Southwest Airlines Community

@CupCrusher40 wrote:  Is it possible to make flight number bigger at gate on TV   Hello-   The graphic designs seen on the Gate Monitors appear to vary by airport--the airport manages some; others have Southwest's innovative digital wayfinding feature that I assume Southwest manages. Do you happen to have a picture of the gate monitor in question? Examples below. If not, which airport and which gate # are you referring to? That will help determine who to forward your suggestion to.   E.g. Airport-managed gate monitors:   SAN, Terminal 1 (west airside wing)     SAN Terminal 1, (east airside wing)     LAS Terminal 1, (B Gates Wing)     SMF Terminal B:     Airline-Managed Gate monitors:   OAK w/ Southwest's digital wayfinding graphics:       Thanks! ... View more

@CupCrusher40 wrote: "Bring me a wing, gonig so fast it's a blast, over the great plains on the great plane! I'm no song writer but if I were asked to lead such a project, I would prep some kind of specification sheet outlining what I would think the chorus and verses should include and let the professional songwriter and artist do their magic (e.g. Travis Tritt performed a customized version of "Bible Belt" in the 90's for the end credit roll for "My Cousin Vinny" which effectively describe the movie's story). Maybe something similar that describes Southwest's former catchphrase "free to move about the country" without it sounding like a commercial.   Maybe also throw in some words unique to the airline (e.g. Wanna) but don't over do it.   Example Specs:   Title: Make it Freedom-Focused in relation to mobility.   Verse 1: How Southwest began (e.g. The triangle of the Texas cities drawn on a napkin) without directly mentioning Southwest.   Chorus: Focus the message on freedom with a little bit on the freedom to move. Maybe include the words "LUV" or "Wanna" in these lines but keep the Southwest marketing conservative so the freedom message is not lost.   Verse 2: Additional lines that describe Southwests's Business Model that helps gives people the freedom to move (what makes it unique) without mentioning Southwest. Maybe even include one other Southwest-unique item like "A1-A15" as an adjective somewhere (e.g. quoting from the original poster "Bring me a wing, going so fast it will be an A1 through 15 blast"). Again, don't over do it on Southwest wording but just enough to hint to the listener.   Chorus   Bridge: A few more lines on freedom but focus on freedom from addictions as the bridge with a small mentioning of how seat leather frees people. Base the lines on the airline's contributions of its seat leather to Unshattered which is reworked into new bags as a tool to help prevent relapse: https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/1652719469033140224   Chorus x2 ... View more

@cb884x wrote: I applied for a role with Southwest Airlines, and it is currently: in Processing. I was directed here to read FAQ about the job updates and hiring process. I must say, HR is very helpful to all potential candidates that have questions in regard to joining the Southwest team.  All this information you provide is very helpful.  Thank you, one thousand times!  FLY HIGH!❤️   Best, Cecil Berryman Hello Cecil-   Glad to hear that Southwest HR is assisting you with your job opportunity and application. So that the HR staff receive their recognition due, would you let the airline know of your experience by emailing Southwest directly. If you have the names of any staff that helped, let them know:   https://support.southwest.com/email-us/s/   I'm sure the rep who receives your email will forward it to the appropriate HR department head.   Best wishes in your career! ... 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

