@traciewest wrote: How do I add insurance to my flight tickets in case something happens and I am not able to use them? Cliff notes version: Without change fees, Southwest is a leader in flexible airline ticket purchases as long as you would be flying them again in the near future. I don't believe Southwest sells insurance in-house, other than: Wanna Get Away fares can be cancelled and you would be issued Travel Funds to be used on a future flight within one year of the original purchase date. Anytime and Business Select fares are refundable - if it is highly likely to have a cancelation, and you don't want travel funds from a WGA fare, then you can buy the refundable fares. Warning: don't change these tickets which makes them non-refundable, always cancel and re-book. You'd have to go outside of Southwest to get travel insurance for rental car, hotel, etc. If you use Costco rental cars the cancelation is very generous as long as you would be able to cancel prior to your scheduled pickup...kind of like Southwest's 10 minute prior to depature cancelation policy.
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07-27-2018
01:52 PM
07-27-2018
01:52 PM
@dfwskier wrote: I am NOT completely confident of what I am about to say, but I seem to recall a day in the past where my flight was cancelled and I was able to just log in to my account, go to reservation in my account, and then pick "change flight." You might want to try that. I'm not sure what enables that option, but I recall doing this once before as well. I don't see any "global" reaccomodation link on the website yet as they sometimes have during major snowstorms or hurricanes. While you are on hold, maybe try Twitter as well. Don't send any personal information until they ask for a direct message.
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@mckim921208 wrote: I changed my first name and last name. Is it replaceable? In addition to the other responses, make sure that your ID when you fly will also match the new name on the ticket. It comes up a lot with married/maiden names that someone has changed their last name, but their ID may still be the prior name at the time of the flight.
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@rtbarron wrote: @DaijP wrote: should I call back and ask someone else You can try but it may not make a difference. The exception that I noted in my first reply was a Customer who cancelled his reservation in error. If the cancellation was a mistake on your part, explain that to the representative who answers the phone. If you cancelled the reservation and then changed your mind a few hours later, you will probably have to pay the fare difference to rebook your reservation. For example, one of the cases where it was re-instated was where someone had three similar reservations and canceled the wrong one. We don't need to know the details, it isn't up to us. but let the customer service rep know what happened and maybe they can restore it.
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The travel funds are not transferable, but just as you bought a ticket for someone else that they now "own" they could return the favor. If that person doesn't plan to fly Southwest for the next year they may not be interested though, it depends on the travel funds having value to them.
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07-26-2018
10:41 AM
07-26-2018
10:41 AM
@miranda1 wrote: Thank you so much Lindsey!! Having the letter may ease your mind, and I've heard of other travelers bringing copies of birth certificates, but according to the guidelines you won't need those things.
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07-26-2018
10:39 AM
07-26-2018
10:39 AM
@dfwskier wrote: @lyndapage wrote: Southwest knows virtually NOTHING about how to do this and refers you back to the Rio. of course there is no way to call the box office at the Rio. You need to remember that Southwest had nothing to do with this ad , except accepting it for insertion in the Southwest magazine. Southwest did not devise the ad content. Southwest did not compose the ad. Southwest did not come up with the discount code, Southwest did not come up with the apparently ineffective way to use the discount code. Southwest was paid by Rio for publishing the ad in the magazine. That's it. I'm just trying to insure that your indignation is focused on the proper target: The Rio. Even the publishing of Spirit is somewhat separate from the airline portion of the business. Anyway - I hope you got the tickets. Keep trying the Rio, they can either make this work from this code, or they will have other ways to help especially if you are staying there too or if you are members of their rewards club.
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@canoegirl wrote: Thank you Ashley, That definitely helps! Can you tell I'm anxious to get A-list? I have definitely seen the little needle moving, and the # of points indicated, but trying to plan ahead to be sure I meet the points, I have been unsure whether, for example, the double points promotion I've gotten on the last couple of flights were all added to that number, or just the regular points to the A-list and the doubled amount toward rewards flights. Did you make it? The other rule of thumb you could (have) used is whatever you spend on WGA fares is 6x points. So if you will be qualifying on points and you need 6,000 more points points, you would be spending $1,000 on flights the rest of the year - then you can gauge for your regular route what the typical cost is and how many more flights that would be. If any of your flights are last minute and the costs are high, go for the Business Select if it is a small incremental upcharge to get the 12x points - what might have been four flights to spend $1,000 would now be only $500 on one/two flights with Business Select. If you aren't/didn't/won't qualify on points basis but need a couple of flights, you could make a day-trip to a nearby location. For instance MDW-MSP is an easy trip, the light rail will let you take a trip downtown or MOA, and head back the same day to get two legs in if you were that close based on number of flights.
