Southwest Airlines Community

That's surprising... Do they offer the ability to upgrade both legs at the first departure point or would you need to inquire about an upgrade for the second leg during the layover?  ... View more

@DancingDavidE definitely agree, I tried to suggest booking the placeholder spot in my original response but I guess I should have emphasized "do it" more than just suggest it being optional. Thankfully I've not yet been in a sold out situation, but someday it's bound to happen.   Generally we're booking at least two weeks out, holiday travel is already booked, and we tend to book the companion ticket immediately and cancel later if the companion ticket is not needed after finalizing plans (work schedules never let us know for certain if we can travel together until the last minute). We get anxious when we see there's only 1 WGA fare left (at least at that particular price). CP adds a whole new level of strategy when booking trips.  ... View more

That warning appears every time I change a reservation. Seems pretty well publicized to me.  ... View more

Take a look at https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/airport-experience/tsaprecheck.html   If I remember correctly, the opt-in process is no longer needed/required to be considered for random inclusion in PreCheck....  "TSA will also proactively prescreen Passengers who are traveling, with the goal of possibly pre-clearing more Passengers to use TSA PreCheck lanes. These passengers will not be required to submit any additional information, submit an application, or pay a fee."   Even if you only travel a few times a year PreCheck is well worth the time/money/hassle to get. Knowing for certain you'll have access to PreCheck lines eliminates so much time previously wasted at the airport and removes the worry about how bad security will be and how early to arrive at the airport.  Additionally, just one international trip justified getting Global Entry vs standard PreCheck for me so consider that option too.    ... View more

Here's the official policy: The Member may, however, change his/her designated Companion and request issuance of a new Companion Pass card up to three (3) times each calendar year that the Member maintains Companion Pass status. Any reservation with the current Companion Pass would need to be cancelled before changing his/her designated Companion.   https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=rapid_rewards_program_terms_and_conditions       ... View more

You can book flights for everyone except your companion now and add the companion once your CP is active.  Booking a flight for your companion with points now is an option as it should hold a seat for them so that once your CP is active you'll cancel those placeholder reservations and add them as a companion. You should do the companion placeholder bookings separate from everyone else so you can easily adjust/cancel it online. You'll get a refund of the points when you cancel. No guarantee cancelling the placeholder seat on a sold out flight actually opens up a seat, but it should. ... View more

While I understand your frustration with some apparent abuse of ESA policies there is a policy stating documentation is required. That policy is here: https://www.southwest.com/assets/pdfs/customer_service/emotional_animal_travel_instructions.pdf   In a previous thread a SW moderator commented on the size issue: If your ESA is too large to fit under the seat, we can accommodate you in the bulkhead (front row of the cabin) where the animal will have enough room. Also, you have the option of purchasing an extra seat to ensure enough room for you and your ESA, and we'll refund the seat after you've completed travel.    Regarding your other questions, open seating ensures no one is forced to sit next to an animal (unless perhaps you or they are the very last to board) and frankly I'm much more worried about another person leaning on me, slobbering on me, or causing a fight. All your questions could be asked about people instead of pets and they're much more realistic, more likely to occur, and more likely to be a problem, yet somehow we all manage to fly just fine (most of the time).  ... View more

As stated previously, it would need to be in a box and would probably be considered oversized. Based on the link you posted, you'd be better off ordering a new table and having it shipped to your destination.  ... View more

Good question. The way the policy is written it makes it sound like one adult could board during family boarding with the 6 year old, but because there's two adults the 9 year old and the other adult would board in their assigned boarding position. Here's the policy: An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding.    In reality, yes, the whole family could probably get away with boarding during family boarding, but you're at the mercy of the gate agent. As the adults had already purchased EBCI, waiting for family boarding would probably be a downgrade (assuming they get A boarding positions with EBCI) so purchasing EBCI for the kids would probably result in a better boarding position and be more of a sure thing vs waiting to see how the gate agent interprets policy.        ... View more

Points post to your account AFTER your trip is completed.  Points for flights are generally within 24 hours after they are completed and hotels will most likely take several days. ... View more

I don't really understand what you're trying to check, but it does not seem to meet the standard baggage specifications.  Here's Southwest's policy: Maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per check piece of luggage. Overweight items from 51 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches will be accepted for an overweight and oversize baggage fee of $75 per item   Whatever the table is, you'd most certainly want it in a box.   You can read the whole policy here: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/ ... View more