@vollyhawk wrote: I am a frequent S/W flier. Despite the complaints I'm going to make, I think that S/W is one of the best airlines to fly. That being said, there is a problem with the Early Bird system in general. I understand that on popular routes (i.e. Balt to Orlando) the flights are always full and the Early Bird policy does not guarantee a person to be in the A Boarding Group. The boarding policy; however, should be changed so that After the A-Group Boards:after A1-A60 board, the next group to board should be military (with ID) and Early Bird customers BEFORE family boarding. Why? Because family boarders traditionally have C Boarding passes and they did not pay Southwest Airlines a dime to board early. Early Bird customers did pay extra and should receive the benefit of those fees. Holding a B Boarding pass and then having to wait for family boarding when you are heading to a Disney destination is worthless. Either refund the money or allow Early Bird to board before family boarding. It makes sense. It is fair. If you are worried about families finding seats together, then limit the number of Early Bird tickets so someone can't even purchase one if they are filling up the plane too much. Hello-   I would forward your suggestion directly to Southwest as this forum is Customer-to-Customer. https://www.southwest.com/html/contact-us/   However, most likely I don't think the airline is going to change this rule (I could be wrong).   I can certainly understand the frustration of buying Early Bird Check-in (EB) only to be placed well into the B Group. This forum is flooded with all kinds of EB commentary.   Usually a deep B assignment with an EB purchase means several folks are buying EB. While I don't normally buy EB (I usually opt for Upgraded Boarding and buy it at the 24 hour mark), I've experienced similar situations firsthand when checking into a full flight at the 24 hour mark with a WGA+ fare only to be assigned way deep into B. Other times, I can snag an A30 or better.    Keep in mind of a few things of EB: Provided that you bought your flight at least 36 hours in advance and did not do any same-day flight changes on the day of travel, one key perk of EB is your boarding spot is held at the 36 hour mark which means you do not have to check in at the 24 hour mark to claim a spot. You will still be ahead of those (like me) who need to manually check in at the 24 hour mark to secure a boarding spot. Per an official Southwest Tweet reply, here is the order that Southwest assigns at the 36 hour mark: 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://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/1594125108129722370 Note that A-List Preferred, A-List gets their Priority Boarding positions assigned after Business Select as part of their elite status followed by Anytime Fares.  EB spots are assigned in the order of purchase. First to buy get the first spots.   After the Preboard and A-Group Boards, there are several groups that board before the B-Group boards: A-List Preferred/A-List not in an A-Group, Family Boarding, Active Duty Military, Disability Passengers Needing Extra Time   I think if EB were added to this list, there would be a flood of passengers lining up at the gate without any sequential order; hence, I don't think Southwest is going to change this policy.   Keep in mind that if you hold a B30 or better position, you'll most likely still be able to find 2 seats together toward the rear of the plane (both window and aisle options) with available space in the overhead bins.   ... View more

Hello Everybody-   For the record, the baggage belt issue at LAS was actually caused by a computer reboot failure after LAS Airport made an upgrade to its baggage system according to the local press. The outage mainly affected Southwest and American Airlines flying out of LAS on 6/14 and that an alternative baggage screening method had to be put into place for outbound bags. It doesn't appear to be Southwest's fault. However to be fair to the original poster, I was not there to witness how the airline agents handled the situation nor how the staff transported luggage nor how the CSA's handled the rebooking of missed flights. Nevertheless, it was actually great to hear that Southwest still offered the LUV Voucher for the excessive delay.   @Sifossedio I would still try to write an email to Southwest on the damaged luggage. They should have record that you attempted to rectify this with the prior CSA's after you got home. Just make it clear that you did not catch the damage on your bag until after you got home. Although the cash compensation to pay for replacement luggage may be out of the question given their 4 hour policy, they may be able to offer you some other perk in return for your business for your next trip to LAS. I would take the second LUV Voucher if they offered it again to you and maybe use the extra balance toward upgrading to an Anytime or even Business Select fare class for your next LAS trip which will give you a nice point boost, a much better boarding position, and access to the Priority Express Lanes at both the check in counter and at the TSA Checkpoint.   Email Southwest: https://www.southwest.com/html/contact-us ... View more

@Yvonneh12 wrote: In the past I was able to watch inflight movies with my Android tablet but on a flight in May it didn’t work. Error message said I needed to upgrade my tablet but it was already upgraded. Has anybody else had this problem? I have a flight coming up next month and I always look forward to watching movies during the flight.  Hello!   I've never had this symptom but the airline's help portal has some good information published that may help you determine cause of this error. This is straight from:   https://www.southwest.com/help/on-the-plane/inflight-wifi   The Inflight Entertainment Portal is supported on WiFi-enabled devices (802.11g/n) that meet the minimum requirements below. Browser support is limited to most recent version in addition to one previous version. Other devices and browsers may provide limited functionality. Please note that utilizing privacy browser modes may impact product availability.   Live TV: Android, Android 8.0+, Google Chrome Movies & On-Demand TV: Android, Android 8.0+, Google Chrome   I would confirm you're using the latest version of Chrome to access the Entertainment Portal that is not in Incognito mode. Also confirm your device has Android 8.0+ or higher installed. If your device meets these requirements, I would give Southwest Customer Service a call to report your problem. If the error you got also had an error code and you still have it, be sure to include it too. Most likely, the CSA may not have a answer for you immediately but should be able to report it to IT to have it looked at in time for your next flight:   https://www.southwest.com/html/contact-us   ... 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

