thought highly of Southwest but this is making me feel otherwise. I have 5 days of conferences with nothing to wear but a t-shirt and hoodie.
Hello!
This forum is customer-to-customer. It looks like you already initiated a claim at MCO regarding the baggage separation within the four hour window. Were you able to attempt to track your bag via baggage claim tracker tool: https://app.nettracer.aero/pax/southwest/bso/login?src=HLP
Click on "Did not arrive", "Continue", and enter your last name and flight confirmation # into the fields to track.
If that doesn't work, I would try calling SW Baggage Servicses again with the report number received at MCO: (888) 202-1024
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01-08-2024
10:08 AM
3 Loves
@dshears wrote:
I got the notification my original itinerary was impacted so I can change my flight 2 times for free. How far out can I change my flight? Like if it's currently set for end of January can I move it to march?
Hello-
The date change window is similar to a Travel Advisory in your case: Any date up to 14 days prior to the original booking date or up to 14 days later. Changing the date from January to March would be too far out. However if you have more than one airport in either your departure or arrival region, you'll be able to change that too.
E.g.
If March is the only option, you can scrap your original booking and use the flight credit toward booking a new flight for March (assuming you purchased WGA or WGA+ fare). If the March fare is currently high, you can always keep a watch for a sale or promo and rebook then.
Hope this helps!
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01-08-2024
09:45 AM
01-08-2024
09:45 AM
Hello!
I qualified too and the feature is now active on my Rapid Rewards "My Account" dashboard:
Try logging into your RR account via the full SW desktop website and click on "My Account". It should be active in your dashboard if you qualified.
As of the time of this post, I have not yet received the email notification but I expect it to be arriving later this morning.
Here is what the instruction email looked like from the prior 8/15-9/30 promo CP email:
Subject: "(Name), your Promotional Companion Pass is in your account and ready for takeoff."
(Name), Congratulations. Your Rapid Rewards® Promotional Companion Pass is now in your account and valid for travel.
You can now choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way) when you purchase or redeem points for a flight for travel from 8/15-9/30/2023.
Begin using your benefits immediately by designating your Companion and booking travel.
Designate your Companion:
• Log in to your account at Southwest.com®.
• Under My Account, navigate to the Rapid Rewards tab.
• Click Add Your Companion.
• Fill in Companion information and click Save.
Travel with your Companion:
• Book flights for travel from 8/15 - 9/30/2023.
• Log in to your account at Southwest.com and visit Trips.
• In the Upcoming Trips section, find your flight and click Add Companion. This takes you to the price page of the Companion booking flow.
• Click Continue and complete payment for applicable taxes.
• Click Purchase to complete your Companion’s flight reservation.
• If you prefer to book with a Customer Representative, call 1-800-248-4377.
• Subject to flight capacity and availability at the time of booking the Promotional Companion.
Ready? Set up your Promotional Companion Pass® now. We can’t wait to welcome you (both) onboard.
Hope this helps. If you're getting an error code message when attempting to add a Companion, I would call SW Customer Service to add the companion.
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01-07-2024
12:24 PM
01-07-2024
12:24 PM
@DavidP wrote:
Hi, I recently had a trip from harlingen to Phoenix, I checked in 1 bag. The bag was locked with a tsa approved lock. When I got to Phoenix, I noticed my lock was gone, and my bag was opened. A gift that I got for a friend was also opened. There was ABSOLUTELY NO notice inside! I don’t know if they ran out or what. The only thing off on the outside other than the missing lock was a little sticker that read “ TSA CLEARED” does anyone know what that means? Or if that’s indicates it was opened? Also harlengin is a small different airport. TSA screens the bags in the check in area before putting them on the belt. Thanks.
Hello!
Here is TSA's official policy on both notices and the locks for checked bags:
Inspection Notices: TSA may inspect your checked baggage during the screening process. If your property is physically inspected, TSA will place a notice of baggage inspection inside your bag. This is to inform you that an officer conducted an inspection of your property.
