Southwest Airlines Community

@bec102896 wrote: @samspade   Did you earn A List this year? If so you may need to call reservations at 800-435-9792 and ask them to refresh your reservation (delete and re add your RR number) I know when I earned A List for the first time I had to do this on all my upcoming flights that I had booked then as I was not A List when I booked those flights so the system thinks I am just a regular passenger. Maybe do call and ask them to do this anyways even if you earned A List back a year or more a go as it won't hurt anything and might fix the glitch    hope this helps Blake  I would do this - there was a period where a glitch was was causing A-list preferred not to be checked in at 36-hours, but I haven't seen other traffic on this community about that issue for a while, so there must be some other issue with your flights.   Make sure your rapid rewards account is entered correctly as well, and/or follow @bec102896's suggestion to remove and add back the number. ... View more

My guess is that there was only one ticket available, EDIT: or the inventory on the app and live in the system wasn't synced, someone may have taken one of the available seats.   I haven't been blocked from taking the last spot for a CP booking, even if it was BS or AT in the past.   Depending on your tolerance for risk,  you can cancel the companion and rebook your own BS ticket. (Refuknd and rebook to maintain refundability.)   Then keep trying to add the companion back as the flight approaches. Often there is a little movement for availabiliy the day or two before a flight, but you'll need to keep checking back regularly.   If no dice, cancel and rebook your ticket for the original flight if plenty of seats are open on that one.   A little risky though with a chance to end up without either flight.   Edit:  if you try this online, you'll have to cancel the companion and cancel/rebook, in order to change both tickets simultaneously you have to call. ... View more

FAA will weigh in on batteries: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/hazmat/passenger_info/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf     ... View more

@Rnorm wrote: When my drone case is rummaged through like my luggage bag, such as a broken lock, and neglect of fragile items, will they be replaced or will I receive a letter stating the reasons they go through suspicious suitcases. Just curious and would like to get to and from my destination with my articles in tact. TSA does leave a flyer in the suitcase that it was inspected with some of the details.     ... View more

@SteveS wrote: So starting Jan. 1, I get reset to 0 flights and 0 points toward companion qualifing? Nothing gets carried over from the previous year?   Thanks, SS Correct, the period to qualify for all of these is based on calendar year.   During the current year if you earn CP, A-list, etc. you get it for the remainder of that year, plus the next calendar year. So the earned status can carry forward to the next full year, but the points earning total is reset.   Your earned points stay in your account indenfinitely as long as you have earning activity.  ... View more

@pigeon64 wrote: Now that Southwest is inspecting its planes for safety reasons, how will I know and when will I know if my flight is cancelled.  I'm flying next Thursday and I'm so nervous about my flight getting cancelled.  I've already prepaid for my rental car and a tour and there is no cancellation or refund on either.  Is there any way I can fly on standby that day to get there that day if my flight gets cancelled? If Southwest cancels your flight they will help you to rebook to a confirmed reservation.   Standby would only be necessary if all the other flights on your day were already full and you couldn't move to one of them that works for your schedule.   If it would help your peace of mind, pick out a couple of flights on the same day that would also work so that you have a request in mind should your flight be canceled. Then you'll also know if you can't be confirmed for that flight, to ask for standby.   ... View more

Today and tomorrow are our last lap child flights. I believe we'll pickup one of these for May when we will be buying tickets.   https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children/#cares     ... View more

@dickersonhouse wrote:     My question: am I now obligated to bring a car seat and use the seat I purchased for her or can I just treat her like a lap child, bring her birth certificate and check in like it says we can with a lap child and then just leave the extra seat empty?  Usually it is the opposite - the benefit of a lap child is that they are free, but people would rather have an empty!   I don't think you are obligated to bring a car seat, and you'd be entitled to that empty spot when she's on your lap at take-off and landing, or other times. ... View more

@chgoflyer wrote: @DancingDavidE wrote: Actually I have my first flight of the travel season coming up tomorrow and can verify then for myself, this trip I did have booked way before the promo but have since signed up and booked several other flights.   If booked prior to April 6, you will not receive double points. Sorry, I got tripped up - the terms very clearly say "booked during the period" which my flight tomorrow was not. ... View more

@elizabeth230 wrote:     ETA: Also wondering about the fees associated with the original purchase ticket. It was $83 in fees for each of us. As I understand, these fees will not be refunded, however they will be credited to my account as Unused Travel Funds which I can then apply towards changing the flights. Is that correct? This was an international flight? You should be able to re-use the fees with the confirmation number and passenger names. ... View more