@LWP wrote: GM!   I travel a lot—at least every week— and I’m a SWA loyalist.     I heard something new today from an attendant: it’s a Federal Aviation Regulation, (FAR) that roller boards must be wheels in or out in the front bin.  A courtesy? Yes, absolutely.  Especially on a full flight.  But this flight had at least 100 opens.    I just acknowledged the request, and sat a couple of rows back. These attendants deal with enough idiots, no need to add to the stress.   BUT… I am curious, I checked the FARs and didn’t see mention of this.   Does anyone know? Hello-   I didn't see anything specific defined by FAA nor TSA's What Can I Bring webpage regarding transporting roller boards as carry-on (or skateboards) other than the airline may have a defined policy if the item is carry-on. I'm not sure if your roller board is similar to a skatebard or if it is more like a square-shaped roller cart. Here's TSA's rule:   https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/skateboards   Anyway, Southwest does have a defined policy with the transport of these types of items (not sure if your roller board fits the description as a skateboard though):   https://www.southwest.com/help/baggage/special-baggage-sports-equipment   Skateboard (manual or non-electric) may be substituted for a carryon or a checked bag. If the skateboard fits under the seat, it does not need to be in a bag or covered, but it does have to be stowed with the wheels up so that it doesn't roll. If stowed in an overhead bin, a skateboard must be stowed with the wheels up and needs to be in a bag or have the wheels covered (trash bag is acceptable) so as not to damage other articles.   It's possible there was extra room in the overhead bin toward the front of the plane for this flight which may have led the FA's to make the decision to have you stow your roller board there for easy access in case it shifts during flight to prevent damage to other items in there, but I could be wrong. However, I think the FA's were simply enforcing airline carry-on policy, not FAA regulations. The FAA does limit passengers to one carry-on bag and one personal item and Southwest defines the maximum dimensions for both:   Carry-on Bag: 24” (L) + 16” (W) + 10” (H) Max Personal Item: Personal items must fit in the 16.25” (L) + 13.5” (W) + 8” (H) space under the seat (smallest available length defined)   https://www.southwest.com/help/baggage/carryon-baggage   Since this forum is customer-to-customer, I would clarify this with Southwest Customer Service to be sure.   https://www.southwest.com/html/contact-us/ ... View more

Also locked in a September rountrip to LAS for $49 each way yesterday before the sale expired. However, I had to book WGA to get the best of this deal (I usually book WGA+ so I have free sameday flight change/standby benefit).   Here were the quoted prices that I got for the SAN-LAS flight. It was for an off-peak middle-of-the-week trip:   During the 29% off Sale: Business Select: $249 Anytime: $199 WGA+: $111 (29% off $149) WGA: $49 (29% off $63)   As of today 7/27 after the sale, I did another price check: Business Select: $189 Anytime: $139 WGA+: $79 WGA: $64   The 29% deal for the SAN-LAS trip was certainly meant for the WGA fare. The other fare classes were marked up...   Safe travels!   ... View more

    My understanding has long been that the seat "legs" that divide the three sections are the designated "borderlines" with aisle seat having the most narrow area marked by the bar loop beneath the armrest that "borders" this area with the center aisleway.   In this pic, I've taken a window seat near the front (I think it was the 5th row). Should I have a middle seat neighbor, my feet and bag need to stay where they are given that this space is for their personal or small carryon bag. That's their space. It doesn't hurt to politely ask if you can use any leftover space in this area for legroom but this space does belong to the person seated there and their decision of whether or not it can be shared to another passenger stands.    Note that the overall width beneath all three seats is a bit smaller toward the front of the plane too as the cabin as a whole is narrower (for all fleets: 737-700, 800, MAX8). If you're looking for some extra inches under the aisle seat, go for a seat in the center or the back of the plane. Also don't forget that if you're flight is not full and there's extra space in the overhead bins, you should be able to stow your personal item in there too which should provide for some extra legroom.   ... View more