Locks: TSA has been provided universal "master" keys under agreements with Safe Skies Luggage Locks and Travel Sentry so that certain branded locks may not have to be cut to inspect baggage. These locks are commercially available, and packaging on the locks should indicate they may be opened by TSA officers. TSA has no position on the validity or effectiveness of these product as a security measure and will be forced to remove these products if necessary during the inspection.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening
Based on your post, it certainly looks like your baggage either had a random physical search or the gift was flagged based on the outside sticker. An inside "Notice of Baggage Inspection" card should have been present.
Did your TSA-approved lock have the red Sentry symbol or Safe Skies red torch icon visible? If so, this instructs TSA to not cut the lock during an inspection. If that's the case, the only valid reason the lock would be cut was due to a lock defect that prevented TSA from opening it with their master keys.
I would inquire with TSA directly to confirm if a legitimate attempt was made to open the lock with their master keys before cutting as this customer-to-customer message board cannot process this. I would also report the lack of official notice for the physical search; this appears to a valid issue:
https://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/information
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01-07-2024
11:58 AM
01-07-2024
11:58 AM
@CupCrusher40 wrote:
If you have multiple trips to same city months later is last name enough for human service at gate
thank you
A SW CSA at both the check-in and any gate counter should be able to look up and process any traveler by last name with valid ID and locate their reservation confirmation, regardless of travel frequency. If you arrive at the airport and travelling standby with no reservation, I assume they should be able to locate your Rapid Rewards profile by last name and valid ID and link it (this should be done especially if you have PreCheck or Global Entry); if for some reason they are unable to link this, this can be done later on the Southwest website.
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01-07-2024
11:35 AM
@76885421 wrote:
This would be a great city to add…it is growing daily!!!
Hello!
If you haven't done so already, let Team Southwest know directly at: https://www.southwest.com/contact-us/contact-us.html
It's likely your suggestion may not be processed via this customer-to-customer message board but the agents staffing the main contact form can.
By the way, since MID is in Mexico, it looks like Volaris has limited non-stop flights between Tijuana TIJ/CBX Border Crossing and MID throughout the week and multiple flights with a single connection daily. Another option from the USA would be to take a domestic Southwest Flight to SAN (I would plan to stay there overnight in case of delay or disruption).
The next morning, cross the border and go to TIJ airport and travel to MID via Volaris. This leg would be a Mexican domestic flight which would save you some good money. This also works going the other way. I would also contact Volaris and request some additional non-stop flights in between TIJ and MID.
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@kasey97 wrote:
Today my daughter wants to Standby for an earlier flight. But she has a checked bag. Can that work? If so, how? She lives very close to her home/destination airport. So i wouldn't be a huge problem if her bag was on a different flight than her. If the bag was held at home airport.
Hello:
Here is Southwest's Policy:
What will happen to my checked bag if I choose to travel standby? When you choose to travel standby after checking a bag, you are voluntarily separating from your baggage. If you are cleared for your desired flight and your bag does not arrive with you at your destination, Southwest won't be responsible for delivery charges to get it to you.
https://www.southwest.com/help/changes-and-cancellations/same-day-change-same-day-standby
If you're still at the departing airport reading this, I would go to any SW Customer Service Counter (either the landside check-in counter or at any active SW Gate airside) and see if they can confirm status of the checked bag.
If they can confirm status...great! If not, upon arrival at your destination, I would go to and wait for your bag at the Baggage Claim area upon arrival but not expect it to be delivered. If your bags get transferred and delivered...great! If not, I would then go to the SW Baggage Claim office to confirm location status.
Hope this helps!
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@rtsang wrote:
Does anyone know when will the notification email be sent out for the short-term companion pass promotion that starts on Jan 8th? Want to get things done and book it on Jan 8 but don't have the email yet (2 days left before Jan 8th).
Hola:
See me reply in the separate thread:
https://community.southwest.com/t5/Rapid-Rewards/Promotional-Companion-Pass/m-p/167444/highlight/true#M11570
I would expect the instructions email to arrive sometime in the morning of 1/8. My reply includes what the email should look like (based on a prior promo CP) and what to expect.
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@justinbarker2 wrote:
I have received my email confirming my companion pass will be active on 1/8. Does anyone know what time this happens? 12 AM CST?
Hello!
