Southwest Airlines Community

I had this happen to me this summer;  Even though we were both A-List, there were no seats left on the plane to be able to cancel the companion, change and rebook;  They would not let me get on standby until at the airport and by then everyone who could do it through their mobile app in the morning was on the list;  To me, this is a huge disservice to A-List when they allow people to get on standby on the app, but others not until they get to the gate;  They did not prioritize A or A-preferred on standby either.   ... View more

@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. ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 wrote: @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    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.     This is what I was looking for - but still vague about what is "securing" your boarding position - it doesn't say "securing your boarding pass" which is a separate activity but which the OP may have been bumped because of it. (Unless this was one of those flights where 100% of the people got EBCI.   But anyway - what if a Business Select or A-list passenger gets their boarding pass at the airport - that's obviously not desirable to have either of those types bumped so it has to be the order of assigning boarding positions.   Therefore I suspect an EBCI error with the OP's flight, the EBCI should be protecting a passenger from being bumped. Either there was an error on acquiring EBCI, or the flight was changed less than 36 hours prior to departure, or another error (or glitch) is possible.       ... View more

Thanks for answering, I appreciate you. ... View more

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. ... View more

@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. ... View more

I got the message. Changed flight. The next morning I got the notice they had charged my credit card more than $200. So much for free.  ... View more

Thanks for posting SoCalFlyer. It's always fun to read your trip reports. ... View more

I’m having the same issue but nothing to do with a credit card just the same error message when I try to pull up my reservation or change my flight on the app and web. I’ve called customer service and they keep saying everything is working fine on their end. It’s so frustrating.   ... View more

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. ... View more

We were on the same flight with all the luggage chaos. None of our luggage made the flight. As of right now 3 came in this morning from Denver, 1 was routed to Kansas City and the other 2 are still showing tagged in Denver. Here’s to hoping we are all reunited with our belongings.   ... View more

skip the phone.    try the cell app chat function or twitter/facebook ... View more

So the newer trips at top of webpage correct? ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 wrote: 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. I would clarify here that the Tijuana airport has a bridge to the US. So you can park in the US and cross the bridge for the flight rather than having to wait for hours in traffic to drive across the border. It's called Cross Border Xpress located at 2745 Otay Pacific Drive in San Diego, CA.  I believe there is a fee, but I thing it's worth it. ... View more

@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   ... View more

Thank you for sharing your experience. This is my first CP so a bit apprehensive, not wanting to miss anything that jeopardizes my travel plan. Keeping my fingers crossed. ... View more

@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! ... View more

Southwest pulled out of Stapleton and said it woud not incur the higher fees at DIA. ... View more

You cannot, under the law, require a preboard passenger to be delayed at exiting the plane.  In fact, it would be more logical for them to exit the plane before anyone else.   Keeping a passenger on the plane against their will would result in a lawsuit for illegal detention and arrest. ... View more

I'm back, it's all working now. Thank you to everyone who helped in getting my account back up and running! ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 -- Fixed it! The issue was something on our back end, so you should be receiving a direct message shortly! ... View more

Maybe they were a deadhead so they can go to work because otherwise another flight could be canceled if they weren’t there.  ... View more

I've seen it in years past, but not this year (yet).  Once they have completed their review, you will be able to see the current points. ... View more

The best time to find cheaper flights to Mexico while still enjoying great weather typically falls during the shoulder seasons, which are the periods between peak and off-peak travel times. During these times, you can often find more affordable airfares and accommodations compared to the high season.  In Mexico, you can find gazebos for sale in stores specializing in outdoor furniture and garden accessories, as well as through online retailers and local craftsmen. ... View more

@OwenAsher wrote: Hello Southwest enthusiasts! I hope this message finds you well. As a passionate traveler and Southwest Airlines fan, I find myself in need of some guidance. I'm planning an upcoming trip and would love to tap into the wealth of knowledge within the Southwest community. My question is regarding the best practices for maximizing the benefits of Southwest's Rapid Rewards program. Are there any seasoned travelers out there who have discovered unique tips or tricks to earn more points, or perhaps optimize their redemptions for the best value? Your insights and experiences are invaluable, and I'm eager to hear from fellow Southwest aficionados. Feel free to share your wisdom and help a fellow traveler plan the perfect Southwest adventure. Thank you in advance for your contributions, and happy travels to you all! Can you describe the upcoming trip a little more? That would help with any ticket booking, cars, hotels advice.     ... View more

@CupCrusher40 wrote: for software needs 8 hour gap No, you can book tighter at least with Southwest.     ... View more

I have been on the phone with multiple agents today, to include speaking to two agents here at the airport.  What a pain.   TSA’s official stance is any minor 17 and younger can go through TSA pre-check with their parent PROVIDING the airline puts the pre-check on the minors ticket.  They do not care if it’s on one reservation, two reservations. backwards reservations, upside down reservations, whatever.  The only policy they have is that the airline confirms the minor is in fact related to the TSA approved parent/guardian.   Southwest’s policy and/or the way they have programmed the computers ONLY allows Southwest to put the pre-check on minors traveling under the same reservation number… and if your minor is the companion then per Southwest policy and/or computer system they will be assigned a separate reservation number… so you are correct, if your minor is your companion, then your minor will never receive the TSA pre-check based upon the way Southwest has structured it’s policy and computer system.   ... View more

Thank you all for the details.   just landed at DAL…   Cheers & Merry Christmas  ... View more