@Sgbryan wrote: I called in to upgrade my trip. There was an error with processing. So, I called back and was told that my trip had been cancelled due to a error in processing.  They did not call me! I called them. Had I not, I would have been at the airport with a cancelled trip. I had to pay for the upgrade again and received boarding passes that had not been upgraded. I called back in and was told that I would receive an email, which I have not and the refund would take a billing cycle.  I am extremely surprised in the lack of empathy that each representative had, the inability to take ownership for their mistake and the lack of communication.  I have never experienced anything like this. And, yes... It was every person I spoke with. If I have a choice, I would not recommend this company for anything. Especially if you are looking to enjoy a vacation.  Hello!   I'm not sure what exactly you experienced as the description of the incident is a bit broad. I find it highly unusual for a computer glitch to cancel a flight reservation with multiple Southwest CSA's not being able to restore or rebook it for you.  A few questions that may help:   Was your original flight reservation booked directly through Southwest? When you attempted to upgrade your trip, did you contact Southwest directly to request the upgrade and what upgrade were you attempting to apply to your reservation (i.e. Fare class upgrade, Early Bird Check-In, Upgraded Boarding)? What exactly happened when you received word that the there was an "error in processing" followed by the reservation being cancelled? Describe the sequence of events. Where there any other possible circumstances that would have flagged this reservation for "error in processing" cancellation during the upgrade process (e.g. open issue/dispute with the form of payment used for the original reservation, reservation conflict with another booking, etc)? The airline should be able to provide a more specific reason.   I would try contacting Southwest again on this to see if you are due a LUV Voucher to compensate for the difference in the rebooked fare for this incident. ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 wrote: SoCalFlyer97 LUVs these kinds of sales! Reviewing my bookings... Well it looks like my existing WGA+ reservations for August booked during June's 40% Off sale turned out to be the better deal.    However, I have some new business to take care of in the Bay area later in the fall and was able to lock in a good WGA+ round trip intra-state flight for $39 each way from SAN. Booked a hotel for $125 after taxes/fees through SW Hotels with a 2,000 Rapid Reward return (and free cancelation up to 48 hours prior). Got some good deals for this trip. Using public transit plus the hotel's free shuttle service for ground transport.   Happy bookings!  ... View more

@cokw wrote: Is the seat pitch such that one can actually use a laptop in flight?  My experience with both UAL and Lufthansa was that you had to get extra legroom seats in order for there to be enough space to open the laptop enough to be able to type  and see the screen.  What is it like on SW.   In crude graphics, those airlines' basic economy class permitted the laptop to open like _\ before hitting theseat in front.  And I need the laptop to be able to be positioned like _/ to be usable. Southwest has a decent seat pitch. That being said, I think it depends on the size of your device.   I use an HP ZBook 15 G2 15.6" for work which is an older model and had to pull it out to take care of an urgent task during a recent short-haul flight.   The laptop fits nicely on the tray table that allowed for typing but because of its size, the lid/screen needed to be oriented approxiately 90 degrees, much better than the acute angle that you illustrated but not quite at your desired obtuse angle which means my screen was facing below my face. My model laptop also has a narrower viewing angle which means a "darkening" effect on the screen whenever one looks from above its center point.   I resolved this by not using the tray table and tilting the computer on my lap to more of a V-shape in a 90 degree angle so the screen is oriented toward my face better. Typing was a bit awkward but I was able to get my work done.   My answer: It depends on the size of your laptop and its viewing angle specifications of whether there is screen darkening when not viewed at directly. I would say that if its 15" or less, it may be safe to say that you'll be able to position the laptop at least 90 degrees.   Here are some screenshots of my seat area from some recent flights aboard both the 737-700 and 737-800 fleets if that helps:           ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: Intra California as low as $29 To/From California 29% off   SoCalFlyer97 LUVs these kinds of sales! Reviewing my bookings... ... View more