I qualified for both this and the prior 2023 late summer/early fall Promotional Companion Pass last year. The prior promo period was 8/15-9/30/2023. The instructions email came in at around 6am PDT 8/15 but I assume it activated at midnight. Here is the contents of the prior email:
Subject: "(Name), your Promotional Companion Pass is in your account and ready for takeoff."
(Name), Congratulations. Your Rapid Rewards® Promotional Companion Pass is now in your account and valid for travel.
You can now choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way) when you purchase or redeem points for a flight for travel from 8/15-9/30/2023.
Begin using your benefits immediately by designating your Companion and booking travel.
Designate your Companion:
• Log in to your account at Southwest.com®.
• Under My Account, navigate to the Rapid Rewards tab.
• Click Add Your Companion.
• Fill in Companion information and click Save.
Travel with your Companion:
• Book flights for travel from 8/15 - 9/30/2023.
• Log in to your account at Southwest.com and visit Trips.
• In the Upcoming Trips section, find your flight and click Add Companion. This takes you to the price page of the Companion booking flow.
• Click Continue and complete payment for applicable taxes.
• Click Purchase to complete your Companion’s flight reservation.
• If you prefer to book with a Customer Representative, call 1-800-248-4377.
• Subject to flight capacity and availability at the time of booking the Promotional Companion.
Ready? Set up your Promotional Companion Pass® now. We can’t wait to welcome you (both) onboard.
I would log in to your RR account anytime after 12:01am 1/8 to doublecheck this, enter in the companion's details and then add the companion to any of your existing bookings that the companion will travel with you; expect the email to arrive sometime later in the morning of 1/8.
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01-03-2024
09:55 AM
01-03-2024
09:55 AM
@DancingDavidE wrote:
Go to your Profile to My Settings to the "preferences" sub-menu and see if one shows there for "Private Messenger"
Thanks @DancingDavidE but still UTL. I think my account's security privileges are currently set where I'm not able to access this setting as the "Private Messenger" sub-menu link that is present in your screenshot (in between "Privacy" and "Loves") does not show in my profile:
It appears that my account's privileges will need to be changed by a moderator or staff member for me to access this preference.
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@nanmill365 wrote:
I'm so frustrated. I booked a hotel using Southwest Hotels, which apparently goes to Booking.com. I never received a confirmation email and now because I don't have a confirmation and PIN I cannot get any information from anyone. My credit card was charged, the hotel says they have a reservation but can't tell me anything or give me any confirmation because it was booked by a third party. I tried calling the 888 number for booking.com but they want the confirmation and PIN which they never sent me. I did the resend email multiple times and still nothing. I emailed them, but their replies keep asking for the confirmation number. I finally called the international phone number thinking talking to someone might help. But, after 20 minutes I was told they can't do anything, send an email. Today I was notified now I have a $50 charge for the international call and I am no closer to getting this resolved. The last email I got said probably the reservation didn't complete so my card should be refunded in 7-10 days and the reservation canceled. So, now what? I wait to rebook until I get my money back? What if a room is no longer available? This is totally ridiculous! Is there not someone at Southwest that can help with this stuff???? ~ extremely disappointed and frustrated. This is my first bad experience doing something through Southwest.
Hello! I'm a frequent customer of Southwest Hotels...The confirmation email is usually delivered no later than the first few hours of booking (mostly within the first few minutes after booking) after you see the "You're All Set" confirmation screen on the webpage. Since it appears you never received the email, I would try the following:
Go to Southwesthotels.com and click on "Manage My Booking". Click on "Resend Confirmation Email" below the "Can't find confirmation email" link by entering your email address.
The email should arrive within the next few minutes. If the email doesn't show, double check junk/spam. If that still doesn't work, it's possible that the email address that was entered at the time of booking was entered incorrectly. If that's the case, a Southwest Hotels/Booking.com rep will need to help you (note that this department is separate from Southwest Airlines Customer Service):
Here's the Southwest Hotels/Booking.com contact details:
concierge@southwesthotels.com 1-844-782-9792 773-770-4953
If you were not able to capture your confirmation number and/or receipt on the confirmation screen following your purchase, let the rep know that you did not receive the confirmation email and therefore don't have the confirmation number for your reservation.