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@franktravel wrote: Check your emails. I have received many "Refer a friend to Rapid Rewards" and receive points over the last few years. I have also received many emails to refer friends to "Chase Rapid Rewards" Just to clarify...you'd have to use these links, a regular "word of mouth" referral wouldn't be tracked in that way. There may also be a general link to forward to friends/family, but if it isn't part of a promotion then also no bonus, but hopefully some goodwill from your friends/family if they enjoyed flying Southwest...have them buy you a beverage the next time you fly!
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@yorkieciara wrote: I have a reservation next week made by a third party for me, in my name, and I have the reservation number. However, it was not made online. I need to know how I can check in in advance since it is not an online reservation. It was made by a casino. When I called they told me I could check in online, but the message I get when I enter the reservation number is that it is one made other than online. I have always used EB boarding, but that cannot be added to this ticket according to what I was told on the phone today. Thanks. You won't be able to check in until the 24-hour mark, regarless of the booking method, the same as your other Southwest flights previously. Accessing the reservation to change it may be a different issue, I'm not familiar with what restrictions might be in place in terms of how the casino booked the ticket for you. Don't post any personal information, but can you reprint the error message by copy and paste so we can see the whole thing?
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07-25-2018
11:39 AM
07-25-2018
11:39 AM
@chgoflyer wrote: Tickets are non-transferrable. Assuming you bought a Wanna Get Away fare, they're non-refundable as well. But Southwest will allow the original passenger to use the funds towards another flight with no additional change fee (just a fare difference, if applicable) for one full year from the date you made the original purchase. Perhaps you could have the friend who is unable to go pay for the ticket for the new passenger? If you want a workaround @Deion this is probably one of the best ways. As long as the person no longer flying will take a trip before the expiration, this would be fair.
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07-25-2018
10:45 AM
07-25-2018
10:45 AM
@Ontheroad247 wrote: Most recently, I was on a Southwest flight where the teenager behind me (boarding position ~A15) decided that she was going to save 4 entire rows in the front of the plane for her teammates. I could see the frustration as the girl told passenger after passenger that she had reserved those seats, just like she were on a school bus. By the time the whole team was seated we were all wishing that we were sitting in the back of the plane - at least it was quiet back there! I know these encounters are few and far between, but it's frustrating to encounter such blatant disregard for other travelers. Oh boy! That's a tough one, obviously a teenager on a sports team may not have the experience as to what they are doing, or awareness of the needs of others. When Southwest is invovled in similar travels in the past on my flights, I have seen the FA and gate agents work to get them to take a block towards the back to alleviate the saving of seats, but still get them together. That was probably a missed opportunity on your flight!
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07-25-2018
10:44 AM
07-25-2018
10:44 AM
If this comes up often, then you may want to re-nominate so that each of you can fly, and each have a companion (two free tickets) instead of being limited to one companion ticket, if you travel with the same group very often. Otherwise, you can try to add one and see what happens if the functionality is there. This would be unfortunate if it wasn't allowed, and Southwest only found out close to the date of travel then the "companion of the companion" would be out of a ticket, and either not travel or have to buy a last minute fare. If you try it today, way before travel though, then you can see if it allows you to go all of the way through booking or not. The quotation from the terms sounds like it is not allowed though.