@20235273192 wrote: I booked my families tickets apart from mine  and I forgot to login into my account and now I cannot view theirs on my app.  Is there a way to add theirs to my app for easy boarding? Hello!   Use the link below. Enter your confirmation # and First/Last name. There should be an option to link the trip to your Rapid Rewards account from this point.  https://www.southwest.com/air/manage-reservation/ Southwest -> Flights -> Manage Reservation     ... View more

@Bevawn wrote: Hi all, I am so frustrated! My husband purchased my flight using his points. I now need to change the flight to the next morning and when I went to Change Flight,, it said  that I needed an additional almost 4k points. So I purchased 4k points and went back to change the flight and THEN it said I needed to log into his account to make the change. Ughhhh!  Why wasn’t there a warning when I went to change it in the first place? Had it said that, I would have logged into his account to purchase the points. Now I am out of money, have points that are useless for what I purchased them for and can’t change my flight!   I’m sure I know the answer, but does anyone know of a workaround here?!  Hello- Yes, as the other posters have indicated, the traveler holding the flight reservation should be logged into his/her account prior to making the Rapid Reward points purchase to be applied toward the traveler's flight.   At this point, l would contact Southwest Customer Service and have a CSA assist. https://www.southwest.com/html/contact-us/   Let them know that your intention of the 4,000 point purchase was to apply it toward the traveler's existing reservation. They should be able to assist you with getting the points applied to the traveler (they helped me greatly when I purchased Upgraded Boarding 24 hours prior to a trip that I made last winter only to be notified a few hours later of a late winter weather Travel Advisory for my home airport that prompted me to rebook the trip for another day...The CSA refunded the Upgraded Boarding purchase and assisted me with the rebooking).   Just be sure when you call to make it clear to the CSA of your intentions of this purchase.   ... View more

@DancingDavidE wrote: Fun pro-tip!   Was it as easy with any roller bags to get through the bus vs the connector? I had forgotten that it was separate fare from BART on the connection, or can you buy a day pass or other option to avoid separate fares?   Thanks also - I looked it up after my post and didn't realize Muni was only SF and East Bay have their own regional bus system...but close enough!   The bus was probably easier of the two options for roller bags as the bus boards at street level at OAK, BART Beige Line peoplemover had aerial stations similar to the Disney and Las Vegas Monorail which requires going up one floor.   The Coliseum BART station is also aerial with the bus stop at street level, main BART tracks on the 2nd floor and the Beige Line peoplemover on the 3rd floor. The Beige Line is similar to other peoplemovers with limited seating and wide-open floor space for standing.    AC Transit and BART are separate operators but both use a universal Bay-area "Clipper" fare card as an option to deduct fares. ... View more

Trivia Question (Think Fast!): At OAK, people can take a BART peoplemover cable tramway from OAK to the BART Coliseum Station which links the traveler to the entire BART train system. Trams depart every 6-12 minutes and makes the haul in about 9 minutes plus walk time in between the ground level and aerial station platforms. One way fare is $6.70; total one way BART fare from OAK into downtown Oakland is $8.85.   There's another efficient daytime means to get from OAK to the Coliseum BART station and back for just $2.25 each way with a travel time of about 11 minutes between these two points (bringing the total ground transport fare from OAK to downtown Oakland $4.40 each way). Which ground transportation means and route accomplishes this connection? First to answer gets the checkmark! Without Google I'm going to say there is a Muni bus route to do the same thing, assuming you weren't going to continue on with BART.   I have only done the BART connection myself in that case.   As mentioned in the original post, the fare on the OAK Airport BART Beige Line peoplemover cable tramway was $6.70 each way for the 9-10 minute trip between OAK and the Coliseum BART Station. By comparison, a local public transit bus goes the same way for $2.25.   When one is traveling during the day to/from OAK, AC Transit Bus Line 73 can link a passenger between OAK and the BART rail system for $2.25 local fare and makes the connection in about 10-12 minutes. The interval between buses is 15 minutes. Surprisingly enough, while I was checking real-time departures on my mobile device, the bus actually timed much better than the Beige Line for this particular trip and I was the sole passenger on the bus for most of the trip.   To compare (OAK to downtown Oakland 19th St BART via BART Coliseum Station):   Carrier: BART Beige Line Peoplemover     One Way Fare at the time of the trip: $6.70 OAK to Coliseum BART Beige Line $2.15 Coliseum BART to downtown Oakland 19th BART via BART Orange Line $8.85 Total Beige Line Frequency: 6-12 Minutes Beige Line Trip Length: 9-10 Minutes   Carrier: AC Transit Bus Route 73     One Way Fare at the time of the trip: $2.25 OAK to Coliseum via AC Transit Line 73 $2.15 Coliseum BART to downtown Oakland 19th BART via BART Orange Line $4.40 Total Line 73 Frequency: 15 Minutes Line 73 Trip Length: 10-12 Minutes   One caveat if you plan to value shop your ground transportation at OAK: If travelling back to OAK anytime after dark, I would spend the $6.70 fare for the BART Beige Line as the street level bus stops at the Coliseum BART station are not in the best of areas and may not be the best place to wait for Line 73 at night.   Safe Travels! ... View more

