Southwest Airlines Community

I can't find it now, but seem to remember hearing that all alcohol consumed on a flight had been to be served by the crew. Could you sneak a bottle on and inconspicuously drink it? Probably, but would you want to risk this happening to you? https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/11/09/southwest-airlines-flight-proves-dont-try-to-drink-your-own-alcohol-onboard/   Seems like a better option is to buy drinks onboard like everyone else.  ... View more

You'll want to contact Southwest customer service to get help with this, this forum is mostly customer to customer discussions. If you have Twitter, send a message to @SouthwestAir, that's probably the fastest method of communication. ... View more

Under 18 years of age the name does not matter unless the child is also enrolled in TSA Precheck, then the name would need to exactly match how it was given to TSA.  No PreCheck?  Put whatever name you would like. ... View more

You can find all the details regarding traveling with an ESA here: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/unique-travel-needs/customers-with-disabilities-pol.html   To answer your specific question, this was on that same page: "Customers are not required to transport fully trained service animals or emotional support animals in pet carriers." ... View more

Assuming he is flying domestic, within the United States, no paperwork or documentation of age is needed.  Southwest and TSA may ask him his name if he is able to say it, and then they will look to see if it matches what is on his ticket.  He can earn Rapid Rewards points so it wouldn't hurt to get an account for him and add his RR# to the reservation.  You can also request credit for the flight after it is completed if you don't add the RR# before the flight. ... View more

You can certainly ask to preboard, but I'm not sure they would allow it. I'm smart enough not to wade into the debate of pregnancy being a medical condition so I'll move on to seat suggestions. You would certainly be able to utilize family boarding which is after the A group if you don't have an A boarding pass. My recommendation would be to go back to a row or two before or after the emergency exit row and take a window seat. Front rows almost always get filled so you won't get extra space there and an aisle opens up two ways for a little one to run. Up against the window you've got just one path to block and the window might provide some level of entertainment. Going back a few rows makes your row no different than another row and therefore it's more likely people will find another place to sit if the flight isn't completely full.   And lastly, don't deliberately board last, EVER. That's just asking for trouble.   Good luck, come back and post how it went after you finish traveling. ... View more

Technically, that's one too many items, you should check the suitcase. But, if it's a smaller carry-on suitcase you can probably get away with carrying it on.  ... View more

I'm confused, can you be more specific about what you're referring to? ... View more

In the future it would be best not to book through the Southwest site if you want to avoid earning RR points from the rental.  Sadly, most rental agencies charge this fee if you're requesting points/miles so you're essentially purchasing points/miles at a discounted rate.  One way I've had luck avoiding the fee while still getting the points/miles is some rental agencies will let you retroactively add your frequent flyer information to a rental after you've already completed the rental and have been billed.  Points/miles are then sent to your frequent flyer account. ... View more

It might be easier if you provided more information about everything you were planning/hoping to carry on, then we can provide opinions based on the complete picture.    The child itself won't count towards anything and does not get an official baggage allowance.  In general if you can put a bag under the seat and a bag overhead you're fine. Often, an additional bag overhead won't cause problems. People tend to be understanding that a baby would need a diaper bag while mom needs a purse and perhaps a roller bag.    Are there other paid passengers traveling with you? You can combine baggage allowance, for example one person has one bag, another person has three bags.  ... View more

Southwest has never fully disclosed their boarding priority policies, but based on lots discussions people do seem to think within the A-List status group, A-List Preferred goes first and within that group, people that have purchased Business Select fares have priority, then Anytime fares, then Wanna Getaway. The same breakdown occurs within the regular A-List group after Preferred. It's a guessing game how it's prioritized within each fare class, but purchase date or overall money spent might be a factor. It's highly doubtful that just being a Companion Pass holder factors in as it's fairly easy to get CP without even flying. Also, while companions are not officially included in the A-List standby policy, agents do seem to make exceptions and allow them to travel standby which leads to thinking that the standby priority can also be controlled or adjusted by the agent. The old idea of being nice and smiling is probably still a very big factor. ... View more

You will not receive a response from Southwest on this forum. ... View more

Duplicate post, no need to repost   https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/General-Travel-Policies/Travel-Funds/m-p/68771/highlight/true#M3196 ... View more

You didn't specify what it is you are currently being told, but I will assume it's that you can't make a reservation with the funds for travel after the funds expire. If that's the case, the suggestion from @chgoflyer would most likely work, you just need to let the funds expire.    "At this point, you can wait for the funds to expire and request they be reissued as vouchers, for a fee of $100 per ticket. That will at least recover some of your funds."  ... View more

And just like that, @chgoflyer opens the Pandora's box that is "seat saving".   Even better (and more expensive) option is to purchase the early boarding upgrade at the gate.  Assuming there are spots available, all four passengers should be able to get consecutive boarding positions in the A1-15 group.  $30-$50 each person might be a bit much, just depends on how important everyone boarding together and getting their choice of seats is.   Personally, I would purchase EarlyBird for everyone, then board at the worst of the 4 borading positions.  You'll still be able to get 4 seats "together", either 3 plus the one across the aisle, or 3 and 1 in front or behind. ... View more

