Southwest Airlines Community

@FACIII2023 wrote: I'm flying out of RSW Southwest Florida International Airport at 12:10pm on August 6th.  I have a 2 hour and 10 minute layover at BWI Baltimore/Washington before I board my connecting flight to land in SDF Louisville at 6:25. My final destination is Bardstown Kentucky where I will be staying with my girlfriend and her three daughters for three weeks. I was already there for two weeks,the last week of May/first week of June. It's always good to get a break from the Florida heat and humidity and now mugginess and stickiness. That's a great area for touring around, very pretty countryside and the locals do have their special beverages.     ... View more

#1 - I love it, very enjoyable to read your trip reports.   @SoCalFlyer97 wrote:   Good to know! Arrivals passengers are allowed to be picked up at upstairs departures level at SMF!     #2 this I'm in favor of many times - especially for any late arriving flights the arrivals area is often a disaster and then fewer people are coming in for departures, it makes sense (although technically not allowed, or not encouraged at many airports).   My other pro-tip in this regard is take one of the doors at the front or the back, don't wait at a door in the middle.   @SoCalFlyer97 wrote: Hello Community Southwest: I've opted to use the PreCheck lane anyway...and I was glad I did...       #3 Definitely! I've seen this before a few times and the benefit of the electronics screening plus not taking shoes and socks off is a big winner for me, even if it was five minutes longer. Totally take PreCheck line even if it is longer. (I'm doubled-up with CLEAR though so I don't have to do that either most times.)   In fact I had a related trip report to share as well, I was picking up the family at MCO and got a gate pass, the CLEAR lady let me use my biometrics but obviously the PreCheck doesn't apply so I used the regular line. I was traveling light though expecting that. However with the screening sensitivity or who knows what I unfortunately had quite a thorough manual screening - about as much as they could possibly do without going into the back room. For everyone's benefit no photos on this particular trip report.       ... View more

@vollyhawk wrote: Okay first, did you mean to say several times a month? You need 25 flights in a year get that status.  1 or 2 RT flights per month being enough to get there so it might be 1-2 every month or "several" in half the months.   But overall the clear answer for you if you've observed this situation several times is that you should rely on either upgraded boarding (if available) or buy BS fares if you are worried about the families at MCO. If EBCI doesn't do anything for you, then don't buy it...I see your suggestions applying at MCO but to extend that to the rest of the network based on one airport might be a stretch at the corporate office.   I fly MCO a few times a year, I have seen the agents bump people out of line, make them consolidate, limit family boarding to an appropriate number of people or sometimes +1. Nothing wrong with enforcing current policies where they are lax, but I don't see the policy being changed.      ... View more

@Freebie132 wrote: Does the trip have to be completed by the 29th September?  I think it includes the 30th of September, but the 29th would work.      ... View more

@bec102896 wrote: if your doing a round trip flight and one way is say 7,900 and she has 8k I would book 2 one ways so you can use points at least one way.  Nailed it @bec102896 ! ... View more

Glad it worked out, I know it isn't ideal waiting to ask in person in case they say "no" but they can do much more for you than the phone operators that have to stick to the script a little more closely.   Sounds like a great day, and congrats!       ... 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? As in not putting it in there sideways?   My guess is that this is to maximize the number of people in that section that can put their small personal items up above since there isn't any underseat space for them in the bulkhead row, as well as FA items and safety items taking up some of the space there.   Making it an FAR sounds like a stretch to me, the FAA would have to make separate rules for all different aircraft configurations.     ... View more

@AustinCompanion wrote: I am flying with my husband today. He purchased an A-list preferred ticket (and is A2). But they are not letting me board with him.  They previously let me board with him when he had a points purchased ticket. But because he purchased this type of ticket, they're not letting me board? It does not make any sense   That's correct - The companion will get a sequential boarding position except if the CP holder buys a Business Select ticket, then there isn't a sequential position offered.     ... View more