@Laura_Javier wrote: Subject: Formal Discrimination Complaint Regarding Flight Attendant Conduct   Dear Sir/Madam,   I am writing to file a formal discrimination complaint against one of your flight attendants who exhibited inappropriate and discriminatory behavior during my recent flight. I was a passenger on flight WN 2385 from Atlanta to Baltimore on June 24, 2023. The incident in question occurred during the safety briefing while I was seated in the exit row.   Upon entering the aircraft, I was already fatigued due to the significant delay (2.5 hours) in our flight. As the flight attendant approached to train us on emergency procedures, I briefly turned my face towards my friend, who was seated nearby, to seek assistance with fastening my seatbelt. However, the flight attendant abruptly interrupted her instructions and admonished me to pay attention.   Subsequently, I chose to remain silent but maintained my gaze elsewhere. However, the flight attendant once again interrupted and abruptly questioned me if I "even spoke English." I calmly affirmed that I did and clarified that I was not engaged in conversation or causing any disruption. Despite my response, she persisted in emphasizing the need for me to pay attention and establish eye contact with her. Feeling disheartened by her remarks, I interjected, politely requesting her to proceed with the safety briefing.   I felt deeply upset and mistreated throughout the incident. The flight attendant's mode of communication was highly inappropriate, and the passengers in the same row, who witnessed the incident, unanimously agreed with my sentiment. They encouraged me to bring this matter to your attention, urging me to seek resolution through this formal complaint.   For reference, the flight attendant in question was a white female, presumably in her late 20s. I regret that I did not acquire her name during the flight, but I believe it should be possible for your airline to identify her based on the flight details provided.   As an Southwest airline passenger, I firmly believe in the principles of equality, respect, and fair treatment. It is disheartening to encounter such discriminatory behavior from a representative of your esteemed airline, especially during a critical safety briefing. I trust that you will take this complaint seriously and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.   I kindly request that you keep me informed about the progress of this complaint and the actions taken to address the situation. Additionally, I would appreciate receiving a formal apology from your airline for the distress caused by this incident.   I look forward to a prompt and satisfactory resolution to this matter. Thank you for your attention to this serious concern.   Sincerely,   Best,   Laura Javier Hi Laura- I would forward your letter in an email addressed directly to Southwest Customer Relations for review as this a customer-to-customer forum. https://www.southwest.com/html/contact-us/   However, having taken several Southwest flights, I can provide input on sitting in the Emergency Exit Row. Going forward, I would wait on the seat belt assistance until the FA is done with the Exit Row Training Briefing; FA's need to brief and train the passengers seated in the Emergency Exit Row on the emergency exit procedure which requires passengers to be fully involved in case of an evacuation. This includes an acknowledgement that would require full attention of the training briefing. The training is typically done about 10-15 minutes before the flight staff close the front door and FA's commence the general safety information briefing and final checks on seatbelts. Thus, if such a situation arise again, I would hold on the seatbelt, focus on the briefing first and then assist.   Hope this helps! However, I would forward your case to Customer Relations if you believe you were unfairly treated on the enforcement of this policy. ... View more

