Southwest Airlines Community

Thanks, Nashley! ... View more

Has anyone gotten through yet tonight? I am on hold with two phones... 1.5 hours in so far. Also does anyone know if I can just book a new flight online now and then reach out to them later for a refund of the difference in my airfare from my 737max cancelled flight? This would be V helpful so I can book online now and get a refund later. I don't know how they're doing it. Do you? ... View more

Thank you all for your feedback! I just went down to the airport and they were able to rebook my flight. Cheers, Tai  ... View more

Yours is a common complaint and a long lasting pain point with the Southwest booking system. Unfortunately, the best you can do is call (or Tweet, as hold times are very long at the moment due to the operational emergency, weather issues and the recent grounding of MAX aircraft). If the phone rep can see the fare they can make the change for you. ... View more

@CecileBrennan wrote: My niece had a trip booked on Southwest. She checked early today, March 13th, and discovered it was on the problematic Max 8 plane.  Following media reports that Southwest would change flights free of charge, she called and changed the flight only to be charged for the change.  The agent told her the Washington Post article stating that the changes would be free was incorrect. This eventhough Southwest had not asked for a retraction. The agent also said they, Southwest, had not been informed by the FAA that all the planes would be grounded.   Is this a way to treat loyal customers?  Shouldn't she get her money back?  Why is Southwest behaving in this way--especially now, since all the flights are going to be stopped on that airplane?         Southwest was only allowing customers to change away from a MAX aircraft without charge through March 18, so if her scheduled flight was after that she would have needed to pay the fare difference.   She should reach out to Customer relations (via Twitter for the quickest response) and see if they're able to refund the additional amount she paid for the change. It's unlikely, but worth a try.     ... View more

Thank you.  After several hours of trying to find the answer, our flight is on a 737-800 which. hopefully, is safe.   ... View more

@wdv wrote: Anybody know if service to Hawaii is/was dependent on the use of Max 8 equipment.   Southwest announced that 737-MAX8 aircraft would eventually be used for Hawaii (along with 737-800s) but as of now none of the aircraft scheduled are MAX. It remains unclear if Southwest has yet received ETOPS certification for their MAX aircraft. The grounding of the aircraft may affect the eventual rollout of announced additional Hawaii destinations and/or expansion of service, but that would be dependant on how long the grounding lasts, and what procedures will be required before the aircraft can return to service.  ... View more

Southwest Statement on grounding of MAX8 aircraft   here is the statement posted on the official Southwest Twitter account  ... View more

Moderator here!    While we don't have a way of recovering your birthday videos, you can be sure that we'll send along another treat for your next birthday so you can continue to share the LUV!   ... View more

I have several Southwest flights coming up.  I'm usually a very calm traveler, but this has me worried.  Thank you for your help! ... View more

@bec102896 wrote: @chgoflyer wrote: @Vickinog wrote: I was wondering if the option to change/cancel was due to the possible plane problems, but it doesn't really say why. I was hoping to find an answer without holding for 2 hours to speak with a representative.  I really don't want to change my flight if I can avoid it. It's really the only time I can travel.    Southwest is allowing a one-time change to everyone booked thru March 27 (currently) in light of customer concerns in flying on 737 MAX aircraft. If you don't want to change your flight you can ignore that notification. I don't see the option to change for free for my flight on the 26th or 27th of March    Interesting. I wonder if the date reported in the article below is incorrect (in an earlier version it was reported to be March 18), or if the policy has now changed?   Flying a Southwest 737 MAX 8 Aircraft? You Can Change Your Itinerary at No Fee. ... View more

@lincoln42    It looks like your message is blank.    If you could edit your post to inclue your question we would be glad to help   -Blake ... View more

Wish I had the same outcome. All I got was a bunch of I'm sorry this is nothing I can do. ... View more

Also note that "customers traveling with children will be allowed to check one stroller and one Child Restraint System (CRS) or car seat per child without charge. This is in addition to the regular free baggage allowance." More detail: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/carryon-bags-pol.html?CLK=SITESEARCH ... View more

@CareforNOLA wrote: @andreajenkins22, if you do not have a Southwest Credit Card, you might consider getting one for your normal purchases (gas, grocery, etc) as that may add to your “tier qualifying points.”  I have found the annual fee to be worth the cost and I just pay the balance off each month.  Don’t wait until late in the year, however, because the points don’t post until the monthly statement closes.    Good of luck on getting to the next tier!   Unfortunately, most Southwest credit card points are not A-List Tier Qualifying (TQP).   Exception: The Southwest Premier and Priority cards (only) allow you to earn a small amount of TQPs:   1,500 tier qualifying points: You’ll earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for each $10,000 in purchases, up to $100,000 in purchases annually which equal 15,000 TQP.   All Southwest credit card points however are Companion Pass Qualifying (CPQ).     ... View more

@cwiege wrote: Thanks so much for your response. I do not know how to dlete the confiormation n umber and it no longer matters.  If you have travel funds tied to the confirmation number, then it does matter. To edit your post (delete the confirmation number) click on the "wheel" on the upper right side of your initial post, and pick the "edit post" option from the options listed. ... View more