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07-25-2018
10:41 AM
07-25-2018
10:41 AM
@dfwskier wrote: Sorry to hear about your continuing bad eperience. Been there, done that. A few years ago I was stranded in Denver as a res ult of thunderstorms rolling thru. I got rid of my rent car and went to the gate to wait for my flight. Flights were being cancelled all around me. My flight was delayed , then delayed more, then delayed even more, finally cancelled at 11:30 pm (6 hours after scheduled departure time). By then all hotels near the airport were sold out (except the $400/night one), rent cars were going for $175. I got on the phone with SW and was told the earliest flight out was 22 hours later. Then I got lucky, and someone cancelled a seat on the 5 a.m. departure while I was on the phone with SW.. The reservation agent grabbed it. I slept on the concourse floor, and started boarding at 4:30 am. Our family was flying out of Orlando that day someone's camera battery exploded in their bag and they cleared the airport. We were just arriving to MCO and didn't hear anything about it unfortunately, dropped off the rental car....and pandemonium! I had driven by the curbside checkin and there was a huge line - didn't realize that was the line for the check-in all of the way outside. We were pretty significantly delayed as well, and I had to re-rent a car which was painful - it was eerie seeing the rental car level completely empty, but we did make it back one day later. Our destination being MDW we have a few more options than Columbus I'm sure. A few lessons learned for anyone reading this thread - not helpful to the OP going to Columbus now, but in general: Call-in times will be very long during a major weather event or catastrophe at a hub airport. Try the internet first - you may have a link waiting for you or use the general re-accomodation link to try for a new flight. If that isn't satisfactory... Get in line for an agent, but get on the phone too. Whichever connects first! The search by the agent or on the phone will show tickets for the number in your group. If time is of the essence and you can split up, tell Southwest that you can split up to take individual seats. You only get one re-accomodation for free - if you take the online one, then get in line and try to change again it may not be allowed. Remember, they are probably still working to reaccomodate everyone and letting you have two chances may not be possible. If it has quieted down a bit, the ticket agent may be more helpful. During the busiest time, get your best option and get out of the way. When I was in Orlando during the bomb scare, they weren't allowing Tampa as an alternate if I remember correctly although we were willing, but ask if there are other Southwest airports within driving distance and you have a rental car. Chicago/Milwaukee. Orlando/Tampa/Jacksonville, Reagan/BWI/Dulles for instance.
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07-24-2018
01:07 PM
07-24-2018
01:07 PM
@eavesjr wrote: So, I have what I'm afraid is a dumb question. I have qualified for the Companion Pass and now have a points total of approximately 150,000. My question is: Have I simply qualified for the Companion Pass program? Or... do I have to "pay" 110,000 points to add someone as my companion (reducing my points total to approximately 40,000)? Even though this is marked solved, I wanted to clarify as I think the OP had a slightly different question - earning points in terms of "tier qualifying" for CP or A-list is completely separate from redeeming points or paying them for flights and other rewards. You can redeem points as you go, that doesn't affect your tier qualifying total of points which is cumulative for the year, whether you redeemed any or not.
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@Ontheroad247 wrote: Hello, Is Southwest planning on implementing child-free travel or quiet zones on domestic flights? I travel frequently for work and would be willing to pay extra for quiet zones for business travelers. This zone is only as wide as the exit rows. I think you also have a good chance towards the front, the kids won't generally have really low boarding numbers although the business traveler spouse may be saving a spot for a kid. I think its fair to ask if you suspected someone was saving a spot for a kid so that you can relocate - another business traveler would understand your needs. Avoid the back, the families definitely end up there where there are rows together at family boarding positions...other than that I think you'll have to do the best you can, and feel free to get up and move if you still can and feel the need to do so.
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@jkolenp wrote: Having just returned from a nightmare trip with my 84-year old mother who is wheelchair-bound because of a broken hip, I just want to know how can I get a refund of the return half of what should have been a simple trip from Chicago to DC? With Southwest, without any notice whatsoever, when we arrived at the airport two hours before boarding yesterday, we were told that our flight was cancelled and we should go home and travel some other day. Having checked Mom out of a SNF to travel, returning was not an option, so we endured connections, re-routings and further delays and ended up at BWI at 8pm, instead of DCA at 2:45. Then, this morning, again for no reason whatsoever, SW cancelled my return flight and claimed the ONLY way to get to Chicago was to take a flight through Atlanta and endure another day-long delay. I went to United, bought a full fare ticket, leaving at the same time as my cancelled flight was not allowed to leave (supposedly due to weather), and now I just want a refund of the return half of my ticket. What is wrong with this airline? If Southwest canceled the flight, and you didn't rebook, then you should be able to contact customer service to get a refund. Sorry to hear about your travels being interrupted, it sounds like weather was pretty bad on the East Coast at that time, that sounds like a rough few days.
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07-24-2018
12:35 PM
07-24-2018
12:35 PM
@DaijP wrote: If I wanted to cancel my flight and unfortunately I have a non-refundable ticket, is it possible for me to get my money back and not credit. I’m not a traveler and I never traveled before this was gonna be my first time and I would really hate if it goes to credit cause I didn’t plan on traveling anywhere else. After the travel funds expire a year from the original date of purchase you may be able to pay a fee (currently $100) to have the travel credit exchanged for a voucher. If your credit was more than $100, then once you had the voucher anyone could use it in case you have a family member or friend that flies more frequently. Make sure of what the expiration would be for the voucher that someone you know would be able to use it before paying any additional money. Keep an eye on the sales, maybe you'll see a fun opportunity pop up to use all or most of your travel fund credit that you weren't expecting. Depending where you are it could maybe even be used for a day trip to somewhere like Minneapolis where you can take the light rail into town or Mall of America...sight see, and head back to the airport same day. Chicago is obviously a good one in that regard. A few other cities are also setup well to see a few sights and get back to the airport easily.