Yes, pretty sure the setup info from @DancingDavidE is correct, BUT my experience has been that Southwest doesn't always send updates, especially if the delay isn't too significant. Numerous times I've been heading to the airfield, check the Southwest app, and then found out about a delay.   I would recommend that you use another app such as FlightView. You input your flights and it will notify you of any changes. Also let's you see the incoming flight most of the time and you can see if it's arriving on time. It's certainly much more reliable than waiting for Southwest.    ... View more

So I get the impression you weren't really asking for actual opinions of the Rapid Rewards program, but instead looking to express some displeasure. Regardless, here's a few thoughts I had.    Considering the Rapid Rewards program is frequently ranked as one of the top frequent flyer programs by numerous magazines, blogs, and traveler votes I'd say the consensus is that it's a good program. Now, if you don't fly with Southwest more than once every 24 months you probably wouldn't have a great opinion or care much at all about Rapid Rewards. Yes, you can choose to pay crazy high fees to reinstate miles on other airlines, but, in the case of United, they also expire miles at just 18 months and require a great deal many more flights/miles to earn rewards. Flying Southwest just a few times in 24 months can be enough to earn a free flight, that's pretty impressive. You mentioned that you had a lot of points so surely you know how quickly points do add up when you actually fly.    Overall, if you have such low activity with any airline that your miles/points expire then that frequent flyer account (key word is "frequent") may not be much use for you.   I'm not sure what you were expecting Southwest to do to show they care if you weren't even going to places that you could/would fly them and weren't a customer for more than 2 years. ... View more

Alternatively, everyone in the group could purchase EarlyBird Check-In, that should get you all boarding positions that are reasonably close together without the stress/headache of doing multiple check-ins.  ... View more

If I'm reading the question correctly, the poster has a flight booked, but girlfriend has the Companion Pass and wants to also go on the flight. In that situation the OP's purchased ticket is not required as he would be added as a companion (assuming GF has him selected as her companion). Combining with answer from @franktravel I believe the OP will cancel their ticket which returns all funds except for money used to purchase EarlyBird (that's not refundable). Funds would now be limited to being used by the OP, only he can fly with those funds, and they would have the soonest expiration date of the vouchers that were used.    GF would add OP as companion and the travel funds could be used to pay the taxes.  If OP wants EarlyBird he would need to pay for that (again) with cash.   Or, if OP has no intent on flying again before funds would expire then leave everything as is and avoid having to repurchase EarlyBird. That's a waste of a lot of funds, but some people don't have time to take trips. ... View more

Yes, with two IFs...   -The ticket must have been paid for with cash, not using RR points. -You need to add your RR account # to the reservation     ... View more

Next week the schedule opens up until November 3rd so you're probably two months from being able to book end of December flights.   You can check here for updates: https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/index.html ... View more

It is up to you to track your own funds, Southwest does not do this for you. ... View more

That's correct, 4 drink coupons are sent after 10 paid one-way flights and no longer sent as part of being a Southwest credit card holder. ... View more

Ouch! Gluten free AND peanut allergy?? That makes flying very rough. I think (and welcome the idea) that Southwest could easily add some shelf stable snack box type things, especially as they get longer flights such as Hawaii.  Combining that with drink coupons that are actually food/drink credit would be a great idea, especially for people that don't drink. Southwest did sell drink coupon booklets at one time, so they could once again sell a coupon book, this time with combined food/drink credits. ... View more

@DancingDavidE, I think @chgoflyer actually works for Southwest's IT department and just hates his/her boss, lol. That poor IT department is always getting bashed by @chgoflyer ... View more

I've always kept a spreadsheet with the info. Whenever I make a change I jot down the confirmation number, value, and expiration date if I have it. Not that complicated. A friend of mine who flies at least twice a week is even more old school and keeps a list in a paper journal.   Sure, it's not ideal, and whatever Southwest's motivation may be, I'd much rather have to do some work than pay change fees or not have the option to rebook when fares drop.   ... View more

Your plan works.  Here are a few thoughts....   -Be careful buying points.  Depending on how many points you need to buy and what the cost is, you could easily spend close to what it would be to purchase the ticket with cash.  Maybe you use points for all but one ticket and then cash for the last ticket.  See the next note for more on this.   -I suggest booking one way flights.  While this adds to the number of transactions you'll have to make, it also allows you to easily rebook flights should the price go down.  If the price drops you can get a refund for the number of points it decreased.  Also, if you're short a few points, now you can perhaps use points for all but one one-way ticket and cash for the remaining one-way.  Or maybe you have enough points for 6 one-ways (RT for 3 people), puchase a few points for a 7th one-way, and pay cash for the 8th one-way.   -There is no risk in booking flights over multiple orders when purchasing with points.  If at anytime you change your mind or run into a snag you can cancel all the purchases and get a full refund of the points used.  You cannot get a refund for any points you've purchased so that is some risk.   -Calling wouldn't make things any easier, they would split the order as you stated in your original message.  Personally, I like to see what I'm booking on the screen versus trying to understand what is being said over the phone.   Hopefully that helps.  Let me know if I've confused you with the one-way discussion.  Info about the number of points in the accounts and number of points required for the flights might help. ... View more

I'm still waiting!! ... View more

Haha, you're funny.  We've covered this already, no, I don't work for Southwest.  And passing along information isn't quite arrogance, but I've noticed you love using that word so I'll just let it slide.   I think we're done here, let us know if we can help with any other questions unrelated to the Southwest app. ... View more