@parpitt1 wrote: They will accept payment from any card SWA accepts. If you're not using a Rapid Rewards CC you will not realize any "credits" back on your card or Rapid rewards account. When you do it in the app I'm not sure if you get a chance to change cards. In person should be flexible.         ... View more

@ZevSupport wrote: Typing is fine, but it does get a bit tight when the person in front of me moves back OR when I have a drink. I guess I just make it work.  Tablet and tablet keyboard FTW, doesn't cover up the little drink holder area.      ... View more

@tappingmom1 wrote: DancingDavidE said: "so I’m here in a middle seat now..."   Why, DancingDavidE, why???  I'm sad for you...😥 No worries!   I had A16 even a little better position than usual, but pre-boarded with my mom and I had her take the window while I took the middle. Full flight so not much chance of sitting aisle/window that close to the front.          ... View more

NEW INFO: so I’m here in a middle seat now and I see that the window seat support is also well into the middle seats zone, then the inner support is well into the aisle seat’s zone.   So I don’t think the middle is generous, it’s the window that is generous.  Aisle obviously skimpy as everyone has noted.  So I’d say it’s not available unless the window seat gave up some room first.  This is row 3, I’ll investigate next flight if it’s different proportions further back.     ... View more

My own practice has always been not to put my foot across the divider, I squeeze it in underneath my item.    I do most often take the aisle even though the space is smaller.      ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 wrote: @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.   Awesome, great maximizing your travel money. I like public transit when I'm by myself, the family doesn't always go for it.     ... View more

@ejallen11 wrote: Update: My points posted this evening. Companion Pass achieved?   Sorry that it seems like there was some systemwide issue this month. Glad that it eventually resolved.         ... 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. I use a 13.3" and it can work, although I'm a hefty guy and the non-exit row seats are a little cramped.    I've been a bigger fan of using my tablet and tablet-keyboard if I have web application or Teams typing that I can do instead of using the laptop for formal word docs or excel docs.       ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: I have been told that flight attendants have been instructed to not lift things that are to be inserted overhead. There are quite a few that can't help themselves, but gradually this likely will be the new normal. Hit up a fellow passenger though, many will be willing (and not constrained by any insurance policies) to lend a hand.     ... View more

@bec102896 wrote: When searching ABQ to BWI are there any other AUS connection toons with a longer layover I have seen that before one example I can go COS-DEN-AUS on Monday with a short 1 hour 20min layover or a 3 hour layover both leave at 5:40pm just the connection is longer but the flight is still what they called a “married flight”  Agreed, only if there is a start to finish option that includes a longer layover, which Southwest generally limits to 4 hours with some exceptions - so it would be unlikely to find a really long layover between AUS and BWI for instance.    How are the prices these days? Just change ABQ to BWI to be a ABQ to AUS, and then if the price is low use any travel funds and probably some extra cash to buy the later AUS-BWI leg.   Otherwise you can ask in person to bump backwards - the desk may or may not be able to do that for you. Maybe they have leeway if the earlier flight is full and they want your seat, but that would be hard to plan since it would happen that day.   But as @dfwskier mentioned earlier you can only choose from the same-day options for the whole ticket if you self service this change.    Use @bec102896 's method to try and find a longer layover is you can make a combination that's a bit roundabout.        ... View more