Has anyone used a Delsey backpack as their personal item?   16.25 x 12.5 x7 ... View more

@teesa2you wrote: @spacecoastbill wrote: If you are only one person, why the need to save your seat?   If you are sitting in your seat, its no longer open. I just don't want to get up during the flight to use the restroom and come back to someone moving my things to the overhead and occupying my seat. That would be rude. I'm A Lisr, so I normally board early. Sometimes I visit the lav during the boarding process (especially when I expect turbulence that might prevent a lav visit during flight). I put my compuer case on my seat when I go to the lav. So essentially I'm saving my seat for  --- me. I'd be more than a bit upset if someone were to remove my computer case and take my seat while I was in the lav (never happened yet). ... View more

Thanks for the info.  ... View more

@bec102896 wrote: @whitneyfam9    Now that there is a weather advisory issued you can make 1 change to your reservation for free (within 14 days) as chgoflyer said i would act quickly before others do it and there are no other options.    -Blake     If the phone lines are jammed (likely), just send an e-mail including your confirmation number, and the airline will call you back. If you choose twitter, DO NOT include your confirmation number with your first send. Wait for DMs to start.  ... View more

@satma1 wrote: I have a voucher that expires on March 26th. But I can't travel before that. Can I sell the voucher or give to any charity? Selling it is prohibited, but hopefully if you gave it to someone they could return the kindness in some way later.   Donation could be an option, although make sure if you go this route that they are aware of the short turnaround to use it.   Otherwise depending how much it is, take a weekend day trip to a nearby airport - if you can get to MDW, MSP, StL, now DEN? and some others you can take public transportation to the downtown and back.  EWR I'm not sure, and LGA you'd have to take either the M60 or Q33 bus. BOS and PHL both connected by rail.    Boston always fun with a train, DCA easy, I'd go to BWI eat at O'Brycki's and then return without ever leaving the airport.   Vouchers count as cash I believe, so your flight would be tier qualifying if you are close to any milestones for qualification go ahead and make a points run.          ... View more

I think all airlines would very much prefer that loyalty programs didn't exist in the first place. 😉   It would certainly reduce accounting complexity and lead to greater pricing transperency. But that's the model they've created, and has become the industry standard. And while management ensures their loyalty program represents a significant asset to the company (primarily through revenue generation from point/mile sales to credit card-issuing banks), it's clear by the consistent redemption devaluations of these programs that all carriers are trying to reduce the drain on profitability they represent. Southwest is no different.   With regards to the liability miles/points represent on a carrier's financials, it's way more complicated than you may think. Here's a great reference:   Are frequent flyer miles a liability for FFPs?   While different carriers account for their programs differently, it's worth noting that Delta's miles never expire.   I don't think it's necessarily inappropriate for Southwest to expire points, and I think 24 months is a reasonable timeframe. I do however find advertising language that specificallys says, "Points don't expire" to be hugely misleading. And I do think Southwest should make greater efforts to warn customers in advance of upcoming expiration. From a customer satisfaction viewpoint there's no reason not to. They are either screwing up and missing an important customer retention opportunity, or -- if they are actively choosing not to do so -- have made a management decision that the monetary benefit of the breakage outweights that value.         ... View more

@Jyksdk_12    Your not alone there have been lots of complaints about the WiFi. It has given all of us trouble at one point or another.    If you have a time where the WiFi isnt working after you purchase it you can always email customer relations by clicking on the contact us link at the bottom of this page and I'm sure they would be glad to help. You can also reach out to Southwest on Twitter or Facebook as well.   Hope it works better for you on future flights! Blake ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat wrote: Even if you booked the two legs as separate reservations you can request the bags be checked through to your final destination while you are dropping off bags. You would need to do this at the counter, not via a kiosk. The only time you should have to retrieve your bags mid-trip is if you have a layover when returning to the United States from an international location.    --TheMiddleSeat Of course there is no gurantee they will check it all the way if each leg is booked seperatly. I'm guessing that would all depend on the person at the counter.  ... View more

For this to be wholly in your control, you'll have to book refundable fares, and have the tickets refunded instead of given travel credit if the tickets were canceled.    Alternately if you book the tickets as WGA and the passengers cancel, the travel funds will be in their name but I suppose they could reimburse you cash for the value if/when they evenetually used the credit on their own flights.         ... View more

I was able to hunt down the company that gave it to me. It took a long while but I found them and talked to them about it. I was just intending to warn them but it turns out, they had the three letters I needed to put in front of the ticket number to make it valid. So I was able to book my trip after all!   Now, it is beyond me why SW wouldn’t just put those letters on the ticket in the first place. I’m sure there’s some security reason for having a verbal alpha code with the printed numeric code, but wow does that create a headache!    Thanks everyone for your thoughts and help with this issue! ... View more

@LindseyD    i was thinking the same same thing when that showed up in my feed the other day!  ... View more