A tip that I've always done for travel regardless of carrier or hotel: Always Print or Save to PDF the confirmation page before closing the browser window in case the confirmation e-mail fails to deliver.
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01-02-2024
03:44 PM
01-02-2024
03:44 PM
@CarlyeThornton wrote:
Of course! You'll click on your profile in the top right of this page, then select My settings. From there, select Preferences under Personal, and a new menu should appear. Then, select Private Messenger and check the box by "Turn on private messages."
Hope that helps!
@CarlyeThornton
Thanks. I reviewed your steps but I don't see the "Preferences" sub-menu under the top-level "Personal". The sub-menu options shown for "Personal" are: Email, Password, Personal info, IM Screen Name, Auto-Sign In.
I checked the top-level "Preferences" option to be sure and these were my options:
I didn't see the option to turn on Private Messaging in this area. Would my account permissions settings need to be adjusted for me to access this preference?
If needed, you can also reach me privately via the registered email address associated with this account.
Thanks for your help.
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01-02-2024
01:28 PM
01-02-2024
01:28 PM
@CarlyeThornton wrote:
Wow, @SoCalFlyer97! This sounds like an amazing trip. We'd like to thank you for sharing your travels with us, but we're unable to send you a private message. Could you double check your settings to ensure that feature has been turned on?
Kindly,
Carlye
Hi @CarlyeThornton
I checked my account profile and preference settings but cannot locate the Private Message feature preference. Would you show me where to go to access this feature.
Thanks!
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@Andysouthwest wrote:
I noticed no one responded to my previous question, prefers I was not clear. I am curious how we flyers will be able to view how many companion points we have towards our goal of 135,000. Where will we be able to view now with the new rule. Thanks
Hello!
I'm not able to reproduce what you're seeing as I'm not getting any messages about account maintenance. As of this morning Jan 2, on both the desktop and mobile SW websites, both the Tier and Companion Pass progress trackers still show in the "My Rapid Rewards" area.
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@Ottercat wrote:
Can I carry my seat cushion outside of my personal item (bag) without having the cushion count as my personal item (thus forcing me to check my bag)?
This is my first time flying and I'm lost on this stuff. I have a disability but I don't think this cushion counts as an aid (even though I will be dreadfully uncomfortable/miserable without it). I can't not have access to my medication so checking my bag is not an option.
Happy New Year!
Here is Southwest's policy on carryon's and using a device for mobility aid:
Carryon baggage basics You may carry on one bag and one personal item. The bag should be stowed in the overhead compartment, and your small personal item should be stowed under your seat. Sizing up your carryon and personal item: One carryon bag Goes in overhead bin Size limits: 24” (L) + 16” (W) + 10” (H) Examples: roller bag, small suitcase One carryon personal item Goes under your seat Examples: purse, briefcase, laptop computer case, backpack, small camera
https://www.southwest.com/help/baggage
What carryon or personal items are not counted against the TSA limit? A child restraint system. Assistive/mobility devices for individuals with a disability. There is no limit to the number of assistive/mobility devices you can bring onboard. Outer garments or other wearable articles of clothing. Food in disposable packaging. Walking canes or umbrellas.
https://www.southwest.com/help/baggage/carryon-baggage
I'm assuming you're planning on bringing a carry-on luggage, a separate small bag as your personal item, and your cushion. In your case, if the cushion is used as a medical device to address a disability and will likely be sat on during the flight (e.g. not stowed under the seat or in the overhead bins), it will likely not count toward the federal limits on carry-on's but I would first declare this to the gate agent before boarding time that the cushion will be used to address a disability.
If able, you can also use a standard school-size backpack as your personal item bag and combine the small bag and the seat cushion into it if it fits and then take the seat cushion out before stowing the backpack under the seat.
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My favorite trip from 2023 was during the summer. It involved a pilgrimage trip to Portland Oregon's Servite Grotto followed by visiting Mission Santa Clara near SJC. My trip included a long distance train journey up from SoCal to the Beaver State but both Southwest Airlines and Southwest Hotels certainly played roles in my lodging needs and getting me back home to California. Being an A-Lister, I have had a bunch of great SW highlights from '23 but I think this trip was special and therefore my personal favorite.