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07-24-2018
12:31 PM
07-24-2018
12:31 PM
@DaijP wrote: I purchased a ticket for Thursday but I wanted to see if there was anyway I could change it to Friday without paying extra. This works sometimes, the supply and demand (and competition) for connecting pairs of cities are all different. I one time changed a flight from MDW to LAS on the same day - and got a travel credit back. But this won't typically be the case, most routes will tend to increase as time for the flight gets closer, especially if you are within a week of travel.
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07-24-2018
12:27 PM
07-24-2018
12:27 PM
@dfwskier wrote: Lots of people try to change their flights for various reasons. Some are legitimate. Some are excuses. If your friend had realized the error immeditely after buying the tickets, the claim would have had greater credibility. I've done that -- Realizing I'd made a mistake minutes after hitting the "buy ticket." button. In those cases the airline has been pretty acomodating. Waiting a significant amount of time since the intial purchase just looks more suspcious. All I can suggest is to try customer relations again. You might get the same response as the first time, or maybe a different one. My guess is that you'll get the same response. You won't know unless you try. Good luck. That's probably the best suggestion to reach out by customer relations or twitter, but if the family member has already paid for the change then I think it would be difficult to reverse it. It's complicated since there is a 24-hour window to refund any mistakes if it was realized right away, and going back now it would be difficult to know the price for the new flights compared to the price of the booked flights on the incorrect day - they may have been the same, the other flight may have already been more expensive, maybe cheaper, hard to say now. Hundreds or thousands of people change their tickets on short notice every day, so although it is a traumatic event for your family member this is normal business for Southwest (and the other airlines). At least there isn't a change fee, so I hope that everyone had a successful travel and good luck if he chooses to reach out to Southwest for a follow up. I wouldn't be too optimistic, but if you don't ask the chances are zero.
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That's cool! I guess I wouldn't call it a "partner airline" exactly, but I stand corrected about there being a way to book international travel with points. I wouldn't do that myself, the points are too valuable using companion pass, but I guess that might make sense for some people to redeem them in that way.
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07-23-2018
04:27 PM
07-23-2018
04:27 PM
@TanyCab wrote: I left my iphone on flight 2733 from Oakland to Los Angeles last night (July 22) at 11:30 PM. I was seated near the front (~aisle 3) on the right side of the plane, and I think I left my phone in the back pocket of the seat in front of me. When I realized I didn't have my phone, I was already past the security point and was not allowed to go back. I went to the Soutwest ticket counter and to the baggage claim office, but they weren't able to reach someone who could go back and look for my phone. I've filed a report (1453478), but I have not yet gotten any new infomation. Does anyone know how long it would typically take to get more information on an item left behind on a plane? Is there a local lost and found office at LAX that I can call? It has not been easy to find phone numbers on the Southwest website. I was not able to get much information from calling the main customer line (1-800-435-9792) or customer relations. Thanks. Hopefully this was the first thing they said to do at the baggage office, or else call? https://live.nettracer.aero/southwest-paxview/lostandfound/landing.do Deplaning on a late flight like that, if the plane was being put to bed for the day then the lost and found crew would have it, and the phone won't be in Southwest's possession...the website is the way to have a search performed on the found items.
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@MarylandMary wrote: I've had a Southwest credit card for several years. One of the reasons I got the card is cardholders had some options for international travel using Southwest points that other RR members didn't have. I finally have the occasion to be interested in this and I can find absolutely no information about this. I can only think the program has been discontinued. Can anyone tell me when and why? The card with an annual fee includes no foreign transaction fees - that's the only impact to international travel that I'm aware of. I haven't ever heard of Southwest having international partner airlines, although I've been flying Southwest for about ten years, I don't know if you are thinking of something earlier than 2008? Obviously in the past few years Southwest has expanded their own service to Central American destinations, but you wouldn't be able to fly them to Brasil or Argentina for example, and none to Asia or Europe. Edit: the responses below show that you can redeem points for flights.
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07-23-2018
04:00 PM
07-23-2018
04:00 PM
@arcelihendricks wrote: I have several drink coupons which expire 8/31/18. I flew Southwest in January and tried to use one of the drink coupons and the stewardess told me that they don't take coupons inflight. So where should I be using these coupons? Will be taking another trip in August and would like to use them then. Can someone please let me know how? I feel like something is missing from the story - did you end up getting a beverage and paying for it with cash, or else not paying for it? They don't take cash inflight, was that maybe what she thought you were asking? That seems to be the most likely misunderstanding.