@oscarjuvera wrote: Hi everyone, does anyone know if I can bring with me an iron to iron my clothes? It's not a steamer nor a fancy one, it's a target classic iron.  Hi Oscar-   I didn't see any restrictions on TSA's website on bringing common clothing irons for checked or carry-on. I think an iron may be defined as a large electronic device but I could be wrong.   I would therefore remove the iron from the carry-on bag and keep it separate or in the tray when running it through the x-ray machine at the TSA Checkpoint for both PreCheck and Standard screening and putting back into the carry-on after clearing TSA just in case an officer needs to review the iron. ... View more

@Krgaffney wrote: Good morning, my husband and I were on Flight 1713, Friday, July 7th out of Puerto Rico to Orlando, and then on to Chicago. I have wheel chair services, so we were in about the 5th or 6th row. During the flight, the seatbelt sign was on, quite a bit, as to a lot of turbulence. There were a couple times I wanted to get up to use the restroom, but it was occupied. I decided I would wait until we parked, as to, I was staying on the flight, onward to Chicago. Once we parked, people were in the aisle, gathering their items, and ready to exit the plane. However, something was going on and the flight attendant, in question, Position A, was not allowed to open the door. We were asked for patience and thanked. I stood up with the crowd, and as they exited the plane, I went in the bathroom, directly next to the cockpit. Once I was done, I stood there until flow of traffic had stopped, while customers were gathering their items. Now back at my trow, my husband needed to go. He brushed passed me to the restroom. The flight attendant, in position A, stood there and blocked his path to the restroom. I am sitting there wondering why he's not going in. As people were walking past them, an opening became available and I yelled down, why aren't you going to the bathroom. He's diabetic, sugar was high, and he needed to go!! He said, she won't allow me. WHAT??? I, then yelled to her, why won't you allow my husband to use the restroom? She wouldn't respond. He was, literally, about to wet his pants. Once everyone that wanted to exit was off the plane, she came to speak with me, and was almost in a whisper. Then she said something about the FCC or FAA. I don't recall the acronym used, but she basically, informed me, that they would, basically, prefer a person to urinate or deficate on themselves than to allow a person to go in the restroom while customers are exiting the plane. I became very upset at her response. If that's the rule, it should be changed! I was fussing, and security was called. All of a sudden, she felt threatened. Seriously, you're the one that wouldn't allow my husband to use the bathroom. We were asked to move a few rows back, out of her section, because now she's scared. Really? That was only said, so she could "cover her behind" I would like something to be done with this flight attendant & this rule. It was morally wrong & unprofessional, for this flight attendant not to allow a customer to use the facility, and make him stand there, uncomfortable Kim Hello Kim-   As this forum is mainly customer-to-customer, I would forward your complaint regarding access to the lavatory direct to Southwest Customer Relations so they can handle your issue.    A few notes to help you on your future flights with Southwest or any other carrier:   There are some brief periods where the lavatory may not be "open" to passengers which FA's need to enforce. On through-flights for example, FA's need to conduct an accurate passenger head count once the local passengers have deplaned; all through-passengers to remain seated in their original seats. I believe this is an FAA rule (following the count, they are free to use the toilets and have first choice at taking a better seat).    Another period is during taxi, take-off, and final decent/landing (the points of the flight when the seatbacks and traytables need to be upright and locked, larger electronics stowed): FA's typically ask passengers to remain seated with seatbelts fastened and enforce. I've seen passengers get up for various reasons during these periods and the FA's will immediately announce on the intercom to remain seated. I've noticed one unwritten rule about the Seatbelt light on my flights. If it's on and the plane is above the 10,000' mark with no turbulence (the FA's are typically servicing the cabin at this point), passengers will be asked to remain seated but will typically be allowed to get up to use the lavatory and return to their seat. Worst case scenario, push the FA call button and ask the FA.   If the FA's are seated for turbulence, best to remain seated too. Note that the "no forming a line" rule applies to the front restroom whenever it's in use. The plane also has a lavatory in the back in the plane too if your party can access those. If somebody needs to "go", I would try to do it no later than the start of the initial descent after the cruising phase (approx. 10 minutes prior to the final decent/landing phase or 20 minutes prior to landing).   Again, when in doubt, I would push the FA call button but about 10 minutes prior to the final descent/landing phase.   Hope this helps. ... View more