@Suze wrote: Not at all. I’ve only change them because the price/points went down for the exact same flights. So it shows that I get a credit of so many points, but then it will charge me somewhere between a Dollar to five dollars normally Did you have trip insurance or some other add-on? Change in price for early bird?   There shouldn't be any charge related to the ticket unless you added a connection as @dfwskier mentioned you would have paid $5.60 before but now it could be $11.20.       ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: That;s strange.   My experience is that pre boarding starts at 30 minutes, and general boarding starts at about 20 minutes. - of course that is dependent on the number of pre boarders.   I think the SW policy is that if you are not at the gate at 10 minutes, then they have the ability to give your seat away. It was only this one time for me, but they were ready to go at the 30 minute mark and had fully boarded the plane except for us and I don't recall now if they were calling any names over the speakers. Actually I didn't hear them call ours, we just saw the gate area and were like "oh nice, they are just finishing up boarding the earlier flight so we have plenty of time" and then realizing there was no one else sitting down that it was actually our flight.         ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: If you check flight status, you'll see that planes leave early all the time. If all ticket holders are on board why wait.   I doubt that a plane would leave early if there are ticket holders that are not yet on board - even to avoid weather . Any airline that does that to me will see a scene of epic proportions They were totally going to leave us in Las Vegas one day, we happened to come back right at the scheduled time for boarding and it was us, close the door, good bye! They weren't going to wait for us 20 more minutes that was for sure and they didn't wait for anyone else that was straggling to the gate, if you weren't there right at 30 minutes prior to flight time that bird to Chicago left without you.   *There weren't too many of those as the flight was pretty full. We had been at the lounge in the other terminal, all the people following the best practice and being at the correct gate area must have heard the announcements.             ... View more

@lr0cks2183 wrote: Why does Southwest sell A 1-15 boarding position but you don’t care when A 16 and above board?  I was on a flight today with an A15 boarding position but there were definitely way more than 14 people that boarded before me.   Boarding is always a hot mess with southwest with everyone and their me mentality.   This is why I fly southwest when I absolutely HAVE to.  The cattle call is such a deterrent.  I rather pay more for a ticket,  I fly two three times a week.  This will probably be my last time with SW.  Do you mean preboarders or were there through passengers from the earlier origin?     ... View more

@ehrlichl wrote: I have the exact same problem as someone else posted in April. My husband was supposed to earn the companion pass this month (July) and his points ALWAYS post with 2-3 days after the Chase Visa credit card cycle end date. I looked back at the history from the Southwest site and this has been consistent, until this month. This month however, no points are posted and the cycle ended 7/14/23. Same issue as the other person ... Southwest says it is the fault of Chase and Chase says it is the fault of Southwest. Really ridiculous. I also have my own Chase credit card where the cycle end date was July 18, and I already have my points (posted on the 19th)! What is going on... really awful customer service!  One of these companies is not being honest here, Chase or Southwest ???  Very Frustrated!!! The only thing I can think of is if this posting would be the one that triggers companion pass there may be some extra review, but that's speculation on my part.    So the rep is blaming Chase which would be typically the case, then Chase says no we turned it in - the wrinkle is that this particular one might be delayed while it is reviewed.   Not sure - keep us posted.     ... View more

@CupCrusher40 wrote: to beat weather ...Or if everyone hasn't boarded they can still leave early. Obviously that would be a factor to be considered in terms of dodging weather - better to get a flight out missing a few passengers than have it be canceled due to weather and no one gets to fly.   So to simplify the answer: yes they can leave early         ... View more

That's sad to hear. Oversells happen and there are some rules in place for them. All that has to be done is to follow them.   Must be one snack too many at Disney this time - you have 50 flights in a year without being COS and now they want to use that as a reason all of a sudden? Ugh.       ... View more

@Tambaongoc wrote: I have the same situation. I am my husband's companion on a 8/15-9/20 companion pass deal. He already bought his tickets for a 8/15 flight. I am very glad to hear that he should be able to add me on 8/15 for any types of fare as long as there are seats. I have the following questions: 1. Can you please let me know how he should add me on 8/15? 2. What happens though if there are no seats available?   Thanks, Many flights at T-24 hours when people check in there are people who forgot they are flying or start making same-day changes or who knows what - but often there end up being openings that same time at 24 hours prior to flight and in the morning the same day of the flights.    I'm sure that is not very reassuring and if you didn't end up catching one could result in an expensive change in plans at the last minute.   But as long as the flight is not oversold then there likely will be some movement on availability at the last minute and you need to snag one of those when they come up.     ... View more