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07-23-2018
03:24 PM
07-23-2018
03:24 PM
@Beachflier1 wrote: Any thoughtful advice? Take off and climb to altitude are especially nerve-wracking for me. I'm also not looking forward to the more cramped seating configuration 😞 Thanks! Your friend probably mentioned NOT to fly out of SNA then if the climbing to altitude is nerve-wracking. Due to the residential areas around the airport they have to climb out of there pretty steep. Stick with LAX - 75,000,000 people per year, they must be doing something right there. However if you don't like crowds, SNA would be the way to go, other than the relatively steep take-off it's a very pleasant facility. Burbank is another interesting one - not as comfy as SNA, but smaller and easy to navigate. I haven't flown from Ontario in the LA metro. If LAX is convenient for you, stick with that.
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07-23-2018
01:47 PM
07-23-2018
01:47 PM
@dfwskier wrote: Morning. Well, the first thing to do, if haven't alreay done so, is to conatct SW directly . Here's how: https://live.nettracer.aero/southwest-paxview/lostandfound/landing.do As for the likelihood of getting the items back, it will be a function of who finds them, and how honest that person is. Good luck Hopefully someone who is interested in a drink or two, and not 16 - I'd be fairly hopeful on this one since your identifying information is there, so that the cards at least could be returned or re-issued fairly easily. @If you use twitter is might be worth reaching out to see if the coupons could be replaced and initiate a re-issue of your cards, atlhough I haven't actually been asked to provide these on past flights the terms are that you'd have them. You can message to @SouthwestAir, don't send any personal information until they ask for a direct message to confirm your identify.
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@rtbarron wrote: In my experience, when traveling internationally on other airlines, presenting my passport to the agent prior to boarding has always been required. Even though airlines already have your passport information in your passenger record, they are still required to verify your passport prior to boarding. In some countries (Germany and the UK, for example), you may present your passport two or three times before getting on the plane. I have always thought that they want to avoid creating a problem where they know you have a passport and take you somewhere, but when you show up at customs at the location you don't have it.
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07-21-2018
12:17 PM
07-21-2018
12:17 PM
@reneerose wrote: Hi: I'm new here. Can I get travel funds converted into love vouchers? I have $49.50 to use in travel funds and apparently if I have to use it by Sept 18 then it won't let me even if I book a flight 8 months past the Sept 18 expiration date of the travel funds....Why does Southwest do this to people? After they expire you can have them converted, however we've heard on this community that the fee is $100 to do that, so it won't be worth it in your case to salvage the $49.50. I know it can be difficult, but the fact that they offer the travel funds without a change fee is already industry leading, unfortunately sometimes the travel funds still won't end up being used.
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@elijahbrantley wrote: Hey hey! What @chgoflyer said. I actually had to read the family boarding policy, and it’s rather vague. It says “An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding.” This caught me off guard because (as stated), I see whole families get on together all the time, and it seems to be largely allowed. It’s not uncommon to see one youngster, the parents, and their grandparents board during family boarding. Personal opinion moment: as much as I like SW boarding, this is one area that is not that great. If the policy were enforced as it reads, it could make family boarding difficult, even if sitting together is not important. Anyway - my situation is slightly difference because we usually pay for my ticket while my wife is my companion and my kid is a lap child. Kid boards with either of us, but I get to go pretty early since I am A List Preferred. So I usually save a seat, and either I care baby or she does...doesn’t matter. BUT, the kid just turned two which mean it’s gonna be more like this: I get priority boarding as ALP, wife as companion has a separate later boarding position, and kid booked on points has yet another boarding position. I think I’m this case, I will board in my position to save seats, and they will come on in family boarding. Not ideal, especially for the kid having her own reservation and spot. She clearly can’t board alone. All this may may be way more than you bargained for or needed, but I think it shows that it can be rather complex. You are right to do your research! I would simply recommend trying family boarding; I think as long as your kids are relative young (with at least one under 6), and you don’t have 10 people trying to board with one kid, you should be fine. You boarding and then them boarding works fine, and there will be plenty three-seat rows available at family boarding as well. I think the 737-800 changing tables are in the rear, and the -700's are in the front? So maybe it's a little more desirable to board early on -700 flights than for the -800's...but its been working out fine for us either way.
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07-21-2018
11:33 AM
07-21-2018
11:33 AM
"An adult" - and then also another parent, who is also an adult? I haven't seen parents be split up before, zero times in hundreds of family flights, do we think this happens often?
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