The journey toward the city next to Mount Hood started on the Amtrak Coast Starlight from LA Union Station. Taking a long distance train trip is certainly a unique experience; it is not necessarily about going to the destination, but the journey which makes it count. This train route is very popular and sold out about four weeks prior to the trip...A little travel tip if anybody's planning on doing something similar...book well in advance.
A long-haul train trip like this has long been on my to-do list. Being an overnighter trip, I spent the money and upgraded to a sleeping room but spent most of the day hours of the trip in the sightseeing lounge. Here's some pics of the journey up...
I'll never forget the time spent in this lounge car. To put it into one sentence, hung out with a few lawyers and a plumber for several rounds of Skyjo. The car was nearly full for the whole trip except during the fresh air breaks where it nearly emptied out.
More pics...
Upon arriving at Portland, Southwest Hotels delivered on my stay at the Best Western Pony Soldier Inn. The Points Plus property offered 2,000 Rapid Rewards points. I left a review of the hotel experience on TripAdvisor. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g52024-d74612-r898259103-Best_Western_Pony_Soldier_Inn_Airport-Portland_Oregon.html?m=19905
Here's some pics of the Servite Grotto. I spent the entirety of the next day there.
Spent the second night and headed to PDX early in the morning to head to SJC...
Some pics of Mission Santa Clara
Returning back to SAN...
Enjoy!
Original Trip Report: https://community.southwest.com/t5/Inflight-Experience/June-23-Photo-Trip-Report-PDX-SJC-SAN/m-p/160506/highlight/true#M7123
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Hello Community Southwest:
Here's a photo trip report of my recent hotel stay at a Holiday Inn in Corona CA, a few miles west of Riverside CA and little less than 20 miles south of ONT Airport. The stay was booked through Southwest Hotels as a Points Plus property for business. The booking and check in process was flawless and the base room rate was just about on par with the booking site competition, making the 4,000 points bonus well worth it.
Room Type: King Standard Room, Free Cancellation; 2 Nights Rapid Rewards Points Plus: 4,000 CP-Eligible Points Southwest Hotels Base Room Rate: $144/Night ($329 Grand Total) RocketMiles: Same Price/Offer
Competing Booking Site Rates w/ Free Cancellation: Direct: $148 Base/$141 w/ Loyalty ($310 Total) Other 3rd Party Sites (via Trivago): $148 Base
Regarding the hotel itself, IHG delivered on its promises: Fresh hotel interior remodel, clean room, clean lobby, friendly staff, comfortable bed, solid insulation, working HVAC system, and fast free WI-FI. The 2-night incidentals deposit was $100.
"Two bags fly free" up this lift...Okay, you can take along a few more for free too.
Who needs a gym membership when you've got Southwest Hotels?
Nice contemporary interior design. At first, the floor looks like it could be faux wood but it's actually carpet.
Have I heard this somewhere? "This is a non-smoking room. Smoking is also not allowed in the lavatory. Tampering with the smoke detectors in the lavatory is strictly prohibited."
TripAdvisor review forthcoming...
Details of how I shop for hotels: https://community.southwest.com/t5/Rapid-Rewards/Southwest-Hotels-Rapid-Rewards-Points-Plus-Shopping-Tips/m-p/165177/highlight/true#M11261
More Hotel Reports: Hotel Inflation doesn't Fly Here - A nice budget option in San Diego for a Friday Night: https://community.southwest.com/t5/Rapid-Rewards/December-23-Southwest-Hotels-Stay-Report-San-Diego-Kearny-Mesa/m-p/166645/highlight/true#M11453
SoCalFlyer97's October 5 One-Nighters at 5 Hotels Report: https://community.southwest.com/t5/Rapid-Rewards/Oct-23-Southwest-Hotels-Five-One-Night-Trips-at-Five-Points-Plus/m-p/164506/highlight/true#M11183
"Up for a rewarding trip" too? https://www.southwesthotels.com/
or https://www.rocketmiles.com/southwest
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