@chgoflyer wrote: FYI: Reports are that members are receiving the double points even for flights that were booked prior to registering, as long as they were booked within the validity period, and registration took place before travel.   I'm as shocked as anyone.   😉 Actually I have my first flight of the travel season coming up tomorrow and can verify then for myself, this trip I did have booked way before the promo but have since signed up and booked several other flights. ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat wrote:   Log into your account on southwest.com and got to My Account and then Promotions.  Be sure to read ALL the fine print.  Most importantly, you need to register FIRST, then make reservations.  If you have existing reservations you can cancel them and rebook them, but changing an existing reservation does NOT count. Simply register, book, and travel: Register for this promotion between April 6 and June 13, 2018. Book your flights between April 6 and June 13, 2018. Complete your flights between April 6 and June 13, 2018.   To the engineers in the crowd, the order of operations is important from the excerpt from the announcement which says "register, book, and travel" and so I would not expect the bonus from previously booked flights.    Edit: I agree @chgoflyer that the terms don't say that the order is important.     ... View more

@Krusheski wrote: I have been in the army 16+ yrs for opsec issues we are not allowed to fly in uniform and normally showing i.d in civilians is good enough. But never have I had a staff member denie me or be rude about it until today, I will make sure all my soldiers and other military frnds don't use southwest agin. The way I was treated and the inappropriate words used were uncalled for and in professional! I'm really sorry to hear that about your treatment. Please know that many fellow passengers are thankful for your service, and I expect most Southwest employees are also apparently with a few exceptions, one of whom you must have met that day. ... View more

@kejensen wrote: I have a bank of RR points that I want to use towards a companion pass near the end of the year. I am curious if I use some of my RR points now to book a ticket on Southwest (lets say 4,000), would I loose those points in the process of obtaining the companion pass (those 4,000 points)?  The process of earning the points is completely separate from redeeming the points.    CP is based on the earning totals mentioned by the other posters in a calendar year. These apply regardless if you immediately redeem the points or not. (Although in redeeming the points, you won't be adding any new earning activity.)   If you think that you may earn companion pass later this year, and use it alot, I'd stockpile the points now and not redeem them after earning CP as the value of the points suddenly doubles for flights that you use CP. I guess the same is true for cash, the "value" is doubled...but you would hate to get to the end of the year and be a few points short, having redeemed points for a few flights instead of paying cash and earning instead. ... View more

How long are the layovers? Maybe something is in the ticketing policy about short layovers on separate confirmations. ... View more

@xxmelissaruiz wrote: I have a question, are we allowed to take our drinks (provided by Southwest) off the plane once it has landed? (By drinks I mean orange juice, hot chocolate, etc. in the case that we didn’t get to finish them during the flight).  Since the policy is to collect all service items, I don't know if Southwest will have a separate policy about drinks since you normally wouldn't have any left.   Speculation that if you have the little clear cup as you deplane the FA will ask you to despit it in the trash bag.   If a soft drink or juice ended up in your personal to-go cup I don't see major objections. Alcohol would be restricted in most places that you can't carry it around, so that is against the rules even in your own cup, or actually you aren't supposed to take the little bottles off either. The FA will prevent this by not giving you the bottle cap instead you get the stir stick in there. ... View more

  @pilot689 wrote: This topic has been ignored by Southwest and should be addressed.  We need power outlets to work on our jobs and this we can spend money to buy more flights. It has been addressed, Southwest was pretty clear in a press release that they don't want the extra weight or power use on their planes and they said they would not be installing them on the new orders. ... View more

At the same time I see these posts, usually referring to leg room, I often see the middle seats in exit rows go unfilled so it isn't quite an issue of legroom only.    I agree in priciple though, no one person should be saving five other seats, and certainly not exit row seats. Whether you decide to just sit down or not will be up to you, the FA may not intervene until assistance is requested/needed.   When you say paid for early boarding though, the expectation should be that A1-15 are looking at good shots for exit row, and maybe if not many business select seats then early A-listers have a chance. I wouldn't expect an exit row seat from early bird for instance.     ... View more

Use the online system to file a lost item report if you haven't already done so, it sounds like you did this which is the best step to take.   It seems like a little bit of a long shot if you don't realize the item is missing in time to have the FA check immediately and you can remember exactly which row you sat in, etc.   Good luck!     ... View more