Yeah, not the best IT. All I can say is keep checking the booking screen price at least once a day, prices often go down even without an announced sale.  ... View more

Yes, there are only a limited number of seats assigned to a specific price. As seats sell the price generally goes up. Sounds like your friend got the last of the cheaper fares. You should continue to check the price occasionally before your trip as sometimes the price goes down again and you can rebook at the lower fare. See numerous posts on this site about changing your flight to the lower price.  ... View more

@chgoflyer good catch. In general though, there's nothing different about the check-in process that screams EBCI  ... View more

@Bpaine what makes you certain EBCI didn't work for you? You still have to click the check-in button online on your app, you just don't have to do it at right at 24 hours prior to your flight as the system automatically assigns your boarding position prior to others who didn't purchase EBCI as previously mentioned. Only a small icon next to the reservation in your account indicates EBCI was purchased, everything else looks the same and a multitude of factors could give you a higher boarding number, but you still do better than non-status passengers that don't purchase EBCI.  ... View more

The TSA agent was probably trying to save you some time and/or hassle since most people would prefer the lighter screening of PreCheck vs standard screening. Yes, having A-List status does allow you to use the priority line at the TSA checkpoint but it's still the standard screening. Personally, I always use PreCheck and only go in the priority line when PreCheck is closed. No need to carry a card, your status and PreCheck eligibility is all on your boarding pass. Remember, TSA is completely different than Southwest so TSA can occasionally give you a difficult time regarding your A-List status. Checking bags via Southwest's Fly By priority line is great and has never been a problem for me.  ... View more

You could try the BWI Lost and Found since it was lost at the airport, not on a flight. (410) 859-7387 ... View more

A rolling ice chest would need to be checked at the check-in counter, not gate checked. It would also need to be well sealed. I've seen them come out with normal suitcases and with the oversized items such as car seats and strollers so you might need to look in both places.    Any special reason you need it to be gate checked? Anything inside that might be a security or safety concern?  ... View more

While in general terms, the overhead should be ok, be warned if you're on a full flight there may be lots of folks pretty upset if you're taking up more than your share of bin space. I could see some irritated flyer trying to cram their suitcase on top of your dress or squishing your dress between two suitcases. Remember, not everyone will be super nice and caring about your dress. If you can place it nicely into a suitcase (either carry-on or checked) that would be my suggestion. Don't just assume that because the dress will lay in the overhead that you won't have any problems.  ... View more

Well, checked baggage is treated like checked baggage. There are so many bags going on and off in such a quick amount of time that I wouldn't check anything and expect it to be treated differently. While I've never had any problems with how Southwest has treated my luggage, if you're worried I wouldn't check it.   Any chance it meets the size requirements for carry-on?  Southwest Airlines limits carryon bag dimensions to 10 x 16 x 24 inches. ... View more

Mary (@mdiprizio), I'm rather curious if any info can be found regarding the reason for the delay which might help your case with Southwest.  Do you happen to have any of the flight numbers from the original reservation?  Most important would be the flight # for the first flight taken (the one you said was delayed).  As Southwest doesn't appear to go to NJ from MHT and there's a non-stop from MHT to MCO I'm struggling to find the info for your flights.   Thanks! ... View more

Southwest does not, but you could bring one. I've used one on many Southwest flights and never had any issues. Just ask the folks sitting behind you nicely and give a brief reassurance that it won't affect them at all as you install it.  ... View more

Nope. You just need a name that matches an ID, their gender, and date of birth.  ... View more

Check out Southwest's young traveler guide: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/young-travelers.html   It does say the child should have something for proof of age in addition to contact information for adults dropping off and picking up the child. The guide also talks about the escort pass which you can get to go to the gate with the child.  ... View more

There appears to be frequent air service on regional airlines between the two cities for around $100/person each way. You could fly Southwest to Nassau then hop over to Freeport if that's cheaper than the other carriers you were looking at. For the more adventurous type with a flexible schedule I also found this gem http://www.mailboatbahamas.com that offers travel by boat. Good luck!    ... View more

Hey @LindseyD I was rebooking a bunch of flights late Monday night (June 5, starting around 1130pm Mountain time) and ran into the oops - this price no longer available error message a handful of times. I figured there was only a limited number of the newly loaded sale fares and someone else had grabbed it right when I was also trying to, but perhaps there's something bigger going on. Thanks for looking into it! I stayed up way too late that night getting an early start on the sale.   ... View more