Southwest Airlines Community

@ethanscott wrote: Thanks. Also does this apply to every airliner out there? Seat guru does have customized plans for each airline who have customized their seating arrangements differently.   It's a bigger deal on the other airlines since you are reserving a specific seat and you want to know which ones don't recline for instance. ... View more

Is the value comparable among those redemption paths?   Having CP I tend to save points for flights only since I get "double" on the redemption, but every now and then it would be nice to get a room or rental car without an out of pocket expense. ... View more

@bdavisknightfly wrote: I would also agree that getting the early bird check in from Chicago would be very smart! However, If you are traveling by yourself, then I would simply check in right at the 24 hour mark, instead. Most of the time, you can get lucky and grab that window seat right up in the front few rows, even if you are in the B or early C group. Of course, just a preference on how important seat selection is to you. Baltimore is one of the best Southwest Hubs - they are really efficient in their security and boarding process. You also have a quick flight each way, which is something to consider.    Personally I like this approach - the variable we don't know if what is your tolerance if you did end up in a middle seat, or if you have a strong preference to sit in the fore or back of the plane. EBCI should help a little, but you could also get two Turkey and ginger cocktails instead for about the same money. MDW to BWI isn't that long of a flight, more than a hopper but not like going transcontinental. ... View more

@lynnsaunders wrote: Our family traveled on Southwest to a wedding in Texas. One family member booked his ticket separately from the others and mistakenly picked a 6AM return rather that a 6PM return the rest of the family was using. The error was discovered when an email came 4 hours after the 6AM departure. Southwest was called immediately but they would do nothing to help. We had to pay for an additional $500 ticket so that our family member could fly on the flight he thought he had already paid for. This kind of mistake should not cost $500. I also frequently set up alerts on Southwest's website for 3-hours prior (i.e. the "I should be in the car now" text alert) and Gmail and Outlook both automatically add my flights to the calendar. Hopefully this doesn't happen again, or else at least you can catch it at least 10 minutes prior so you can change the flight instead of forfeit the funds.       ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat wrote: Certainly! Anything not a gel or liquid can be brought with you through security and anything you purchase after security can be brought onto the plane. Make sandwiches at home and grab a drink after security! Southwest does serve small snacks, the exact items depend on how long the flight is, but usually some peanuts and pretzels are available along with a selection of beverages, and if you ask nicely the flight attendants are most often happy to give you extra or provide a drink refill.   --TheMiddleSeat @TheMiddleSeatYou might be forgetting the lesser known restriction that stinky foods are not allowed on my flights. Other than that, all clear!         ... View more

@chgoflyer wrote: EBCI must be purchased for every passenger's ticket when making the intiial flight purchase, but when adding it later you can select individual passenger(s).   From the FAQ:   If a Customer is booked in the same reservation with other Passengers, can he/she purchase EarlyBird Check-In even if the others do not choose to do so?   Yes, if EarlyBird Check-In is purchased and added to an existing itinerary. If EarlyBird Check-In is purchased within the same transaction as the air purchase, then all eligible Customers must purchase EarlyBird Check-In as well.   That's interesting, thanks for clarifying that EBCI can be added after the fact for individuals. ... View more

@LindseyD wrote: @Mstevens0716,    Thank you for the great answer about Early Bird! @sarahcworden, if you found this answer helpful, please click the "Accept as Solution" so others can easily find this info in the future!   I'll add that if you are all on one confirmation number I don't believe you will be able to buy just one Early Bird.   Family boarding is great, I'd just go with that and save the $60. (or $120 for RT.) ... View more

@ethanscott wrote: Thank you! This helps. Also, what is the policy on cancellation? You may cancel 10 minutes prior to the flight, you'll get the fare back in the form of travel funds which are valid for re-booking a new flight up to 1 year from the date of original purchase, or have your points returned to your account for points bookings.   No-showing will forfeit your cash fare. No-showing strangely enough gets your points returned to your account for points bookings the same as if you canceled, minus the taxes/fees.   If you've booked a flight with travel funds from multiple cancellations, the whole thing takes on the oldest expiration when you cancel the current flight.   If you have Anytime or Business Select fare, it is refundable as a long as the ticket hasn't been changed. If you have A or BS tickets, my recommencdation is to cancel and refund, and then rebook for any changes to keep your refundability. They will offer travel funds as an alternative to a refund, don't click that accidentally.` ... View more