@BoiseNoise wrote: My sister has carried frozen foods back to Alaska from Missouri in a checked cooler before (on Alaska Airlines).  However, I am currently in the same situation as you . . . wanting to take a cooler holding a deflated air mattress, etc. to Arizona so that we can then use the cooler while helping my daughter move/ drive back to Idaho.  I'm certain it is okay by TSA regulations, but my main concern is how to secure the lid in a way that it will stay closed for the flight and not get damaged even if TSA decides to open the cooler and check it.  A couple of years ago, I packed some winter gear (coat, boots, snow pants) into a box, closed it up with packing tape, and checked it. TSA used box cutters to open the box and sliced right through my UGGS. So . . . not sure how they would treat my cooler if I added tape in a couple of places or something like that to make sure the lid stays on.  😕 Leave an extra roll of packing tape on top just in case. Just kidding, they have TSA tape for that, whether they use it or not I have no idea.   Maybe try taping the stuff to the inside in case the lid becomes unsecured? ... View more

@franktravel wrote: TSA:   Adult passengers 18 and over must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel. Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) U.S. passport U.S. passport card DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents Permanent resident card Border crossing card DHS-designated enhanced driver's license Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID HSPD-12 PIV card Foreign government-issued passport Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Yes, the passport is definitely allowable as ID. I'm not sure about the other ID you mentioned @Bella12. ... View more

@1horsefan wrote: Southwest has a unique, highly efficient boarding policy, but no particular efficiencies for deplaning.  Deplaning takes up valuable time while passengers wait for everyone to take bags out of the overhead.  The time involved in this process could be reduced significantly for the airline and most passengers if aisle seat passengers would stand and collect their bags after landing, and the entire group of aisle passengers walked off the jet, followed by the group of middle seat and window seat passengers following the same procedure.     I'm interested in your thoughts. I think it would be difficult to change the deboarding process, it is pretty well engrained in people to leave the plane as a spot opens up in front of you. A few people mess it up...some are in a hurry for a connection or need the restroom, others put their luggage further back and ended up taking a seat to the front.    I'd need to see mythbusters data that it was actually faster to do it that way, I'm not sure that deplaning the aisles all together will be that much faster than going row-by-row. ... View more

@bec102896 wrote: Hello   i know they were allowing deplaning from the back of the aircraft at some airports such as Burbank I am not sure if it is still done that way or not but it definitely was a quicker way to get off of the plane.   i am sure if they tried to make a policy on deplaning it would not be followed as so many people think they are the king or queen and they will try to rush off the plane and some try and run others over.   Blake    Burbank is the only one that I've been to that does it that way. And they have a terminal replacement plan in the works and will likely have modern jetways in the future instead of the tarmac access with the stairs.   Actually they boarded from both ends too. It was a little bit of a pro-tip someone told me that pre-boarders block up the front entrance, go for the rear entry with low A-numbers to try for the exit rows. ... View more

I did find one for the return flight, woohoo!   ... View more

I forgot, I wanted to scan the "neighboring" flight times for a couple of trips I have in case I can get onto one and try it out myself.   Do you might pointing out which city pair this was? If anyone knows the common routes for MAX8 from MDW let me know.   ... View more

@1975hoss wrote: I am looking to book to rooms with bonus points, I have the chase rapid rewards business card.  If one of my employees are traveling however i am not, will i still receive the bonus points in my act? I think you would receive them as having booked the rooms and provided your RR number. I'm not sure if the hotel must report your name specifically on the booking or not. If the wording says booking and not "stay" then I think you should earn the points.   ... View more

Not usually unless there is some extraordinary event taking place that was never anticipated. Are all of the flights that day already sold out?   ... View more

@bec102896 wrote: In the past you had to be a SW credit card holder to get access to the more rewards now anyone can use it for gift cards and merchandise but only credit card holders can use the more rewards for international travel, rental cars, and hotels.    I personally would not use my points on the gift cards because I get a better value on southwest tickets for example a $100 SW gift card through more rewards is 13,500 points I can get a points ticket valued at about $200 for 13,500 points    still a cool option though for people who want to get to get gift cards for people.    Blake  That's helpful, I will fly enough to use them up on flights for best value, but the gift cards could definitely be useful especially for some of the people who are facing expiration of their accounts due to no activity. ... View more