You should request preboarding at the ticket desk when you arrive at the airport. They'll ask you a few questions about what your needs are. ... View more

@22royce22 wrote: We fly so seldom.....a few questions.   1)  Family of 4 making a round trip flight.  Can we easily,  without losing money or paying extra, change the return date for some of the family after we have already arrived at our destination?  Assuming we find a flight?  Or if we have to pay extra any idea what it might cost? Although on Southwest you won't pay a change fee, you will have to pay (or receive credit) for the difference in fare. So in practice a last minute change does sometimes result in extra payment if the fares are now higher, for instance if the Wanna Get Away fare are all taken.   Separate issue that this may not be something you can self-service if you booked all together and have one confirmation number. It will be easy and self-service to change if each person has their own confirmation number.     2)  It will  be between Oakland and San Deigo, (don't know if that makes a difference)?   Should I book the tickets early, now, and or check everyday for special offers  to get a good deal?  A friend said prices don't change that much depending on the airline or where you're going so  that shouldn't be an issue?   You can look at the flights today, next week, and when you travel and see if WGA fares are still available throughout - that doesn't guarantee availablility in the future but if you look at the flights today and this week and all the WGA are gone, there's a good chance that route tends to fill up. If the fare is acceptable today, I tend to book now and re-book later if prices go down. There are a few things that make fares go down (general sales, empty seats on a particular route they want to fill) and lots of things that make the go up (generally demand goes up closer to flight date). But most airlines don't start out with their lowest price when first released either...some people say 1-2 months out is a good time. Who knows!   3)   About a month ago I posted a question here, and received a very good reply.   Now I can't find the quetion/reply? Is there a way to find earlier questions I asked?   Click on your name and it will go to your profile and show your past activity including any posts or comments that you made, you should see your thread there.   Good luck!     ... View more

Southwest actually allows free accomodation for this issue, the implementation gap is in getting the passenger of size to request the extra seat. If anyone is reading and thinking it would apply to them and wants to be more comfortable, here is the info:   https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/extra-seat/?clk=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-COS   https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=extra_seat_policy     ... View more

I had never noticed that on the booking, thanks @Mstevens0716! ... View more

@KAGrayson wrote: Please  tell me it aint so....Do I really  have to leave my noise-cancelling-earphones at home because only an authorized service dealer can remove the Lithium batteries?  I'm challenged with being able to control ambient sound (sensory processing disorder).  Received as gift to manage an upcoming trip that has me taking 7 individual flights (including connections) within 15 days!  Need some relief from the airline noise!! You can probably carry them on, but not check them. The major issue is with batteries that are loose in checked luggage that could discharge.   https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/hazmat/passenger_info/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf   It sounds like these are integral to the headphones so they meet the "not loose" criteria for carry on, and the capacity is likely below the threshold where these are consumer sized and would be allowed.   ... View more

Make sure that you have some earning activity within the 24-month window to keep your rapid rewards points.   Which airport on the east coast? Southwest is often competitive but I'm sure there are some routes and city pairs that the Other Guys have an advantage. I'm not overly familiar with SLC's connections to the rest of Southwest's network. ... View more

If you go to the booking website and call up the flight you can click on the flight number and a pop-up will show the aircraft model and some on-time statistics.   Flight Aware website/app (separate from Southwest) also tracks aircraft types and other route information.   Edit: clarification that the Southwest booking site will show the proposed aircraft well in advance. Flight Aware I don't know if it can pull the informatoin in months ahead of time, but should be current for flights in the next day or same day.     ... View more

For some reason I was thinking that the price could vary (a little higher) for longer flights, but I don't recall for sure.     ... View more

@Lgandard wrote: I was on hold with SWA over an hour waiting to talk to someone to find out what the fee for extending unused travel credit, past a year, was.  No one ever came on the line, so I hung up after an hour.  While on hold by SWA, I found this discussion board.  From what I'm reading the fee to extend an expired travel credit is $100!  Wow, my credits are only $103, so I lose them all, or pay $100, and extend my remaining $3 for 6 months!  Not much of a choice.  I, like MANY others, only fly Swest when traveling for leisure, but this policy of theirs SUCKS!  Why is there even a fee and so high?  I can understand maybe a 5%, or 10% administrative fee, but $100?  Wow!!! I think it is great that Southweest offers use of the credit for no extra charge up to a year from original purchase date, that is far ahead of how most other airlines treat a non-refundable fare.     ... View more

Good point, if you mentioned that before I forgot, but that is certainly one downside. ... View more

@LindseyD wrote: @jlamendoand @moreofless,   Please send me screenshots of the error messages you're receiving from the app in a private message. Or, just send me screenshots of the app being buggy if there is no message. We'll take a look and see what we can do.    I think this was a previously covered topic - there was a general press release that said the older versions would not be supported. ... View more

Also a good practice is to book one-way flights so that this doesn't accidentally happen, among other benefits and as near as I can tell no downside other than managing additional confirmation numbers. ... View more

Addendum to lastly: don't post personal information the forum @Leesunkyu - you may wish to edit the post to remove the RP number.  This forum is for other helpful flyers to chime in, Southwest's customer service department won't get your information from here, you'll have to call the customer service who can help you as @TheMiddleSeat has mentioned. ... View more

@NikkiRDH wrote: I am trying to find out if there will be any issue with bringing frozen tamales in my carry on baggage? I will have 18 of them.  If anyone has any info about this, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks! I have a friend that does this every year, but I'll have to ask if she carries them on or more likely checks them. If it isn't liquid, then should be fine though. ... View more

@Soso11009 wrote: Hello.  I will be flying with my 3 and 4 year old and am looking into purchasing a fly kids bed box or inflatable foot rests for them. My question is would I be able to use it in the window as well as center seat? For child car seats they can only be put in the window position, or can be in the center if no one is sitting in the window - if these inflate or similarly block the access then I think it would be one per row, and placed in the furthest position. Also I can't make a citation but you aren't supposed to block the seat in front of you from reclining.   So I'd say probably window yes - if I'm understanding the concept, but not window + center. ... View more

It does check you in at 36 hours, but you still have to use the "check in" button to claim your boarding pass, even though your position was pre-assigned.   If you go back to your boarding documents it should have EBCI on it to denote that EBCI was applied.   Whether you liked the boarding position that resulted from that or not is a different issue...did you get a poor number, higher than mid-B's?   David ... View more

@franktravel wrote: Southwest The Store!! Cool stuff! https://tinyurl.com/y9l5mxdt $230 is steep for me, but I have my eye on this little beauty as well. https://www.looptworks.com/collections/in-flight-collection/products/in-flight-messenger-bag   They do offer some other stuff including a $39 luggage tag. https://www.looptworks.com/collections/in-flight-collection     ... View more

@JLMARR76 wrote:     So the lady basically told me to create a false account for him.  Isn't that going to bring up issues when it's finally time for my son to use the benefits of these points? "false" email, but real rapid rewards - not so much false, but use your own email, or create a second one for yourself that you can hand off, or change the email to his own when he has one. ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat wrote: If you use the current point redemption rates that is used for flights you're looking at WiFi costing somewhere in the 500-600 point range. Perhaps they would round it up to an even 1000 for simplicity. I personally wouldn't be interested very often, I'm usually trying to avoid being connected while flying, but I think that could be very interesting to a lot of people.   Other ideas that have been floated around include the coupon idea that was mentioned, perhaps even making those electronic/digital coupons in your account. Now that drink prices have increased they are closer to being able to say they can be redeemed for either WiFi or drinks. Or include WiFi in Business Select tickets like one drink is currently included. Or allow prepay for WiFi so you have credit in your account, maybe buy 4 WiFi credits get one free. Hopefully Southwest continues to adapt as WiFi usage increases.   --TheMiddleSeat I'm all for coupons/punches and definitely electronic in your account, login and redeem! ... View more

@franktravel wrote: Southwest The Store!! Cool stuff! https://tinyurl.com/y9l5mxdt Those look great, thanks for posting! I might get one. ... View more

@ParSWA wrote: Not sure if things have changed since August 2017... So, in our experience, the answer your question is "yes". However, this could have changed so probably best to contact SWA. Sorry not to be able to be more specific to your situation. It has definitely ben allowed in the past, I forgot the "Plus" as the other personal option in addition to "premier" but also business would be allowed.   Note to others that if you applied for two of these at about the same time, you'd have to hit the minimum spend on both so you might want to stagger depending on your purchasing plans. ... View more